The five finalists of the Vogue India Fashion Fund (VIFF) 2014 launched their Summer Collection at Ensemble on 7th May, 2015 at DLF Emporio, New Delhi. The preview titled ‘Meet Your Summer Wardrobe’ showcased collections inspired by travels and holidays, put together by the top 5 finalists – winner Ruchika Sachdeva of Bodice and runner-up Ragini Ahuja of IKAI, along with Hemant and Nandita, Karishma Shahani of KaSha, and Jayesh Sachdev and Rixi Bhatia of Quirkbox.
Ensemble is an exceptional Indian platform for talent representing an indigenous direction in fashion and design. Stringent in the editing to present the best to their customers. Ensemble was set up 27 years ago to give Indian design a platform and to partner with Vogue on this event and bring to the market such fresh and original work. The Vogue India Fashion Fund is part of a global initiative to mentor the next generation of fashion designers. Started in India in 2012 in collaboration with Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), the Fund brings together a panel of industry experts to identify the finalists and one winner.
The summer 2015 collection by the VIFF finalists will showcase at Ensemble, which will include:
Bodice: The collection is derived from a fine mix of modern tailoring and pattern making skills, integrated with androgynous silhouettes. The clothes consist of transitional wardrobe staples that are recognizable by Bodice’s unique, minimal aesthetic, quality construction and versatility.
IKAI: Summer Twenty15 is an amalgamation of the old and new. Set against a futuristic-Oriental backdrop, the line consists of boxy anti-fits appliqued with graphic Japanese motifs – the big red dot, 3D fringed cranes and leather applique Japanese fan details mixed with graphic stripes and fresh polkas in beige and blue.
Hemant & Nandita: Travel is a major inspiration and Hemant & Nandita extract their ideas from various cities around the world. The designs are for women who are independent and travel from one city to the next. Merging retro silhouettes along with pop colours, the collection also beautifully juxtaposes smoke grey and mid night blues against saffron, sunshine yellow and off white.
KaSha: The collection titled Neel embodies the Indigo trail, revisiting the various cultures it touched. Motifs are derived from sacred flowers that adorn our blue-skinned gods, tinted with ‘kum-kum’. Hand woven silks, woven cottons, mid weight recycled denims and fabric remnant weaves are hand-embroidered and resist dyed to depict our multi-layered inspiration in tones of blue and hints of colour.
Quirkbox: Wanderlust, inspired by the global traveller, is an art print collection characterised by colour blocking, loud hues and mellow pastels. Inspired by monuments and postcards from around the world, this collection sees a lot of these prints on fluid georgette, crepe silhouettes and summery chanderi shirts and tunics.
The summer 2015 collection will display the season’s latest trends with a major focus on separates and prints – pastels, whites, indigos and a mix of sorbet shades ruled the palette with light and flowing silhouettes supported by Indian handicrafts and fabrics.
The Summer 2015 collection by the VIFF finalists will be available at Ensemble, DLF Emporio from 7th May to 11th May 2015.
