Fashion Folio, the exhibition cum sale being held on 6th and 7th December (open 10am to 8pm) at Hayya Club at Emirates Hills Dubai, received an unprecedented response from fashion aficionados in Dubai. The first of its kind event, combining designer houses from India and Pakistan – and showcasing the subcontinent’s centuries old love affair with Arabia – is the brainchild of Kalpana Danthi and Smita Sheth.
“Seeing the response to Fashion Folio, we have decided to repeat this format as it not only gives designers an ideal platform to showcase their work, but also offers Dubai’s fashion conscious an opportunity to buy it,” said Smita. “If you were to create an Indian and Pakistani Saks, this would be it” enthused Kalpana, a designer herself who has been in this field in Dubai for 20 years.
Designers galore
Displaying works from more than 20 fashion designers and couture houses, the event offered a plethora of choices to visitors:
• YOU: The concept behind this label is to source sometimes whacky, sometimes suave collections from India’s leading designers, targeted at the under 30 woman. Names represented by YOU include Horn Ok Please, Aki Narula, You –Inhouse, Trupsel, Mnb and Neeyati.
• Kalpana Danthi: A qualified fashion designer who hails from Mumbai and has been designing for local Arab ladies as well as done wedding collections in Dubai since the past 20 years. Last year she was involved at the fashion show for the Dubai Shopping Festival 2005. She has worked closely with many designer labels and has now started her own line of exquisite Pashmina Shawls under her own label "Kalpana Danthi" and these are sold through Kimaya and Aza boutiques in Mumbai.
• Shivangi: Shivangi – by Alpa and Reena – depicts a woman in all her forms, from being a bright and colourful young girl to contemporary woman of today, from a shy and coy bride, to a lady standing at the threshold of womanhood. Shivangi defines a complete woman of today. After a stupendously successful response at Exhibition “In touch with Fashion” on 26th Oct 06 in Dubai, Shivangi once again comes to the Emirates to display a whole new ensemble of exclusively crafted silhouettes, corsets, skirts and sarees.
• Inaara: Inaara, the brain child of Priya Dewnany, presented a whole new collection of fusion – Indo West, semi stitched / ready to wear designer sarees, Swarovski lehngas, kurta churidars and crochet / lace tunics. The variety at Inaara was huge - evening wear, semi-formal and formal wear, including heavier and more ornate stuff for the bride to be – sequins, mirrors and Swarovski stones sprinkled across the ensemble.
• HSY: HSY from Pakistan - the winner of the Lux Style Fashion Designer of the year award 2005-6 - is by Hassan Sheheryar Yasin. His collection this season is breaking away from supreme eastern traditions and is instead fusing them together with western sensibility. Opulent-detailing still remains the forte behind the new collection with intricate embellishments and elaborate elements. Utilizing only the best indigenous fabrics, the silhouette is elegant and modern, inspired by the jewels of the world and the mystical beauty of Arabia.
• Priti Kapoor: Designing the entire lexicon of clothing that a woman wears, her outfits are ornamented with Resham and Zari and she believes in contrasting embroideries, this being her main forte. Her ability to predict fashion and its incorporation in her creations has earned her appreciation from customers and celebrities alike.
• Orange Pekoe: Sukrita and Lajjo of Orange Pekoe boast elegant and eclectic co-ordinates in festive spirit and vibrant colors. With sheer and flowing fabrics, their tunics, shirts, tops and pants reflect well-honed sensibilities, in tune with global Indian styles.
• L'affaire: A fundamental principle of classic or contemporary, a symbol of simplicity and versatility, the 6 yard unstitched and beautifully draped garment, the sari is an earnest affair for L'affaire. A continual quest for aesthetics has inspired master craftsmen to approach this classic garment from a new angle every time. With Jacquard or handloom, colors and weaves, dying and printing, embroidery or hand-painting, all epitomize this proficiency and make each L'affaire sari a magnum opus.
• The Wardrobe: Wardrobe features exclusive designs of ready to wear clothing for trend-seeking women who have an eye for fashion. The designers have put together a blend of the finest fabrics from Italy, Far East and the most exquisite embroidery from Asia, combined with the greatest cuts of Europe. This collection had trendy tops, tunics and jackets and is also available across high-end stores in Dubai, Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Mumbai.
• Veda Lifestyle: Veda by Kushal Chudiwala, Sangita Chudiwala and Rupam Kapoor is a designer brand aimed at fresh new designs of accessories for a wide variety of occasions. The Veda Lifestyle collection is reviewed and updated with new designs every season and consists of handbags, belts, necklaces and other accessories.
• Leena Taneja: Leena’s collection comprizes of the most beautifully embellished garments with swarovskis, sequins metals, zardozi and finest embroideries on pure fabrics like velvet, brocade, georgetes and chiffons. The clothes are ornate, rich and glamorous with a dramatic and striking feel of style.
