Vimla Patil was associated with Femina, India’s number one women’s magazine, published by the Times of India Group for 29 years. Femina is Vimla Patil's personal success story. Today, FEMINA is one of the strongest international brands with a vast readership in India and abroad. She initiated the Miss India contest in the mid-sixties for the journal and brought it to its present international stature. Vimla Patil promoted Indian textiles and fashion garments – especially handlooms – for decades by presenting over 4000 fashion shows in India and most countries of the world.
After finishing her long stint with Femina, she built a brand new career for herself as a freelance multi-mediaperson with writing, events, public relations, shows and many more activities in her portfolio!

Vimla Patil will be delighted to answer readers' questions. Please click on the comments page link at the bottom of the article to post your questions for her or to comment on her article.

2005 begins with a promise of worldwide trends!
Indian fashion designers and corporate fashion houses are going global by adding Spanish, Mexican, Arabic, Western and of course, Indian influences to their new collections! They are offering never-before fusion ensembles to the glitterati and glamorous of the world! But side-by-side, they are teaching the art of smart dressing to the girl-and-boy-next-door too!

Spanish gypsy-style layered-cascading skirts are the look of 2005. They will be worn in contrast colours. Here, layered skirts by young designer Saleem Asgarally are worn with corset tops with glitter accents. Saleem also predicts corset tops in different designs, Capri pants, and a whole new exciting range of kaftans for 2005.

Time was when readymade shirt or dress makers stuck to a number of ‘givens’ in the fashion business. A button here or there, or a pleat above or below – that was about the spectrum of change which they allowed in the range of clothes they marketed to their prêt customers in the retail trade. Colours, lines and fabrics were predictable and based on the theme of value for money. Today, the fashion business has changed dramatically and the magic wand of glamour is touching people hitherto content to dress smartly but monotonously. The work-place woman or the collegian young man are now searching for a ‘look’ which sets them apart from the ‘crowd’ and gives them a presence in the hi-fashion world. And market leaders have picked up this tab and created many collections of shirts and skirts, sarees and ghagras to suit this newly burgeoning young market.

One retail fashion garment giant – Provogue – set the New Year trend of catering not only to hi-end fashionistas but also the young achiever crowd by launching their 2005 range with top models and celebrities of Mumbai. Several new looks were displayed in their shows which presented their recent collections.

Provogue’s Casino Collection shirts are showcased by supermodels Upen Patel and Aryan Vaid. These shirts are worn with casual, light-coloured pants for maximum impact.

MINIMALISM MAY BE THE ‘MANTRA’ OF THE NEW YEAR:

Metroscape was a collection devoted to minimalism – the mantra of the New Year. This range of garments concentrated on fine detailing and excellent craftsmanship and aimed at the ‘go-getter’ market! It predicted a season of panache and vigour, energy and aspirations for men in the coming year. Another collection of shirts harked back to the 60s and presented an attractive range of shades in blue and red. Fashions for young men and women spelt fun and energy. The Club Casino Party-line clothes projected passion, the courage to break rules for progress and distilled glamour in a metallic range of fabrics.

Provogue’s ‘little black dress’ is no longer little. It shimmers and sleeks out a woman’s personality like no other ensemble. Designers and films stars predict that black will remain the smart choice of celebrities through the New Year.

BLACK REMAINS THE ETERNAL FAVOURITE:

Young actor Fardeen Khan and supermodel Tupur Chatterjee, with other models, show the Metroscape Collection which mixes panache and personality-plus for the young achiever generation.

Black, the Provogue design team predicted, would be the eternal favourite among colours. As Bipasha Basu, the dark, daringly-sensual star of Bollywood says, “Stars and celebrities are always on show. They are under pressure to look good, well toned and glamorous. Whatever their work pressures and personal tensions, they have to shine whenever they appear in public or at work. For all such people, black is a life-saver on the fashion scene. It gives a slim, put-together look, which is instantly impressive. Black can be dressed up with stylish jewellery and smart accessories. Every star has a number of black ensembles in her-his wardrobe.”

Film star Fardeen Khan, who is the brand ambassador for Provogue, illustrated how a handsome man can strut around in black from their Metroscape Collection. Black, he and Tupur Chatterjee showed, looks equally sensual on men and women.

