DRESSED UP IN IDEAS

Models walking on water, sets with multi-coloured flames; Pune fashion shows are getting increasingly experimental.

CREATIVITY MEETS RUNWAY:

City fashion shows are getting an interesting spin

with innovative themes

IF you thought fashion shows were only about the same old ramp and the same old models flaunting new trends and newer ensembles, then think again. A recent fashion show in the city was held on water, while another one had the theme of fire. Yes, fashion choreographers are taking creativity to a new level by coming up with themes that are in sync with the designer collection that is being presented. From the feel of the venue to the colour coordination and music, these choreographers are injecting creativity to the entire presentation of a fashion show.

Hear fashion choreographer Sandeep Dharma, the man behind the idea of having the ramp atop water, “It was a collection of swimsuits and casual wear. We wanted to create a long-lasting impact on our audience and give them a unique experience. So, we built the ramp on the pool and got the male models to hide underwater. When the models got out of water and walked on to the stage in their swimming trunks, it surprised everybody. It was a treat for all the ladies present.”

When runway director Chaitanya Gokhale was asked to do something ‘out of the box’, he literally did that. He says, “The show was an internal corporate fashion show. Most corporates demand for ‘different’ fashion shows, and loads of drama. So, when this corporate h o u s e asked me to think out of box, I did exactly that. I directed this sequence with actual boxes that had logos and images of teambuilding activities printed on them. Another interesting concept we did was that of futuristic fashion. The theme was a designer store that was nearing its closing hours. We got models to pose as man-nequins and walk the ramp wearing red, pink and blue hair wigs and masks to give a real mannequin feel. The psychedelic music too went really well with the theme.” To give the feel of a store, the backdrop of the ramp was that of a store shutter.

The idea behind all these fashion shows is clear: if you want to leave a lasting impression on your audience’s mind, you have to be innovative and connect well with them. Something that fashion choreographer, Shakun Sethi did. For a summer collection he designed a ‘fiery’ treat for fashion lovers. She describes, “We created a very colourful set with multicoloured flames. We made sure that the colour themes of the garments matched with that of the entire theme. Also, we used flame blasters to give it a real fire feel.”

Another interesting theme was that of a village in which rural scene was depicted using models on typical old bicycles and with some models walking with matkas on their head. Swati Singh, event coordinator, describes, “We gave it a complete rural look by adding elements like small bamboo huts with leaves around, women working on charkha and much more. The background score too was Meri banno hoshiyaar and Sasural genda phool, a typical village song.”

Fashion designers are keen on giving a spin to the look as well. Nivedita Saboo says, “For my recent collection, my theme was Morocco. We had shimmering filigree lamps, lanterns that lit the sidewalks along with rose petals, and carved architectural panels to create the right ambience for the show.” With thematic ramps, and elaborate stories designed to match the essence of fashion shows, one can easily say that style is meeting intelligence with panache!