HDIL Couture Week dazzles Mumbai

Mumbai played host to the 3rd edition of HDIL India Couture Week 2010. One of the most coveted platforms for a couturier in the country, the gala event showcased the works of top designers. The five-day extravaganza began with ace designer

Manish Malhotra’s show. He showcased a whimsical ‘larger than life’ bridal couture collection with 55 models waking the ramp and the beautiful Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as the showstopper. Monisha Jaising closed the day with a dramatic show replete with impressive light projections and designs, choreographed and produced by Mehr Rampal.

Day 2 was a bejeweled affair as jewelry designers Queenie, Raj Mahtani and Maheep Kapoor added a sparkle with their shows. Actress Ayesha Takia and Dabangg girl Sonakshi Sinha walked the ramp for Maheep Kapoor’s stone cuts. Also on this day was a show from fabulous men’s wear designer Varun Bahl and filmmaker-designer Karan Johar. Bollywood biggies Amitabh Bachchan and Hrithik Roshan walked the platform as showstoppers for them. However, it was King Khan who stole the show with a non-scripted jig on the runway with the other two stars.

For the first time a non-resident Indian designer, Dubai-based Ayesha Depala, showcased a collection at this platform with her seminal collection of 30 exquisite gowns on Day 3. While Gudda aka Rohit Bal closed the show on that day. Making up for the absence of Bollywood faces on Day 3 of the HDIL Couture Week, Bal showed the first truly awe-inspiring presentation of couture garments. The choice of music, soulful tracks including a rendition of ‘Tears in heaven’ added to the atmosphere. For the final act, four models in cream Anarkali kurtas entered a pool of water and rose petals in the center of the ramp, their garments floating out to resemble lotus flowers.

Day 4 evening at HDIL Couture Week saw former model-turned-actor Anushka Sharma walking the ramp for designer Rina Dhaka. While Bollywood hunk Salman Khan’s show was scheduled right after Dhaka’s. Khan roped in Bollywood beauties for his ‘Being Human’ show for a greater cause in coveted diamond jewelries. The greater cause however was education and health care for the underprivileged. He put together a show travelling the centuries and exploring fashion of each century. Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra, Sushmita Sen, Preity Zinta, Rani Mukherjee, Bipasha Basu and Karishma Kapoor -- walked the ramp with loads of oomph. Manish Malhotra endorsed the cause with his designs and Mona Mehta did it with her jewelry.

On the penultimate day fashion designer Shahab Durazi who was also the grand finale designer showcased exquisitely constructed and tailored outfits bearing detailing that looked like fine prints. The reticent designer, known for his “let my creations speak, not me” policy, allowed his work to dictate the terms on the ramp. On the other hand, at his menswear showing, designer Arjun Khanna rocked the audience by taking the bow in a rather different way — on a vintage Ariel motorbike! He made a rather long line up of men walk in both western and Indian attire bearing his insignia on their jackets, skinny trousers and stylish accessories.