Manish Arora

Eighteenth century European actors, Thai festival dancers, virtual warriors from a videogame and Native American tribe chieftains all found their way into Manish Arora's head while he designed his collection for this season.

Eighteenth century European actors, Thai festival dancers, virtual warriors from a videogame and Native American tribe chieftains all found their way into Manish Arora's head while he designed his collection for this season.

HT Image

This was no ordinary fashion show, it was an extravagant variety show. A variety show that started off with a beautifully attired Chinese dancer, swaying to the utterly comical notes of the "cheeni meeni chin chin" song from Roop Ki Rani Chorron Ka Raja.

Just when you thought that the tone for the show was an Eastern influence with delicate embroidery, out trooped the models, wearing feathered mohawks and wildly colourful skirts and bustiers.

Knowing Manish Arora's wacky sense of style and crazy creativity, the show wasn't that much of a surprise. But even by his standards, the colours were really out of control. "Last year I was told that I used too many colours - this year I thought let me use EVEN more colours," the designer proudly announced.

There was a definite Thai goddess influence is the clothing as well as presentation. 'Mukuts' of gold and elaborate eye makeup added to the intrigue.

Most of the collection consisted of unique skirts. "I will sell them as ghaghras here in India and as fabulous skirts abroad," Arora said. The prices go up till 20,000 with some of the "cheap stuff" starting at Rs 3,000.

Amongst the other 'entertainers' was a flamenco/salsa dancer who rocked the ramp with her amazing moves. Loads of sequins, ruffles, appliqué, digital prints added to the chaos that was an integral part of the collection.

Emphasizing on the sleeves, Arora gave his garments exaggerated shoulders. "This was the influence of Japanese game warriors," he said. One saw 2-feet tall-layered sleeves with wiring to support them and loads of sequins to make sure they were seen.

Who is going to wear these clothes? "Everyone!" asserts Arora. "My audience is the world - I don't' believe in demarcating Indian audiences and International audiences. India is as international as any other country. You will find my collections in my Delhi store and the same thing in my Paris collection," he said.

But perhaps the most bizarre part of the entire show was the winged man in the end. Wearing a skin-tight white coloured body suit with neon appliqué work that shone under the blacklights, a man with huge feathered wings attempted to recreate some unique yoga steps on the ramp.

Revealing a tad too much down south, the winged creature succeed in repulsing a section of the audience and scaring the rest with his stern expressions under a coat of green.

If Manish Arora was trying to be bizarre, creative, wacky and wild, then he certainly succeeded. The standing ovation at the end said it all.

THE OTHER VIEW: High on emotion
Arati Thapa/HT City

A Japanese dancer dancing to Sridevi's Hawa Hawaai kicked off the presentation by designer Manish Arora.

Undoubtedly the best presentation of the Lakme India Fashion Week till now, Arora's collection ended with the emotional Kal Ho Naa Ho. It made designers Ranna Gill, Gauri and Nainika Karan break into an applause. The collection was an amalgamation of various cultures reflected in fabrics like silk, chiffon and satins with Arora's trademark motifs. As for the colour palette, it was a happy deviation from the whites and blacks that one has been seeing on the ramp so far.

Where else can you see red, green, blue and pink used in a skirt that is wearable too. Though the collection included long and short jackets and corsets, the onslaught of the skirts was repetitive. Arora used digital prints of wild horses, fish, insects and a cover of a magazine to convey the message that India is ready for the world.

Rate-o-meter
Wearability: 8
Presentation: 10
Front Row: Ritu Beri, Ritu Kumar, Bina Ramani, Anju Modi, Aparna Chandra, Gauri & Nainika Karan.
Buzz factor: 10
Late-o-meter: 25 mins