ANGELIC WHITE TOO, STANDS THE TEST OF TIME The Angelic White look by Provogue makes even purity and innocence look sensual when supermodels showcase these beautifully crafted pantsuits.

That white will also remain the ever-popular colour for 2005 was demonstrated by the Angelic White collection offered by the same company. Flowing, fluid ensembles and compact dresses spelt energy and hope. The models that showed these outfits were Upen Patel, Aryan Vaid, Tupur Chatterjee, Nina Manuel and Aanchal Kumar among many others. With these collections coming into the market in the winter-spring months of 2005, Provogue will be one of the largest producers of fashion garments in the retail market in India.

YOUNG DESIGNERS CONTRIBUTE TO THE 2005 LOOK Saleem Asgarally, a younger generation designer who has created an impact on the fashion scene also came up with a stunning collection. Mostly consisting of party wear, this collection showcased the newest craze of kaftans and ponchos among fashion lovers. “Kaftaans are inspired by Middle Eastern lines,” says the designer, “But in 2005, they are seen in an entirely new avatar. They are detailed with embroidery in silk or zari and can be worn to parties, over swimsuits and to lounge bars and hip parties. I have designed Spanish looking ponchos for 2005 too. These too carry exotic embroidery. In my collection also are exquisitely embroidered cholis, layered and ruffled skirts a la Spanish dancers, bejeweled corsets and classic black chiffon dresses with exclusive accessories like belts, bags and shoes.” In fact, long skirts, which will be the rage of the year ahead, are the focal point of young designers’ collections. Long, layered and ruffled, skirts this year will be in combinations of fuchsia and flame, lime and turquoise or other contrasting shades. They will be worn with corsets or backless halters to add a touch of sensuality.

A Spanish style patchwork poncho with glitter details. Saleem Asgarally designs ponchos for lovers of glamour teamed with comfort. Here, models wear them with pants.

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INFLUENCES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD

Most young designers predict that 2005 will be the year of ‘influences from all over the world’ in Indian fashion. These looks will bring in the Spanish Poncho, swirling Spanish skirts and European corsets for women and slim fitted velvet shirts with ethnic prints and stretch denim with embroidered accents for men.

THE SAREE GETS A BRAND NEW LOOK

Designer Nisha Sagar and the famous fashion house of Burlington’s Managing Director Ms. Kapoor pose with models in Nisha’s shimmer-shine sarees in pastel colours. Worn with halter style cholis, these sarees will be the international rage of 2005.

Of course that ‘five and half metres of elegance’ garment – the saree – remains the eternal favourite of all Indian women, albeit in ever-new avatars. What’s new is that at last, the saree is being accepted as an international fashion garment in other countries too. Designers abroad are marvelling at the resilience and infinite possibilities of this mere length of fabric and teaming it with tops, which are extremely sexy and attractive. Designer Sangeeta Jashnani has created a collection of beautiful sarees, which are worn with corset-like embroidered cholis with diamante straps. These sarees are in traditional brocades or fine chiffons, depending on the taste of the wearer. In the same style, she offers ghagra cholis and Western fashion ensembles too. For men, there are traditional sherwanis and Jodhpuris for special occasions.

“The saree,” says designer Nisha Sagar, “Symbolises the essence of the Indian woman. It turns even an ordinary woman into a magnificent personality. The day is not far when Western women will wear stylized sarees to parties and festive celebrations.” Nisha’s sarees and cholis, which she created for the reputed House of Burlingtons, offer the shine and shimmer typical of India in her latest collection.

A DAZZLING YEAR FOR INDIAN FASHION

All in all, 2005 promises to be a dazzling year for Indian fashion. With Indian designers showing their collections in many Western countries and setting up boutiques in Middle Eastern cities like Dubai, Kuwait and Muscat and working with French, American, Australian and other international designers to create fusion looks, the future seems not only promising but also path-breaking. With the huge treasure of textiles, talent and craftsmanship, India is poised to break all barriers in the fashion trade and make an impressive impact in the hi-end as well as retail market worldwide! The saree is ‘The Queen Around The Globe’ say many Indian designers. Sangeeta Jashnani adds sex and snazz to this eternal favourite. She gives this white saree a rainbow of coloured embroidery with zari and makes it sensual with a corset choli with diamante straps.

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