KHADI COOL: On a pleasant winter evening, Ahmedabad hosted a fashion soiree, titled From Huts to the High Street, on the heels of the Vibrant Gujarat Khadi Utsav.
This unique show was organized by the Gujarat State Khadi and Village Industries Board in partnership with the Fashion Design Council of India to promote handspun khadi as a style statement, and was sponsored by UPL Limited. The focus of the last fashion week in Delhi was also on Indian handlooms and artisanal skills. The chief guest for this evening, which began with a light and sound show, was Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel. Set against the historic Moti Shahi Mahal, the fashion show had sequences centred on khadi by designers Anamika Khanna, Rajesh Pratap Singh and Rohit Bal.
RAMP TALK: While Anamika's collection reinvented khadi with sequins and cape-like jackets paired with statement jewellery, Rajesh's structured jackets, dresses and flowy gowns were paired with snoods. Some of the pieces in Rohit's collection were designs that were also showcased at the last fashion week in Delhi, but these were redone in khadi for this show. Another highlight of the evening was when, in keeping with Rajesh's last show where his colleagues walked the ramp, the designer got local craftsmen from the Rabari community to walk for him.
FASH FRAT-ERNIZING: Showstopper Sonam Kapoor walked in creations by all three designers rolled into one, since her outfit consisted of a choli and a jacket by Anamika, a dupatta by Rajesh and a lehenga by Rohit. FDCI president Sunil Sethi said, "I've never seen this kind of camaraderie in the fashion fraternity before, where all the three designers cooperated and dressed Sonam together. In fact, many FDCI board members had also come to Ahmedabad to attend the show and support their fellow designers. Today three designers have done a show together, someday 300 designers will do one together and promote khadi." Some of the board members who attended the show were Anju Modi, Reynu Taandon and Abhishek Gupta. FDCI presented the chief minister with a khadi shawl. The garland that was offered to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's statue by the CM and FDCI was also made of khadi.
BOLLY BYTES: Another special guest for the evening was Chitrangda Singh, who, along with Sethi, presented khadi handkerchiefs to the CM. She later told us, "This was a stunning show, and the fact that it's promoting khadi is just great. It was also very heartening to see local craftspeople on the ramp." The actress was wearing an Anamika Khanna khadi suit for the evening. Sonam echoed her views, and said, "Now that these designers have presented such amazing collections in khadi and made the fabric high-end, the masses will also start to think of it as a luxury item. This is a fantastic initiative, and it was one of the most incredible shows I've ever walked for." Manganiyar vocalist Samandar Khan and his group customized their music for the show. Read more here: one shoulder formal dresses