The phrase ‘richness of Indian culture and tradition’ is used so often that it almost loses its meaning. Unless there is a close encounter with it. Mine was a sartorial one.
Indian textiles, fabrics, weaves and embroideries have been used in clothing in India and outside for hundreds of years, and exported to numerous counties but have still not lost their charm. Designers have reinvented them over and over again to suit contemporary clothing.
There are few Indian designers who do not use at least one traditional element in their garments. On the third day of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, designers took up some traditional weaves and embroideries and interpreted it for the ramp. Manish Malhotra did a spectacular job of it.
The designer has often been criticised for repeating the same styles but his clientele don’t seem to be complaining. This time he took to phulkari, a kind of colourful traditional Punjabi embroidery, and put it on his signature lehengas, anarkalis, angarakhas, and dupattas. The phulkari appeared on borders, with jackets and dupattas giving a distinct and colourful look to the clothes.
One of the most commercially successful Indian designers, Malhotra has been working on popularising local craft. He has earlier worked on chikankari and Kashmir thread work.
