By Avanti Dalal
The Indian style aesthetic has been a source of inspiration for scores of international designers. When this ethnic sensibility is portrayed through a western outlook, the fusion is a beautiful love child, edgy, detailed and elegant. Indian-American designer Sheena Trivedi put her own spin on this trend and put forth her most interesting collection yet including her first menswear line.
Trivedi showed her Fall/Winter 2014 menswear and womenswear collection at the Empire Hotel rooftop, just a street away from the Lincoln Center in uptown Manhattan to a room filled with models, fashionistas, street style mavens, fashion editors and photographers. This collection was named ‘Kids of Bengal’ and rightly so. Inspired by the Banjara tribe of India and the popular movie character Mad Max, the collection was a playful and futuristic mix of separates that screamed of the colors, textures and patterns from India and the cuts and silhouettes of American fashion.
Male and female models stood atop lit boxes to showcase designs that included high-waisted embellished pants, graphic tops, jackets with beaded designs, leather jackets with studs, wrap dresses with kitschy prints and highly embroidered skirts. Black was the primary color seen along with flashes of red, blue and camel. Leather, silk and brocade were the main fabrics used emphasized with metallic embroidery. Some pieces seemed to be almost unisex – a subtle blend of masculinity and femininity. Accoutrements like nose rings, stacks of bangles, silver jewelry, veils and necklaces were added to the model’s looks. The models wore traditional face paint on their faces, which complemented the outfits.
Pieces that really stood out included a black fringe skirt paired with a graphic top that stood for biker chic, a blue skirt with gold appliques and a light blue scarf with mirror embroidery. The cohesive collection was a mix of avant-garde America and traditional India and the electric atmosphere only enhanced the presentation.
