Day I: Phadnis dedicates it to mother nature

New Delhi, Mar 12 (UNI) Day I of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week began with sincere homage to Mother Nature by Bollywood's ace fashion designer Vikram Phadnis.

Amid the thumping of the drums and the gusts of wind transporting the audience to the tribal world, the Shiamak Dawar troop opened the show with its dance performance.

And just when the performance was to end, pencil thin models put their foot on the catwalk in Phadnis' contemporary creation in warm neutral and earthy colours.

The warm colours of the earth were fused with the cooler part of the spectrum inspired by the winter landscape.

The entire line ranged from skirts to jackets, A-line frocks and shirts. For most part of the collection the waist was missing from the dresses making the garment free flowing and easy to wear. And since it was an Autumn/winter collection, the dresses largely have full sleeves and jackets.

"The colours have been merged together and tones are muted and covered with a thick mist," said Vikram.

"Everything is dedicated to save the nature-the sun, the moon and the earth," he added.

The fabrics used were linens, silks, georgettes and jerseys. The outfits have been embroidered with metal splashes giving an effect in darkness or transperancy.

The focus was on blues, greens, browns and orange.

The makeup was minimal, and the "dramatic", acrylic hairdo was done by Ambika Pillai.

While designing the silhouettes, the concentration has rested on renewing shape volume and structure.

"We had fun watching his collection. It was very different for us. We are definitely going to learn a lot and are looking forward to the rest of the shows," said Hiruth, a fashion designing student from Ethiopia.

If the designs were beautiful to the eye, the background score was a feast for the ears and written to purity.

"Vikram was very clear about what he wanted. The music was tribal, without anything techno. It was all beats and percussions, creating an environment of forests, close to nature," said Vidyun Singh, the music producer.

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