By Shweta Thakur, IANS
Mumbai : With a line offering motifs and textures inspired by coins and bearing his ‘royal’ signature, designer J.J. Valaya opened the Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) here Saturday.
Valaya is among the 57 designers, established and new, who will display their creativity at the March 29-April 2 glamour packed fashion fete. Krishna Mehta, Manish Malhotra, Kiran Uttam Ghosh, Neeta Lulla, Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Wendell Rodricks are some of the other big names that will feature at the LFW.
Valaya’s aptly titled line – Paisa – draws inspiration from his own ‘currency’ – The Valaya Royael (VR) – that he had launched during the WIFW.
“All the outfits of my collection have motifs and textures of coins. It would differentiate it from my other brands,” Valaya said.
Valaya had showcased the same collection under his new luxury ready-to-wear label Valaya Base at the 11th edition of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) in Delhi earlier this month.
“We had recently launched our new currency – VR and the collection draws its inspiration from it. I have also used a lot of detailing to create coin-like motifs with gold and silver coloured fabrics,” he added.
“We are the new royalty, a new Indian Raj that is determined to spread its wings globally. Our world, the Royal Kingdom of Valaya, though exalted, remains deeply associated with culture and our nomadic antecedents,” said a statement issued by the designer.
“Our evolving look, therefore, is a curious signature, a fusion that has found widespread acceptance amongst various nationalities because of its inspiring balance between our rich past and our elegantly mad, yet glorious future,’ he said.
Decked in an ivory suit worn over a light grey polo neck T-shirt, model-turned-actor Rahul Dev walked the ramp to kick-start the show.
“Today, I didn’t walk the ramp like a star. J.J. is a great friend, we have known each other since the past 15 years – my first (advertisement) shoot was with (designer) Rohit Khosla and the second with him. Walking the ramp again for him made me nostalgic,” he said.
Rahul then gave way to a brigade of models sporting ivory shirts, jackets teamed with umbrella skirts, dresses and gowns.
Soon the actor again set the ramp ablaze decked in a grey shirt and black trouser, matched with an ivory scarf and metal chain waistband.
The colour palette ranged from ivory, browns to bright red and black. “Red was the accent of my collection rest all were dull shades,” Valaya said.
The collection also offered brown skirts and shirts, halter-tops, flared satin skirts, and short dresses with red piping matched with ivory slacks. Also, there were red halter-tops with multi-layered frill skirts, robe tops, and dresses with oversized rectangular folds worn over red pants.
The men’s line encompassed ivory suits, shirts, jackets, black and brown double shaded velvet jackets teamed with slim fit trousers with red and ivory piping.
Forecasting the trends, Valaya said: “The upcoming winter season would witness a mix of both drapes and dresses.”
Both the women’s and men’s lines were accessorised with red and ivory scarves, and metal chains originating from a big round metal button tastefully placed across the shoulder, neck and waist. Also, female models sported long pleats with parandas (tassels) and mang teekas (a piece of jewellery that adorns the hair-parting) on the forehead.
Fabrics like velvet, satin, silk, leather, appliqué, corduroy and wool were used to create the line.