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Kolkata FW: A round-up of the hottest designs

Here's a round-up of the hottest outfits showcased on the last two days of the Kolkata Fashion Week.

First up we have this dare-to-bare bodysuit from Abhishek Dutta's spring-summer collection Tomorrowland.

"I have given a completely international look to the collection. Seasonal outfits are not something that excites Kolkata very much, but this line is not just for the Kolkata market -- it is also for my clients in Europe, Middle-East, South-East Asia and parts of the USA," Dutta said after the show.

"I have used only three colours -- white, orange and khaki, for all 41 pieces. This is very difficult to do, but that's how an international collection should look."

Dutta said the entire concept was about eco-friendly stuff.

"Fabrics like linen, organic cotton, khadi and organza have been combined with cotton knit and cotton sateen. The comfort of linen conflicts with the crispness of organza and coarseness of khadi -- that creates a paradox."

Dutta used graphic prints and graphic embellishments in the form of couching in the collection.

Earth Couture

Budding designer duo Souvik and Aditi showcased their Earth Couture on Day 4 -- this lovely red bikini choli worn over a red blouse is both sensual and innovative.

Natyosala

Abhishek Vyas stuck to dull pastels for his collection Natyosala that highlighted the fading of Bengali drama culture. "All fabrics are from Benaras; I tried a lot of silk and brocades," Vyas said. What do you think of this lovely bridal ensemble?

Forme

Soumitra Mondal's light and summery line Forme saw a lot of well-fitted, well-cut dresses teamed with the latest 'it' footwear -- gladiator sandals.

Age of Innocence

Dominating the runway with a figure-hugging silhouette and vibrant hues was this number from Shweta Chhawchharia. In her own words, she wanted to depict the "modern confident woman" and the line was called Age of Innocence.

Obele

Eye-catching and bold, this outfit was from Amita Chittora's Obele line, which was light-hued and summery, keeping in mind the ongoing season.

Royal Highness

Duo Kaushik and Pallob from Varima Fashions showcased their Royal Highness collection. "The line is a fusion of traditional and western party wear for the young generation. We used cotton, raw silk and brocade for the collection and mainly stressed on green, maroon and black colour palatte," said Pallob.

Colourful cutwork

This colourful cutwork ghagra choli is the work of designer Aditi Jaggi -- quite a well-crafted, tasteful ensemble.

Timeless

Multi-hued fabrics and the textile heritage of Rajasthan are what inspired Anita Dongre's Timeless collection. Dongra said she aimed at "something contemporary, yet traditional." This earthy sari certainly meets the mark.

Japanese influences

Ace designer Narendra Kumar showcased a Japanese-inspired line which left everyone impressed with its contemporary, world-class feel. Kumar said modernity is the key word for all his collections and this one was no exception.

Symphonies of Style

Symphonies of Style by Mandira Wirk was, in the designer's own words, "extremely feminine, stylish and wearable". Check out this gorgeous champagne and gold ethnic number.

Flowery appeal

Sunny yellow and foral, this loose shift dress is by designer Indira Baikerikar, who used  fabrics handcrafted by artisans with embellishments added on.

The Retrospective Collection

Day 4 wrapped up with designer Kiran Uttam Ghosh's stand-out line.

Models walked the silver ramp in The Retrospective Collection that mainly comprised of georgette angarkha with panels, digital dresses, digital jackets, gherdaar kurtas, hexagonal saris, crushed pajamas, jerseys and Parsi ghagras.

"I am thrilled to be a part of KFW II...to get a chance to showcase my collection here...I didn't expect such huge appreciation," Ghosh said after the show.

The fabrics used were mainly georgettes, knits and nets with heavy embroidery, digital prints, drapes and sequins.

The colour palette for the 50-piece collection ranged from ivory, corals, purple, cream to black and khaki.

Prosaic Regality -- An Undefined Royalty

Here is a glimpse of Kolkata designer Jaya Misra's Prosaic Regality -- An Undefined Royalty collection. Inspired by Marie Antoinette's 'Let them eat cake' story, the collection was an effort to light up negative elements and overshadow them with a positive message.

Fabrics like satin, raw silk, chiffon, silk and lycra were used. The textures were created with raw silk doris with a lot of Swarovski and stone work. The silhouettes included off-shoulder draped dresses, cigarette pants, trousers and harems, British jackets and ballooning gowns.

Regal on the runway

And finally, we have Manish Malhotra's regal collection, which closed the KFW on Sunday. Said Manish, "This is my bridal line for would-be brides and bridegrooms. It's about confident men and women who are getting married, and want to wear something that will be traditional yet modern. This collection uses antique work of tradition and modernity. The sherwanis are textured, the lehengas and saris are more net with jewels."