Designer Anupama Dayal’s showcased ‘The Kinnaris’, her spring/summer 2011 collection at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week. Inspired by Hindu-Buddhist mythology, she brought forward the half-woman, half-bird that had its abode in the Himalayas. Her colorful clothes were light, breezy, wearable and in flowing silhouettes. Dayal said the theme was entirely researched and conceptualized by her 11-year-old. “While going through research notes on the Phoenix, something felt missing and, thus, in came the Kinnari. The way in which a child sees things is amazing,” she said. There were prints, a regular feature of her label, in the form of classical European chintz and panels inspired from folk textiles from places as spread out as Vietnam, Orissa, Mexico and Nagaland. Silhouettes varied from tunics and embroidered shorts, paneled skirts to shararas, long dresses and kaftans in light-weight fabrics like Chanderi, silk twill, crepe and georgette. Overall the mood was psychedelic, with a technology-meets-organic feel.
