"Karishma Shah"

"Karishma Kotak"

"Jigna Mehta"

"Hazel Crowney"

"Bibi Russel Shows Gamcha Collection At Kolkata Fashion Week"

This is the first time that I am showing my work in India Fashion Week and I am absolutely thrilled to show in Kolkata Fashion Week. This year has been declared the Year of Natural Fibre, which I am extremely excited about. For the last 15 years, I have been working hard with our weavers and craftspeople to promote our natural fibres. I am doubly honoured, as a Bengali, to participate in the Kolkata Fashion Week, where the focus is on our magical weaves.

I get inspiration for my designs from the people of Bangladesh and the beautiful colours which can be found here, especially in the villages. I also gain a lot of inspiration from going to the villages and seeing the weavers and craftspeople at work.

All my fabrics are hand-woven, and natural. I do not use synthetic materials. The fabrics I use are Khadi, Cotton, Silk, Gamcha, Jute yarn fabric, Tribal fabrics, recycle fabrics and of course the legendary Jamdani, which was once worn only in the royal courts and is still the most highly valued fabric of the country.

All my accessories are made from natural sources, terracotta, water hyacinth, palm leave, wood, silk yarn, jute, cotton yarn and rickshaw art. Everything has been specially design for the show.

We need to catch sustainable national and the International market, where all the hard work of the weavers will be valued. This will be possible when we showcase the rich history and tradition of handloom, with our designer creating diversity in colours and style. We do have a long history of vibrant colours and weaves, woven with completely natural fibre and we do need the world to see that.
My collection dedicated to our incredible weavers and their magical work.

“When people see my collection” Bibi says, “I want them to understand and appreciate all the work and effort that has gone into them. I want to preserve the heritage of my country, foster creativity, provide employment opportunities, empower woman and contribute towards the eradication of poverty. That’s what I am committed to do.” -Bibi

Showing for the first time in an Indian fashion week, Bibi Russell is iconic for her elevation of the gamcha into the world of international haute couture.

Gracing the International ramp in the late 70s and early 80s, she now works to establish a cause that is much closer to her heart: the plight of the hand woven textile industries and its workers in her native Bangladesh.

"USP, Mondrian & Library Collections Reflect Passion And Style"

Westside unveiled its exclusive designer prêt, at the Lakme Fashion Week Fall Winter 2009 at the Hyatt, Mumbai. Internationally acclaimed designers Wendell Rodricks and Narendra Kumar along with Manish Gupta showcased an exquisite Designer Prêt collection that will be available exclusively at Westside during the summer season.

Commenting on the Designer Prêt collection, Ms. Simone Tata, Chairman Emeritus, Trent said, “In our endevour to provide garments that represent latest fashion trends. Wendell Rodricks, Narendra Kumar and Emerging Designer Manish Gupta have put together the designer prêt collection this season. This collection which reflects the passion, style & panache of these designers is available only at Westside at affordable prices”

Wendell Rodricks’ collection is called The Mondrian Minimalist. That as early as 1917, Piet Mondrian had the vision to do geometric abstraction fascinated Wendell. Yves Saint Laurent famously did a collection dedicated to him in the 1960s. YSL passed away last year and Wendell’s collection is a fitting homage to them both - but in his own Indian Minimalist style.

Where Saint Laurent went for colour as is in Mondrian’s paintings, Wendell has distilled it even further. It’s purer and sleeker. The collection is stark - only the 3 primary colours are used other than black & white. Wendell’s collection includes dresses, knitwear, leggings, fitted pants, flowing A-lines.

Moving forward from the previous season, Narendra Kumar continues to design a collection for the discerning working woman along with a range of well crafted evening wear. Inspired by the modern working women, the corporate wear line is called ‘The Library’ and is designed for women in the workplace.

The look is sleek, slim, sharply tailored and the silhouettes are narrow. The overriding theme is more reality rather than fantasy-based. His collection includes formal shirts, dresses, evening wear, blouses, skirts and trousers. The colours used by him are summary and fresh - a change from the strictly formal attire - he has used checks and stripes and colours like grey, beige, white and pastels.

Promising emerging designer, Manish Gupta has been selected by Westside from the previous season of Lakme Fashion Week aspart of the Designer Development Programme. His collection, for those with an eye for detail, is inspired by architectural structure. The USP of Manish’s collections is the three dimensional embroideries and textures done using varied materials and techniques such as tucks, pleats, satin ribbons, cotton tape, dori embroidery and sequins.

The Westside collection for the forthcoming Lakme Fashion Week is a very clean and classic line comprising of dresses and tunics that can be teamed with leggings. Silhouettes have a very global appeal with an Indian sensibility which is reflected in embroideries, done in a very modern way. Coral, ivory and blacks blended together forms a great colour story for the collection.

The Designer Prêt is created to offer the discerning Westside customer a collection that truly matches their taste and is available at unbelievable prices.’ It brings designer wear closer to our customers. This association will allow young designers like Manish Gupta to not just showcase their creativity but also learn the business of fashion.

Westside continues to partner with LFW to sponsor the ‘Emerging Designers’ category this season.