First plus-size fashion show to be curated by Shilpa Chavan

India’s first plus-size fashion show will take place on August 28 organised by plus-size brand ALL and Lakme Fashion Week (LFW). The show will be curated by India’s only milliner Shilpa Chavan of the label Little Shilpa.

Show director Lubna Adams was clear that she didn’t want professional plus-sized models. So, she ran a social media campaign #allplusLFW inviting entries from plus-size people to walk the ramp. Nearly 160 people auditioned and of them 10 people in the age group 18-40 years were shortlisted. Chavan will have to style these selected people along with two models from ALL and a few plus-size social media influencers for the show.

The idea behind getting real plus-size people was to give the show a realistic touch. The selectors wanted plus-size people with little bit of attitude and lot of confidence. So as Chavan informs, it was those who had a certain body language that said, ‘I’m plus-size, and I can dress well and be cool and walk the ramp, won the judges’ confidence. So, an interesting mix of IT professionals to students are part of the group.

Chavan is famously known as anti-trend as a designer. She believes that the concept of the show is empowering and will do a lot to boost the confidence of the plus-size women. She had earlier collaborated with a brand at LFW such as Baggit and Lakme Hair Salon. Her label is so named because of her diminutive form. Known for her theatrical headpieces, Chavan will however not be using them for this show because as she points out, it’s not a conceptual show but a real one.

Chavan will curate 15-18 looks built around the theme Floral Meets Sports and this will feature jackets, check shirts, sweatshirts with stripes and floral prints for the ramp walk.