It was High fashion all the way as Tito’s Courtyard, Baga, haute-stepped at the Abraxas Fashion & Design Extravaganza 2014 to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of Abraxas Lifestyle Magazine on Nov 8th-9th. Showcasing some of the country’s best leading fashion designers accredited by the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), Abraxas Lifestyle presented a two day high fashion extravaganza featuring Designers Niket Mishra, Shantanu Singh, Urvashi Kaur, Goa’s talented and destined to go places designer duo Ameisha, with a grand finale worthy of Tito’s new luxury signature champagne presented by Designers Samant Chauhan and Nida Mahmood.
Attended by invited style glitterati, the Abraxas Fashion & Design Extravaganza 2014, Day 1, Nov 8 saw Opening Designer Niket Mishra, fresh off the Will Lifestyle India Fashion Week, presenting his Spring-Summer 2015 collection titled `Tangerine Tango.’ The collection fused a creative burst of energy in the bright hues of orange opening up with models rising from the ramp like nymphs to sunshine. Flowing silhouettes flattering the body and a palette that brought spring to your step, Niket Mishra opened the two day extravaganza to sunny sizzle and how.
New Delhi based Showcase Designer Shantanu Singh wowed with his Spring-Summer 2015 Collection themed “Coral Connection Episode -1.’ Inspired by Corals, the magical hues of the sea and her exotic sea creatures, the designer used Tissue, Crepe and Satin fabrics to create some unusual forms and constructed silhouettes, experimenting cutting technique with new embroidery infusing the infinite ocean’s spirit of life to the garments. Topaz, and aqua, hues of grey reminiscent of foam, structured shoulders and fit to the body garments, fluid and controlled at the same time, played with the sea and her many moods. Befitting his talent and the numerous awards Shantanu has won since he launched his label in 2008, `Most Creative’ befits this talented young NIFT Kolkata designer.
Day 1 Finale Designer Urvashi Kaur, a graduate in fashion from Esmod Intl, Paris (Ecole Superieure des Arts et Techniques de la Mode), reputed for assisting international fashion moguls like Marcel Marongiu, Lolita Lempicka and Issey Miyake went `glocal’– a hybrid expression for thinking globally and acting locally. Urvashi’s constant exposure to myriad influences and cultures through her travels abroad have been a catalyst in developing a complex body of work that goes beyond fashion and draws inspiration in art and culture. Her Autumn/Winter 2014 collection `Shunya’ presented at the Abraxas Fashion & Design Extravaganza 2014 was the designer’s defiance not to stick to any one single tradition, instead hinting at an almost revivalist tendency with an affinity for indigenous, hand-woven textiles, the usage of silk weaves like Maheshwaris, Chanderi, Tassar, Tissue, Matka, Kota and, Khadi cotton, displaying a timeless and ethereal quality with an allegiance to artful design, upstaged only by its rich, cultural connects. A designer definitely with long innings to go.
If Day 1 was sophisticated fashion, Day 2 of the Abraxas Fashion & Design Extravaganza 2014, Nov 9 was a proud moment for Goa’s fashion prodigy and making headway at the recent Bangalore Fashion Week, the designer duo Ameisha (Amna Sarpal + Lakeisha Palha). Their showcase opened to the Gen’Next young, stylish Corporate honchos, women who run the world and combine career professionalism and femininity without letting go of their individualistic identity. The collection was structured silhouettes designed to bring out the boldness and fierceness in the confident young woman of today. Keeping Wall Street fashion in mind through colours like white, black, grey and crème, embroidered georgette cotton and formal suiting completed the look with hints of gold, smart, sexy embellishments to jazz the style quotient from day corporate wear to chic evening wear. The collection evoked inquiries from fashionistas in the audience where to buy them. The duo is already on their way to prêt popularity.
