Fashion Week: Here’s what you can expect from Delhi’s five-day fashion fiesta

From myriad milestones to inspiration galore for spring/summer 2018, here’s a glimpse at all that you can expect from the upcoming fashion week in Delhi.

Festivities and fashion are inseparable, and keeping in tune with the celebratory spirit of the month, runway action is ready to take over Delhi.Organised by Fashion Design Council of India, the five-day fashion week, that starts on October 11 (Wednesday) at NSIC Grounds and wraps up on Sunday (October 15), will celebrate many milestones. It’s the 30th edition of the extravaganza, and many designers are also celebrating 25 years in the industry. These include Payal Jain, Abraham & Thakore, JJ Valaya, Anju Modi and Ashish N Soni. “I’m delving into my archives, revamping my sketchbook and re-inventing some key things done in the past. It might seem like it is very easy to work with blacks, but it’s a big challenge, something I wanted to take on,” says Soni, who’ll present all-black eveningwear for men and women, with textural innovation.

Ashish N Soni celebrates 25 years of being in the industry.

Creations by Abraham and Thakore.

A glimpse at Pawan Sachdeva’s collection.

Focus is also on fabric engineering, with Rimzim Dadu’s opening show. “I have taken my fascination for cords and yarns further this season. Last season, I played with steel wires and this season, I have taken traditional metallic zari and tried to change its characteristic and behaviour by way of deconstruction and construction. So, it’s a modern take on zari and other traditional yarns like silk threads. Having said that, the steel wires do make a come back, in a new more fluid form,” she says.

Creations by designers Kavita Bhartia, Madhu Jain, Nikhita Tandon and Payal Jain.

Designer Charu Parashar is showcasing her designs after a gap of two years.

Muses also take on centerstage, like Rina Dhaka’s modern nomad. Dhaka is also part of the two-tiered finale which will see prêt and couture come together. Ashish N Soni, Krishna Mehta, Pankaj & Nidhi, Rina Dhaka, Rohit Gandhi-Rahul Khanna will wrap the showcase, with Suneet Varma closing with couture and celebrating 30 years in the industry.

Suneet Varma will mark the culmination of the grand finale.

“I believe fashion is the politest way of speaking about sex. But, i like the subtle unspoken word, left to the imagination of the wearer. The glamour and sensuality in this collection comes through the use of sheer and lucid fabrics, the delicate placement of embellishments, the drapes and the unexpected details, and, what they reveal or conceal. Couture is like a sixth sense of seduction. It has its own vocabulary and language, like an elaborate braid entwined with history, myth and tradition. It may be modern, whimsical or demure, but always magnificent and carefully crafted ,” says Varma.

Here’s a sneak peek at some other designs:

Dhruv Vaish plays with spring-ready hues like pinks and calming blues for the coming season.

JJ Valaya, who completes 25 years in the industry, is going to showcase occasionwear.

Nida Mahmood’s collection focusses on athleisure.

Inputs by Akshay Kaushal