Mark your dates for the U&I International Fashion WeekAttention brides!

Sheetal

After the success of first season of U&I International Fashion Week in Delhi, the organisers are planning to expand their horizon and what better way than to showcase their creations in Chandigarh? Designers like Joy Mitra, Ramola Bachchan, Anjalee, Arjun Kapoor and Rachit Khanna will join hands to put together a spectacular show on December 14 and 15.

Every designer is coming up with a collection keeping the wedding season in mind. Taking pride in Indian prints, Joy Mitra explains, “No offence to the digital prints, I wish to present Indian prints which is my speciality. This time the focus is on Azrak print. This is my first show in Chandigarh and I am looking forward to it since my some of my best friends are from the city.”

Since his forte is Indian prints and embroidery, does he feel there’s still something left in Indian designs to be shown to the world, something not explored to its potential, and Moitra replies, “I feel the world comes later, first we as Indians are unaware of our rich heritage. One does not even need to dig deeper, every place in India has a fashion sense visible to the naked eye.”

Rachit Khanna, who is a Chandigarh-based designer, will present a collection, titled Tareef, and mind you its meaning goes back to Arabic language. Rachit says, “Tareef means royal in Arabic. I took inspiration from 600-year-old Mughal architecture. I went back to Arabic roots. Each attire has a royal feel to it with golden embroidery, sequins and zardozi work.”

Anjini Sharma and Dimpple Kpoor are bringing versatile pastels that are every women’s favourite. Anjani’s collection is close to nature, titled Secret Garden, which celebrates the wildflowers, and represents a woman who cannot be tamed. Dimpple with Ishqnaama is driven by love, pain and drama. Anjini explains, “We have used flowers like pansies, poppies, anemones, which are connected to Goddess Aphrodite. She’s the Greek goddess of love, youth and beauty. This collection is all about love, loss, self-love, and rediscovery. It’s about being courageous and rising up, celebrating self-love and infinite beauty of women.”

The show’s director Ketan Bhatia says, “Chandigarh has had many fashion shows but it is the first time that we are bringing a fashion week in the city. After this show’s success, we hope to make U&I International Fashion Week an annual affair.” The two- day event will commence on December 14.