The Grand Finale was undoubtedly fashion theatre at work with Designer Samant Chauhan opening his Spring/Summer 2015 collection to the sultry voice of Goa’s prized fadista, Sonia Shirsat regaling LIVE during his entire presentation, `Dream.’ It was romance and illusion. Old world grace and elegance befitting Sonia’s soulful Portuguese love-lorn fados. The purity of white and nude with sparks of brilliant floral colour, fabric layering, and intricate zardozi embroidery… Like a garden at dawn, each garment blended seamlessly with Bhagalpur silk fabric in Samant’s characteristic style, with an added element of special silk thread embroidery in cherry reds, blue, light pinks, yellow, cream molding themselves gracefully into silk long dresses, tunics, skirts, trousers to reflect the inner beauty of the wearer. His first award winning show at the Singapore Fashion Week 2005, followed close with the London Fashion Week 2007, Samant’s highest career point was his solo show at Carousel Du Louvre, Paris in 2008. Passionately working for the cause of his native Bhagalpur master-weavers, he received the ‘Young Entrepreneur Award’ from the British Council in 2009 and is a constant face at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week since, his `Rajputana’ collection launched his Indian wear into the market. On November 1, 2014, Samant Chauhan was honored by being elevated to the Honorary Board Member of FDCI.
Adding high voltage spunk to the entire two day Abraxas Fashion & Design celebration, Nida Mahmood nailed the evening. A graduate from NIFT whose signature statement is `rebellion against all things that is mundane, repetitive and predictable’ outrageously stirred a style sense that unified disharmonious elements together into a single unified whole. The result? A quirky, happy trippy collection bringing play into ramp. A thumb down to convention and we loved it. Powered by a brand that has a strong artistic veneer, her Spring/Summer Collection 2015 was “art translated” focusing on simple aesthetics and technical aspects to embody a unique look. Models flaunted Nida’s signature style i.e. quirky prints, psychedelic fabrics, Krishna head crowns, pants with cop tops, dresses, shorts with tank tops and a signature music mix that had audiences participating in iconic Bollywood dialogues mentored by the Bollywood icons stars, villains and vamps of our era. Celebrate the Don, Gabbar, Mona darling, the anti-establishment in you. A be-fitting fun finale to the two day `fashion is serious business’ creative expression attended by Goa’s leading Who’s Who of the fashion and social industry.
[su_frame]Managing Editor, Publisher Abraxas Lifestyle, Abraxas NU, Abraxas Communications, Mr Hemant Sud states: “Abraxas Lifestye is India’s Premier Luxury Lifestyle magazine, showcasing the best products, services and designs from around the world in its three sections – design, fashion and living. We were happy to present this two-day extravaganza that combined the commitment of our products.“[/su_frame]
Earlier in the two day extravaganza, the traditional lighting of the lamp was honored by dignitaries of the Abraxas Lifestyle Advisory Board, New Delhi with Remo Fernandes (Abraxas Advisory Board Member), Rita Modi Joshi (Editor-in-chief, Abraxas Lifestyle Magazine), Mukesh Tyagi (Bollywood actor); Sanjeev Goenka (Filmistaan Studios), Seema Dhawan (Abraxas Executive Editor), Tito’s Group David De Souza, Sonia Shirsat, Dawn Mortimer, Nilotpal Kanti Sinha. Special dance performances by Sonia Jaffer, Omaggio and saxophonist Joaquim De Souza entertained invitees, while Ayesha Barretto and Crispino Nunes (Deputy Editor Abraxas Lifestyle) compered the evening.
[su_frame]ABRAXAS FASHION & LIFESTYLE EXTRAVAGANZA GOA 2014 was brought to you by Abraxas Lifestyle Magazine, in association with Tito’s and Kingfisher Ultra. Models Courtesy: Model Boot Camp, Fashion Viesta; Hospitality Partners: Ticlo Resorts, Cavalas, The Sea Horse Resort; Make-Up: Glow, Carol’s Bridal Makeovers; Hairstyle: Tender Locks; Travel Partner: Paulo Travels. Event Partners: Tito’s Event Management. Media & PR Management Think Geek Media.[/su_frame]
[su_highlight background=”#1c58eb” color=”#fafcfc”]By Ethel Da Costa[/su_highlight]
