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Designers showcasing pieces at Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2015 have really kicked it up a notch this year! As we mentioned, designers have been focusing on different decades (see here) and have drawn inspiration from the world of art (see here). Adding to the creativity of the night is Neha Agarwal who took us on a trip around the world to Russia with her collection! She unveiled her blended collection of Indo-Soviet summer outfits titled “From Russia, with Love“on the Jabong Stage. Since she infused Indian and Russian designs, it was most fitting that her showstopper was Karisma Kapoor, whose grandfather, Raj Kapoor made Indian Films popular in Russia. Back in the day, Raj Kapoor’s song had also featured a line about Russian clothes – “Mera Joota Hai Japani, Yeh Patloon Hindustani, Sar Pe Lal Topee Russee… Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani“! I bet he would have been extremely proud that Karisma was showstopper for such a uniquely themed designer line!
Agarwal’s collection derived its inspiration from Russian apparel fused with techniques of Indian origin. Neha sent a powerful message of global integration through her collection of 100% cotton denims. Denims, being the universal language of the fashion world were aimed at promoting her philosophy of presenting global stories through an Indian perspective.
The ingenious designer, Neha Agarwal, who debuted in Lakmé in 2004, showcased her 1900’s Russian themed tail coats and knife pleated skirts through denims, using traditional hand embroidered Indian techniques. She highlighted the importance of Indian textiles through various fabrics like georgette, ahimsa, Dupion and pattu silk and fused them with Russian inspired prints.
The collection encompassed dresses and bamboo denim jackets with cape collars complemented by the cross stitched dressing and floral embroidery. Circular dresses with hand blocked printed motifs, denim cropped tops with imprints of babushka dolls, flared jumpsuits in pure silk with a denim bodice and embroidered scalloped sleeves were some of the highlights.
The range of clothing was accentuated by particular garments like the corseted denim, with a vibrant coloured maxi skirt and the dark, buttoned, denim maxi with shred detailing and a billowing skirt.
Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor a.k.a ‘Lolo’, set the ramp alight with a gown that featured a blush pink will-power bodice with a pink to chrome yellow ombré and an artistically embroidered cape.
Functionality at its best, “From Russia, with Love” by Neha Agarwal embodied global fashion in a way that had every fashionista drooling over it.
