Haveli Couture magic at India Fashion Week

New Delhi, Sept 2: Threads of a thousand-year-old civilization weaved magic on day four at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week as designer-couple Meera and Muzaffar Ali set up a 'kotwara' of ethnic wear bringing alive history.

The 'kotwara khakee' range of the spring-summer collection by the two had handcrafted Urdu calligraphy among embroideries in chikan, kamdani and zardosi work typical of havelis of Uttar Pradesh. Models wearing clothes ranging from weaving silk and wool to brocade and dhurrie gave life to the 'khattati' themed collection as the fashion event neared conclusion.

Established in the year 1007, 'kotwara' is the oldest living civilization in Lakhimpur Kheri district in Uttar Pradesh bordering the Himalayan foothills.

''We wanted to revive the traditional craft of the region with a contemporary thrust,'' said Meera and Muzaffar Ali after the show.

Today's clothes were the newest in the series of 'kotwara khakee' by the couple.

Among those who showcased their works today were Ashish Pandey, Aparna and Norden Wangdi, Prriya Awasthy, and Swapan and Seema.

Titled 'Madame Butterfly' from the opera by Puccini, Swapan and Seema's spring-summer collection had minimal embellishments and subdued colours in a muted classical theme.

''We have put a lot of emphasis on handwork in our collection to give an elegant and opulent look,'' said the designers.

Designers Krishna Mehta, Deepika Govind and Rajesh Pratap Singh will show their collections to the fashion week audience followed by ace designer Ashish N Soni late tonight.

UNI