Spring Summer 2016
It was an interesting New York Fashion Week with South Asian designers showing contrasting collections such as the structured elegance of Bibhu Mohapatra, to Naeem Khan’s utterly feminine line. We saw newcomer Red Ghagra’s line of socially conscious contemporary fashion and of course, the forward-thinking looks for Sachin + Babi and the party that is TTandon. Although this article is about fashion, we did want to mention and congratulate Falu’s live performance during the celebrity-studded Givenchy show held in remembrance of 9/11. You can find out much more on that show at Givenchy’s Facebook page.
NAEEM KHAN
Naeem Khan was inspired by the iconic women of the Riviera imagining what they would have worn had they been vacationing under the azure skies and pink bougainvillea-covered villas. Following the elegance of Grace Kelly and the chic style of Sophia Loren, Khan show gowns with a vibrant palette of yellow, red, orange and ocean blues. Although many caftans were shown, his signature red carpet silohuette was in in abundance with voluminous flowing shapes in chiffon, silks and taffeta. The collection was one of his most vibrant and nice progression from his S/S 15’s art deco style. NaeemKhan.com
SACHIN + BABI
Photos: Julio Gaggia / Courtesy of Sachin & Babi
Addressing the perils of high-priced couture mixed with selfie-happy social media, designers Sachin and Babi Ahluwalia presented a collection of separates (priced under $1200) that can be mixed and matched to create a multitude of camera-ready looks. Strapless trapeze tops in white eyelet cotton mixed and matched with eyelet trousers and silk skirts while bustiers were shown with black wide-leg pants and structured crop tops. Gowns were also shown that had an easy, yet glamorous silhouette with plenty of bare shoulders. SachinandBabi.com
BIBHU MOHAPATRA
Staying true to his meticulous approach to tailoring, Bibhu Mohapatra found inspiration in Annemarie Schwarzenbach—Swiss journalist, photographer and style icon—and the geometric style of the Bauhaus. His looks ranged in cool neutrals with unexpected pops of fluid color in floral shapes. Otherwise, the collection was structured with a beautiful high-waisted pant capturing much attention. Bibhu.com
TTANDON
In what she called her Vintage Luxe Black Label collection, designer Tina Tandon of TTandon showed opulent feminine dresses that hinted back to the art deco era with color-blocked sequins and multi-strapped necklines. A lace and chiffon dress with tie-dyed animal print stood out with its mix of textures and patterns. Ttandon.com
RED GHAGRA
Photos by Kevin Kim and Sachi Anand
One of our favorite collections this year was by Red Ghagra, a socially conscious line founded a year ago by Nidhi Garg Allen. The idea behind the label is to take traditional, organic and artisan-made fabrics, prints and embroideries and reinvent them into contemporary western silhouettes. Many of the artisans are women from the villages of India who support their families with this work. The line incorporates both day and evening wear along with jewelry pieces that are also hand-made. The SS-16 collection showed warm colors in natural inks embellished with block printing and hints of embroidery. The makeup by artist Sonia C (soniacollection.com) reflected the modernity of the collection with a soft smudged eye, bronzed skin and bitten lips. We look forward to seeing much more of this line in the future. RedGhagra.com
