It had actor Arjun Rampal walking the ramp, French footwear designer Christian Louboutin attending the event, singer Shubha Mudgal performing and a collection inspired by the Mughal gardens of Kashmir. The grand finale by designer Rohit Bal at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) spring-summer 2015 at a heritage site in New Delhi on Sunday was truly larger than life.
Bal, who is from Kashmir, presented his new collection titled ‘Gulbagh’, inspired by the lush Mughal gardens in the valley.
With the Qutub Minar as its backdrop, the runway resembled a court of the Mughal emperors.
Donning lehengas (long skirts) with peplum blouses, embroidered jackets and saris, adorned with rose petals, the female models looked royal. The male models looked equally stunning in achkans (knee-length coats) and churidars (tight trousers).
Using techniques like hand-block printing with vegetable dyes and gold leaf embossing, Bal used chanderi, fine mulmul, matka silk and velvet fabrics for his new line.
Rampal, who walked as the showstopper, is no stranger to fashion shows, but he said it was “nerve-wracking”.
Dressed in a black bandhgala (Indo-Western suit) and matching trousers, he walked the ramp, adjusting his sleeves.
“I’ve done many shows, but the quality of this show...the experience is different. I think Shubha Mudgal was spectacular. It’s the first time, I’ve walked on ramp with live alap [improvised section of a raga],” he told reporters after the show on Sunday.
“The sound, lighting, decoration and clothes took me to a different world,” he added.
The five-day fashion extravaganza was organised by the Fashion Design Council of India.
