In Style: Myth & reality

From a small town in Orissa to one of the biggest fashion events of the country, young designer Manas Dash created a stir at his first show at the Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) with a collection inspired by the Pattachitra paintings and his childhood memories.

"The starting point of the collection is based on a small incident from my own past memories," Dash said.

"I am from a very conservative family and place and when I was 13, I started liking Western music. But it was a taboo to listen to that in my place and I was stopped by everyone.

"The faces of all the characters from that incident are the inspiration for my collection, which I have expressed through the Pattachitra painting-inspired clothes."

The collection is called "Modern Tribe" and incorporates fabrics including pure silk, cotton silk, raw silk, poplin, satin and lycra.

Working around the Pattachitra paintings of Orissa, which is an ancient and popular form of art inspired by Indian mythology, the designer used them for very edgy modern silhouettes with dramatic shoulder interest.

Opening the show with a rigid constructed dress, Dash moved to a frilled and layered top and then onto a 3D animal patchwork embroidered blouse. Leggings had the digital print and so did the waistcoats to create a matching combo.

The final creation designed from tyres, machine parts and animal painting had rigid cottage-like shapes on the skirt sides. Adding on motifs of animals, fish or trees in applique form, the collection was a great achievement for Dash because of its very striking ramp appeal and emphasis on craft.

Masaba

Designer Masaba was excited that her father, noted West Indies ex-cricketer Vivian Richards (pictured below with Masaba), made it to her show on Saturday. He attended the show with her mother, actress Nina Gupta. Actresses Mugdha Godse, Jacqueline Fernandez and Mandira Bedi were also in the audience.

"He winked at me when I took the ramp, that means he is really happy seeing my collections. He has seen my collections online, but it's the first time he saw any of my shows," she said.

Masaba's collection was "Straight from My Soul" which was inspired by the tribes of central Africa which comprise some very structured silhouettes and colourful saris.

"They were independent in my way. There are very strong colour block. It's my modern take on Massai culture," she said.

Being half-Caribbean, she has used that culture in her design. "My structures and my fabrics are very, very Indian," she said.

"Caribbean is part of my culture. I am half-Caribbean. I had just put that half into my collections."