Fashion has the power to heal this world. The designs that we see on our clothing are all reflections of the times we are in. And now, when the concept of live fashion shows have become a thing of the past- at least for the plausible future, designer duo Shantanu and Nikhil Mehra made an effort to bring together all their friends who have been supporting the brand to raise a toast at the special screening of their fashion film Oasis at The Quorum, Gurugram.
"I wanted people who are close to us to feel something that is very close and personal. The journey of this show was about not being able to get out. So we explored horizons outside of our comfort zone. It is just an indication of what's going to happen. Once the doors open, design is going to find its new path. People are going to view shows very differently and they surely don't want to see them on their mobile phones. And I think, it is a good time to start this journey," says designer Nikhil Mehra.
Shot at the picturesque Suryagarh palace, models made quite a fierce entry in the fashion film. Male models with kohl-rimmed eye makeup, gave intense expressions with their dark, brooding eyes. "The love that you get from people in Suryagarh is the love that you yearn for in travesty. The moment I stepped into that palace I felt that I was the most loved person. That is when the inspiration came through to shoot our fashion film there," adds Nikhil Mehra.
There were printed draped kurtas and sherwanis for men. Shantanu & Nikhil as a brand is known for its menswear, and this time they took it a notch up with kaleidoscopic prints on kurtas and bandhgalas, made with the finest of silks. They were paired with armour-like bundis and military-inspired short bandhgalas.
Another interesting addition to their menswear range were the cowl trousers which got an update with the dhoti silhouette. They were styled with shorter jackets, longer sherwanis and accessorised with bejewelled brooches and regalia-inspired accessories. The designer duo also introduced a new line of safas and stoles. Their menswear was a highlight this season with the amount of experimentation done with the drapes, prints and silhouettes, that are rarely done by any other Indian couturier who is into menswear.
Their womenswear line was equally dramatic where the duo blurred the boundaries between ballgowns and lehengas to create a hybrid style. Voluminous drapes were neatly combined with constructed bodices. The collection was embellished with exquisite hand-embroideries, crystals and leather appliqués which lend a powerful statement to each look.
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"The entire collection is a bit more aggressive. It is us humans trying to get out of our comfort zone and really push the envelope. Fashion is not just about beauty it is also aggression," adds Mehra.
