The recent khadi showcase by FDCI designers was an attempt to make fashion inclusive for specially abled kids, as children from NGO Tamana took to the ramp. By S Mallik
We think we know all about fashion, rightIJ What goes into making a collection, the endless trials, the ramp choreography, details to accessories, the final stitches and what not. But FDCI’s recent showcase on the theme of Khadi, at Hyatt Regency, was a clutter breaker, not because the concept was different but because of the models. Sans heels, the they stood somewhere between three to five feet.
It was one of those rare coming together of fashion and specially abled kids and onlookers were left misty eyed as children from NGO Tamana, strode down the ramp, hand in hand with kids from leading schools of India.
“We wanted to show that fashion is inclusive and meant for everyone — even a child with special abilities. They are beautiful in their own way and this is a way to exemplify that,” said Shyama Chona, founder of Tamana, as the kids walked down in dresses designed by Ridhi Arora.
Rahul Mishra, Samant Chauhan, Anju Modi, Rohit Bal, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Abraham and Thakore, JJ Valaya, Gaurav Jai Gupta and Payal Jain were the designers who associated with the cause and proved that fashion transcends age, size and figure.
With five showcases each, they brought out the potential of the fabric considered raw and pure. JJ Valaya’s collection opened the fashion show. There were Nehru jackets, long flowy cream coloured straight ghagras and long jackets teamed with shararas. There were floral thread embroideries, too.
Abraham and Thakore’s colour palette was restricted to black, brick red, white and earthy tones. There were drapes, jumpsuits, jackets and trousers, with mirror work on a few of them. “It was all khadi and we used blocks which had no figure, just the ground — flat blocks, to create texture and embroidered little mirrors on it,” said David Abraham, pointing to the mirror work at the hem of the sarees which were visible as the model walked and also at the back of the blouse she was wearing.
Mishra presented his khadi jamdani collection. Thejamdani has been crafted in Bengal while a bit of the khadi is from Maheshwar, UP. “It has reds and whites all from jamdani’s traditional artwork and motifs,” said the designer who played with shades of red, blue and white.
“Fashion as an idea does not have a depth but the depth that Tamana has in their work the kind of beauty they have is overwhelming. Clothes are always meant for people and the thing here is that people are more important than clothes and that is how fashion has to be like,” Mishra pointed out.
Samant’s collection was elegant as he kept the natural colour of the fabric and cut simple and straight silhouettes. He infused silk and cotton into the collection, few of which he designed exclusively for the collection. “Few of the garments are from the FDCI fashion week finale,” he added.
Black ensemble with minute colourful embroidery and also gold embroidery is a classic reflection of Rohit Bal. His were long gowns, layered underneath, giving it is fluffed look.
Designer Gaurav Jai Gupta’s showcase was rather colourful with shades of peach, blue, white, grey and brown. “All the fabric was made in house and it was specially done for the show. They are meant for the summer and are natural. As for cuts, we looked at modern India — something which is younger, and used colours which are very fresh. We also kept a very easy silhouette,” said the designer.
Sunil Sethi, president FDCI said, “It is an honour for the FDCI to be associated with this milestone event in which the students of Tamana and other participating schools along with the fashion fraternity showed that fashion knows no boundaries. The unwavering effort of Tamana in supporting their inclusion into the mainstream through the medium of fashion is truly commendable.”