KAVITA BHARTIA

Folklore Saga

FOR 

WILLS LIFESTYLE INDIA FASHION WEEK

SS COLLECTION 2013 

Volume and proportions are contemporary in Kavita Bhartia's Spring Summer 2013 collection that resonates the memory of a Romanian holiday—bound with a dose of sensuality. She's among the most intellectual of Indian fashion designers and what made her choose this theme was the fluid ease of the epoch's garments. Her strength as a mixologist comes through in the constructions that are moulded into attractive drapes to maintain a spirit of effortless elegance.

Every look emphasizes the honed body through fabrics that balance comfort and opulence like chiffon, organza and silk Lycra. 'Folklore Saga' is steeped in references from Eastern European countries... particularly the softly structured Romanian peasant blouses which legendary artist Matisse (an enthusiastic collector of textiles) also showcased in his paintings. There is something almost balletic about the floor-length gowns that flow with every step. 

Kavita has embellished them with embroidered geometrical motifs—based on geometric patterns used in weaving for decades—typical of the designer's artisanal hand detailing. The central theme extends to the color palate too. Kavita has a vibrant sense of color and taking a cue from Romania culture... creams and pastels, purple and turquoise blend seamlessly in a palate shot with the brilliance of neon.

The antiquated theme could've proven costumey but it isn't. It is the designer at her romantic best with a collection that is relevant, modern and genuinely very pretty!

FOUR VETERAN DESIGNERS 

CELEBRATE IN FOUR PARTS 

@ 

OGAAN 

As part of OGAAN's Celebration in Four Parts, four veteran designers Faiza Samee, Kavita Bhartia, Kiran Uttam Ghosh and Studio Petticoat designed couture collections for the Fall-Winter wedding and it's four central events -- bright shararas and lehengas for day events like the mehendi, intricately embellished pieces for the sangeet and reception, and heavy, bright saris, kurtas and lehengas for the wedding.

For the two days of the exhibition, at DLF Emporio's atrium, event designer Sumant Jayakrishnan created a private tent installation, as an installation and browsing space for each of the designers.

The event kick started over high tea and seen in attendance were  Ritu Kumar, Tikka Shatrujeet Singh, Vikrum Baidyanath, Anita Kumar, Sonam Dubal, Kalyani Chawla, Sunil Sethi, Kiran Uttam Ghosh, AD Singh, Neera Nath, Kavita Bhartia, Hemant Khandelwal, Taniya Ahuja to name a few. While all designers had models wearing their collections at the exposition, we saw socialite Shalini Passi playing perfect muse for designer Kiran Uttam Ghosh, who looked stunning in a red Indian ensemble.

Aashti Bhartia,Neera Nath & AD Singh

Divya & Debyani from Studio Petticoat

Radhika Jha & Hemant Khandelwal 

Ritu Kumar & Kiran Uttam Ghosh

Shatrujit Singh Tikka

Suneeta Shankar & Sonam Dubal

Vikrum Baidyanath & Anita Kumar

Pakistani couture designer Faiza Samee showcased a collection specially designed for Ogaan with the upcoming festive season in mind. 

'The silhouettes -- saris, lehengas with short blouses, voluminous shararas -- combine traditional Pakistani and Indian elements, bringing them together in an exciting new way. The embroideries, done by the finest craftsmen from Pakistan, borrow strongly from our shared common heritage,' Faiza says of her collection.

Model Svete in Faiza Samee

The Kavita Bhartia line experimented with draped saris, and contemporary embroideries.  In kurtas, swathes of neon pink and orange chiffon accentuate gold monotone embroidery on gold tissue.

"We've experimented with sari drapes, lycra sari skirts, concept blouses, and new placement embroideries this season. It's a collection for the contemporary wedding,"  Kavita says.

Model Carla in Kavita Bhartia 

Kiran Uttam Ghosh brought a contemporary edge to Indian couture with geometric embroideries, jagged and gold-dipped edges and unusual silhouettes.

Shalini Passi in Kiran Uttam Ghosh

Model Olga in Studio Petticoat

Young designers Divya Sahaya and Debyani Malhotra's label Studio Petticoat is known for its unique mixing of traditional embroidery, print and colour. With neon colours on nakshai embroidery and jaal prints and gold zardozi embroidery in Kashmir inspired motifs on shirt kurtas, the Studio Petticoat collection promises to be ornate yet playful. 

Available at: 

OGAAN 

New Delhi                                                                                                           Mumbai 

431, 2nd floor, DLF Emporio                                                            Vaswani House 1st Floor

Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj,                                              7 Best Marg, Colaba, Mumbai