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HOME | LIFE/STYLE | COLUMNISTS | A LA MODE |
August 27, 1997 |
Meher Castelino
But will grey click in India?
Doesn't seem like it, since the Indians are on their own colourful
trip. What with 50 years of freedom and all that, the favourite
trio colour is undoubtedly saffron, white and green worn together
or separately. Designers are burning the midnight oil trying to
work out contemporary and unconventional creations with these
colours. Here's hoping the garments won't end up looking like
the Indian flag.
With all that talk of the tricolour, can khadi be far behind?
It's a pity this lovely handspun fabric only gets a boost around
Bapu's birthday or during free India's golden jubilee celebrations.
Or when designers like Ritu Kumar, Kamal Wadkar or Devika Bhojwaniput their mark on it. Otherwise, it lies neglected on the shelves
of khadi emporiums in the form of dhotis and kurtas. Suddenly,
though, designers have discovered khadi's elegant qualities
and are churning out creations overnight. It's chic to
wear khadi, what with patriotic fervor and all that. Who
ever said fashion was flippant?
The West just can't have enough of the East and Indian designers
are blitzing the world with their creations. At The Collection
Premier, the biggest women's wear high fashion garment fair held
in Dusseldorf, Germany, this month, the look was very Indian as
European designers tried their hand at creating oriental chic.
They may not have turned into slaves of Indian labels, but they
are definitely getting inspired. In fact, the summer of '98 will
see versions of the Jodhpuri jacket, dhoti, choli, lungi, kurta,
churidar and ghagra on Western shelves. Add to that, turbans,
dupattas, scarves and nose rings for accessories and you'll see
a lot of demure maidens gliding down Oxford Street or the Champs
Elysee next summer.
Export-import can, at times, be the name of the fashion game.
But when both export and import involve the same product, it hints
at an unusual story.
Indian jewellery designer Gillian Hollenstein, who lives in Switzerland,
markets her creations in Europe and the Far and Middle East under
the label, Gillian Designs. Now that she's woken up to the potential
of India as a market, she's launched her European styles at Melange,
Bombay, under the label Gillian Hollenstein for Melange.
The jewellery is unconventional, kooky and exclusive 14 carat
gold 'n' diamond stuff. Hollenstein's designs have such limited
numbers; you might be the only one owning her creations. Not a
bad way to stand out in a crowd!
Time, in India, reached a standstill, as the hottest watches from
the West made their appearance in the Indian market. Tiffany,
Concord, Corium, Arpels, Cartier, Breguet, Chopard, Piaget --
they are all here. But it's the prices that require a second,
third and even fourth look. A Concord costs Rs 27.4 million, Breguet
Rs 1 million, Piaget Rs 200,000, Arpels Rs 1.5 million, Cartier
Rs 600,000, Chopard US $ 25 million. Tags like these definitely
made the Indian socialite's heart skip a beat or two. Are they
really worth it? After all, a good old HMT or Titan (they are
the hottest sellers in Europe) will tell the same time as these
fancy labels.
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Meher Castelino
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