MUMBAI: Known for her creative and artistic skills, designer Anamika Khanna's collection at the HDIL India Couture Week here adapted the otherwise humble dhoti into cowl-draped dresses that gave an entirely new look to a garment that is so closely associated with Mahatma Gandhi.
"All the cowl drape dresses of my collection are adapted from the dhoti. I am truly inspired by Indian heritage," Khanna said after her show here late on Friday on the fourth day of the six-day event.
A truly inspired collection, the line tended to move away from embellishments - though these were quite in evidence - and focused more on cuts, drapes and comfort. Thus, black stockings, cowl dresses and tunics, as also pleated coats and layered saris dominated the offering.
Khanna's designs were traditional and yet contemporary and through them, she paid tribute to the modern Indian woman who knows her mind - and is not afraid to say it out loud.
"Today's woman speaks her mind through her style statements. She knows how to dress up beautifully and look elegant in any attire," Khanna explained.
"My line is for all those elegant women who believe in luxury, elegance and the grandiose," she added.
The line saw the colour palate range from red, beige, black and metallic golden.
The entire collection was replete with a beautiful display of hand embroidery, delicate cutwork, embossed flowers and pearl embellishments on the saris and draped dresses.
For the collection, the designer used fine cotton, chiffons, satins and georgettes that completely worshipped the bodies of the models.
Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor, who walked the ramp for the first time, was dressed in a golden cowl-shaped gown with loads of embellishments on the cowls and zardosi and mukesh work on the top.
"I like what I wore. This is the first time I am walking the ramp but it is just for her, who is a family friend," Kapoor said.
Elaborating on Kapoor's attire, the designer said: "I designed this dress keeping just Sonal in mind. It took me more than six months just to craft this outfit."
Khanna also created a dining experience on the ramp, with tall mannequins lined up along the ramp holding watermelons in their dainty hands.
"I wanted to place dining tables on the ramp but that couldn't happen. So I fell back on the watermelons as a welcoming gesture," Khanna explained.
Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor was particularly pleased after the show, more so because of his daughter Sonam's ramp debut.
"I don't know much about fashion, but the show was definitely different. Sonam definitely looked beautiful and the best part was that she was very comfortable sashaying down the ramp," he added.
