Ramp in airplane, what’s next?

Karl Lagerfeld organises jumbo-jet show, desi folk keen on offsites.

German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld on Tuesday showcased his couture collection for Chanel in a grand airplane setting at the ongoing Paris Haute Couture Week.

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The dramatic set at Grand Palais saw the aisle converted into a catwalk, lined with grey aeroplane seats, luggage lockers and peep-hole windows.

The audiences were led to the first-class Chanel Air show area through a fake airport terminal, where there was a champagne trolley too.

Design folks back home are also impressed with the cockpit twist, but say instead of building such extravagant sets, they’d rather do real offsite shows if they had the resources and freedom.

Delhi-based designer Suneet Varma reminisces a show he had hosted inside an airplane 15 years ago.

“The beauty of couture stands out when it emerges out of unexpected surroundings. I’d love to do another offsite show.”

Mumbai designer Anita Dongre says, “I did an offsite show a few years ago with the Maharashtra Government and the tourism board. It was in a luxury train, The Deccan Odyssey... I’d love to do it again, may be in the Palace of Wheels this time.”

The upcoming India Fashion Week in the capital is also expected to see offsite displays by designers Tarun Tahiliani and Rohit Bal.

Designer Nida Mahmood says, “An offsite show in a dramatic setting is going to be the next big thing in fashion. I’d love to do shows in the Delhi Metro or even at an under-construction flyover.”

For Nikhil Mehra, it has to be an Old Delhi haveli “We’ve been thinking of a vampire-themed couture show in a haunted haveli for a long time now.”

Designer Neeta Lulla says, “Offsites are great because there’s a connect between the clothes and the place. The Sea Link in Mumbai or the Qutub Minar in Delhi would be good to experiment with.”