Fashion Inquisitive

Taj Khazana Presents 'Pochampally' by Rahul Mishra

2012-02-09T23:41:00.003+05:30

"India is a vast country and the handloom-dependent population in our country is massive. The condition of craftsmen and weavers is India is not very good. The handloom consumption has been on decline but it is poised for growth in the luxury segment. That is the way forward.

"We cannot keep placing handloom fabrics to compete with mass produced Chinese imports. With proper design intervention, I am trying to create a sustainable system to create a market for handlooms.."

"We have revived the art of Ikat particular to the Pochampally district of Andhra Pradesh, which has the largest population of weavers dedicated to this handicraft. It is one of the oldest forms of weaving which travelled to India via the Silk Route.."

"In Pochampally the Ikat textiles are a living embodiment of an ancient yarn tie and dye technique in which patterns and motifs are achieved on the yarn even before it is woven into fabric! The art requires graphing of the design and pattern before the warp and weft are colored. The threads forming the design are tied and dyed repeatedly to bring in the right color at the right place and this interlacing of threads produce the design on the fabric! In this collection, the craft is reinterpreted, engineered and customized into a neo-graphic manner...re-animating the leaves, the flowers and the blossoming buds through motifs...to suffice both the aspects... classic and contemporary...thus illustrating the splendor of Ikat in a new avatar.."

"It is more challenging to work with Ikat than other textiles as it is a very slow process. We wanted to make it available to the modern woman so the collection includes a variety of garments.."

"I was planning the collection for a long time. The Indian market is flooded with Indian outfits and I wanted to create a very unique look. So it took a lot of research and weaving exploration to be able to conceive it. The collection signifies the attire of great Mughals and is inspired by the opulent domes of the Islamic art and architecture.."

- Designer Rahul Mishra

Rahul Mishra

Credit: Indiatimes, Bharatstudent

Ritu Kumar 'Panchvastra' Couture Presentation 2012

2012-02-07T23:40:00.001+05:30

Ritu Kumar Couture

Credit: Indiatimes

Spring Summer 2012 Couture Delights - Glitz, Glam and Sparkle

2012-02-07T21:19:00.000+05:30

Dutch designer Jan Taminiau's gladiator princess; tall, lean, in killer heals!

Jan Taminiau Couture Spring Summer 2012

Lebanese designer Basil Soda's fan pleated goddess dresses, trademark skeletal shapes, mesh net and chiffons.

Basil Soda Couture Spring Summer 2012

Turkish Designer Dilek Hanif's stunning, sexy and sweet princess dresses and gowns.

Dilek Hanif Couture Spring Summer 2012

Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad's signature star burst sequin, bling and metallic numbers.

Zuhair Murad Couture Spring Summer 2012

French-Lebanese designer Dany Atrache's head turners in ecru, metallic, pastels and black.

Dany Atrache Couture Spring Summer 2012

Red carpet sizzlers no doubt, Turkish designer Cengiz Abazoglu interpreted bridal couture details for evening wear silhouettes.

Cengiz Abazoglu Couture Spring Summer 2012

Credit: Nowfashion, GoRunway

Spring Summer 2012 Couture Delights - Romantic, Theatrical and Demure Sophistication

2012-02-07T20:02:00.000+05:30

Feminine and ladylike, graphic patterns in the form of prints, sequin embellishments and cutouts on velvet, gorgeous embroidery textures and voluminous skirts stood out in Russian designer Yulia Yanina's couture collection.

Yanina Couture Spring Summer 2012

Designer Yulia Yanina

Bond Girl or Vamp? Irrespective, French designer Eric Tibusch line was very sexy channeling a distinct Gaultier influence where the designer worked for some years.

Eric Tibusch Couture Spring Summer 2012

Designer Eric Tibusch

Indonesian designer Didit Hediprasetyo's couture line was inspired by the essence of colonial India. The hats and vegetable fibre turbans were custom designed by Philip Treacy, and the elephant prints were a collaboration with designer Calla Haynes and illustrator Christophe Lopez-Huici.

Didit Couture Spring Summer 2012

Modern, minimalist and extremely well made! Designer Fabien Rozan's couture collection had simple ideas and well thought out silhouettes, flawless construction and polished looks.

Fabien Rozan Couture Spring Summer 2012

Innovative silhouettes, draping and graphic prints characterised Atelier Gustavo Lin's modern and eclectic couture collection.

