Wish to be the bride by the seaside or simply lounge by the pool to rejuvenate during a quick vacationIJ The second edition of the India Beach Fashion Week brings to you the best of designer wear for your getaway. By Riya Sharma and Rupinder Kaur
The thought of a serene seaside, with its warm sand and the wind caressing your hair and brushin against the skin, would definitely give one the gossebumps and make one yearn for a small getaway.
A perfect vacation along the coasts would definitely get a nod from all but how about an intimate wedding ceremony by the blue dancing waters with your close family and friendsIJ If not a small and a private affair, and no moolah constraints, then a super lavish one maybeIJ
The designers showcasing at the second edition of Gionee India Beach Fashion Week (GIBFW) in Goa this month can definitely help you get a better picture with their flawless designs and avant-garde creations.
Ace designer Anupamaa Dayal with her Swayamvar collection focusses on the free-spirited woman who has the right to marry the man she wishes to be with.
“Marriage is the biggest decision of our life and Swayamvar, is the empowered right of choice of husband that the Indian woman has had since mythological times. The woman I look at is simply herself and she loves it,” shared Dayal.
Though the immediate picture that comes to mind when we talk of bridal wear are the intricate embroideries, the dazzle of sequins or the silky royal fabric but Dayal said, “There is no bling in this collection and it’s very light weight. I want my bride to wear that outfit again and again, maybe when she heads out for a beautiful evening event or maybe to another wedding.”
The Delhi-based designer has played with the palette of sunset by a beach in Goa,khatta orange, dazzle pink, yellow and some other colours which she said she can’t describe. “The silhouettes are Indian like there are lehengas but the fabrics will surprise you. There are butterflies and floral prints on the ensembles,” she further said.
Designer Dimple Raghani’s Rosette collection was created after she returned home from Kashmir with the beautiful image of roses. The entire collection has been done in pastel shades like peaches, et al. “There are intricate rose motifs which have been hand-embroidered and we’ve also used Swarovski stones which sit elegantly on lehengas, shararas, capes. We have also done our cholis differently,” she said.
Raghani, too, concentrated on the lightweight element by using “minimalistic embroidery at the right places”. She also wants her bride to use her perfect wedding outfit in future and not just store it in a box. “If the dress is overloaded with various design elements and embroideries then you can’t use it again. The,”
Sukriti from Akriti & Sukriti told us that with their collection, The Bohemian Wanderer—they are focussing not on the bride but the kins and family members who will come for the wedding. “Our focus is on the destination wedding, and though we would be showing our bridal wear, but our main focus is on the relatives coming for the wedding,” shared Sukriti.
The name of the collection is Bohemian Wanderer, and that is why the designers have gone with light-weight wear wherein have given it a twist by balancing it with heavy jeweller. “We have tried to maintain a balance between our designs which are light to the jeweller and we have deliberately chosen to be heavy,” shared Sukriti.
The fabric that the duo has played with is majorly organic cotton. “This is the inspiration and input that we have taken keeping the theme, Made in Goa in mind. The cotton is made up of milk and soya and the collection is light-weight with no problems of wearing heavy outfits for the bride as well as relatives,” she added.
As the destination weddings often take place near coastal areas such as Goa, Sri lanka and Thailand, we have made designs that are lighter to wear and not cumbersome to carry. “The collection is Indo-western and we have given a fresh mix of Indian with western wear.The colour palette that we have used is pastel, we have gone with hues like lavender, yellow and lemon,” she said.
As the name of the collection is Bohemian Wanderer, Sukriti told us that it is like hippy wear. “The collection comprises of shararas, palazzo, knee length maxi dresses, jumpsuits and dresses. But when it comes to silhouettes, we have nothing straight. We have played around with voluminous skirts, flowy, fluid with a lot of layering. We have made such dresses where the one wearing it would find movement very comfortable,” shared Sukriti.
She added that though the collection is light-weight, but their final outfit is comparatively heavy. “Though it is heavy, but a major part of the collection is light. There is a shift in how women want to dress up now. They want to feel comfortable in what they are carrying but at the same time, they don’t wish ti compromise on their style,” she said. The cost for their collection would be around Rs 18,000 - Rs32,000.
While on the one hand, designers are focussing on bridal wear, Urvashi Kaur’s collection is not so much about the bride. Referring to the duality that exist in all of us, and in life, in general, she shared, “My collection is inspired by the juxtaposition of dualities that exist in life. Creation vs destruction, femininity vs masculinity— everything in life is being dealt ina way that has duality. This is the premises of my collection, which is based on sheer and structured elements.”
The designer whose designs are hugely inspired by the Greek mythology said, “I haven’t given a name to my collection yet as I don’t believe in dividing it into one medium. The colours are mainly metallic, nude and black which is not the usual resort shades for many people. I have kept it very elegant and glamorous in a subtle way.”
“I have chosen colours like coral red, silver, gold and black —as I wanted to show energy in this vibe. We wish to celebrate the goddess in every woman. The beauty that lies within as it has an ethereal quality to it. This is the way we have made it contemporary and modern,” she shared.
The fabrics that the designer has mainly used is cotton, chiffon, georgette— “fabrics that are fluid as well as structured,” as she told us.
Though her collection is inspired by the Greek mythology, the designer has actually mixed the two—Indian as well as Greek silhouette. “Dhoti-salwars have been given a twist using the two silhouettes and this is how we have tried to modernise the look,” she said.
The collection mainly has dresses, resort wear but there is ample for a destination wedding bride. “It is not entirely dedicated to the Indian bride. It actually depends on how they want to wear it. We have draped costumes, cover-ups, layered dresses — everything from elegant to glamorous. You can also mix and match according to your preference,” she said. The price range for her collection is from Rs6,000 - Rs 20,000.