Designer duo make their LIFW debut

Known as the couture kings of Indian fashion, Mumbai designers Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla are participating in Lakme India Fashion Week for the first time.

Known as the couture kings of Indian fashion, Mumbai designers Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla are participating in Lakme India Fashion Week for the first time. The decision, they say, was forced upon them. "Ritu Kumar called us and insisted that we support the FDCI in boosting the Indian fashion industry. We could not refuse her," says Abu Jani. They will hit the runway with an all classic white collection.

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Says Khosla, "It is an all 'classic' white collection. We introduced the colour on the runway for the first time in 1988, at a time when the popular perception was that white is a colour for mourning. We went against the times and were supported by filmstars like Dimple Kapadia and Jaya Bachchan. Now white is a colour that is a mark of class and style." Adds Jani, "The silhouettes this time are against the times. While everyone else is decreasing the lengths and giving fitted look, we've gone for long and flowing garments.

We are presenting an Indowestern collection which will include coats with choli tops. We've played around with georgette and satin for the skirts and quilted silks for the jackets and embellished them with mirror-work and threadwork in some."

The duo are tight-lipped about any star walking the ramp at their show. But they have a grouse. "It's sad how a designer is allowed only ten passes for the front row for his own guests." Also the innumerable formalities are loathable. "It's almost like we are back in school," says Khosla.