Atelier Gustavo Lins Couture Spring Summer 2012

Credit: Nowfashion, GoRunway

Spring Summer 2012 Couture Delights - Sensory Overload

2012-02-06T22:59:00.000+05:30

Franck Sorbier - Carved and sculpted metal and enamel breastplate torsos teamed with Grecian drapes, soft pleats, ruffles, fringe, feather plumes, fluffy skirts and ribbons

Franck Sorbier Couture Spring Summer 2012

French designer Franck Sorbier (center) with French sculptor Richard Texier (right)

Feathers and plumes at Serkan Cura

Serkan Cura Couture Spring Summer 2012

Fan pleats, aerodynamic quality and a subtle Victorian appeal formed the crux of the House of Worth couture collection by creative director Giovvani Bedin. The designer was inspired by a 1910 red velvet kimono coat designed by Monsieur Worth which now stands at Kyoto Costume Museum.

House of Worth Couture Spring Summer 2012

Houndstooth, intergalactic and flame prints and decorative embellishment formed part of French fashion house On Aura Tout Vu, headed by Bulgarian designers Yassen Samouilov and Livia Stoianova.

On Aura Tout Vu Couture Spring Summer 2012

House of Worth Couture Spring Summer 2012

Maurizio Galante - Back to nature, intricate crafts and dramatic silhouettes

Maurizio Galante Couture Spring Summer 2012

Julien Fournié - Sporty and contemporary with an edge

Julien Fournié Couture Spring Summer 2012

"Structured, graphic, modern, young, very sensual, not heavy" - Syrian born, Dubai based designer Rami Al Ali. The graphic cutwork design seems inspired by Islamic motifs that highlights the designer's Middle Eastern roots.

Rami Al Ali Couture Spring Summer 2012

Deconstruction, drape folds, flaps and dart manipulations used to shape rosette surfaces, ruffles and silhouette displayed Japanese designer Yoshiki Hishinuma's exquisite pattern making techniques.

Yoshiki Hishinuma Couture Spring Summer 2012

Credit: Nowfashion, Getty Images, GoRunway

Spring Summer 2012 Couture Delights - Luxe Tailoring, Graphic Play and Dramatic Details

2012-02-06T18:13:00.002+05:30

Exaggerated shapes, tiers of papery folds and pleats; the larger than life, goth appeal at Stéphane Rolland.

Stéphane Rolland Couture Spring Summer 2012

Androgynous, tailored and draped silhouettes, fringe, feathers and sequins at Alexandre Vauthier.

Alexandre Vauthier Couture Spring Summer 2012

Maxime Simoens - Pixelated effects, graphic embellishments, fabric colour blocks, multicolour mosaic beading, strong, structured, sculpted shapes and silhouettes.

Maxime Simoens Couture Spring Summer 2012

Billowy and sculptural, Chinese designer Yiqing Yin's collection created a strong impact highlighting the designer's adeptness and knack for using diverse and complex detailing techniques.

Yiqing Yin Couture Spring Summer 2012

Sharp cuts, fluid tailoring, simple soft prints and contemporary silhouettes, all extremely well done echoed designer Bouchra Jarrar's no-nonsense approach to design. Standout silhouettes included remarkably tailored straight leg trousers and slit open back vests, snoods, double breasted coat dresses and coats accessorised with scarves.

Bouchra Jarrar Couture Spring Summer 2012

Veteran French designer Adeline André austere, deceptively simple, flawlessly tailored, seamless shapes debunks the idea of couture tagged to razzle dazzle, and takes a back to the basics approach, that the joy in a garment ultimately lies in it's cut, fit, fall and neat finishing.

Adeline André Couture Spring Summer 2012

Pretty colours and dainty silhouettes, cerebral drapes and ruching, designer Christophe Josse's clothes were red carpet perfection!

Christophe Josse Couture Spring Summer 2012

Polish designer Eva Minge's collection started out as a graphic play of black and white curves and colour block patterns, bleeding into to ombre and finally ending with embroidered and sequin black dresses with tulle overlay. The silhouettes were modern yet ladylike, the short strapless, round peplum hip bustier dress and Jodhpur breeches stood out.

Eva Minge Couture Spring Summer 2012

Credit: GoRunway, Getty Images