Lakme India Fashion Week 2003 :: Aki Narula

A recipient of the Damania Fashion Designer Award, Aki Narula has been in the fashion business for four years. Available at India's premier design salons - Ensemble (Delhi, Mumbai), Ogaan (Delhi, Calcutta), Melange (Mumbai), Ffolio (Bangalore), Cinnamon (Bangalore), Sosas (Goa), Kali (Calcutta) - Narula's designs are understated, the accent on drape and texture.

Kimonoesque wraps where the dictate in zen; unisex accentuating leisure, Narula designs for both men and women, Indian and Western wear.

Having worked as a stylist for various fashion shoots and ad campaigns, Narula has also designed costumes for theatre and a national award winning Bengali film. His clothes can also be seen in the Mira Nair's forthcoming film 'Monsoon Wedding' and in Farhan Akhtar's 'Dil Chahta Hai'.

In recent months, Narula has also taken to designing lifestyle linen, candlestands and screens.

LIFW 2003 - Aki
The problem with Aki's shows is that we always expect to be knocked out. The good thing about Aki's shows is that we always are. And this was no exception.

His innovation never fails to amaze, whether it's his cutting, draping, surface techniques, his willingness to push the barriers, or the sheer unconstrained energy of his work. He's an uber stylist, so however wild they may appear on the runway, his clothes are eminently wearable.

Aki claims the great Rei Kawakubo and Yamamoto as great influences on his work. It shows in his skillful draping and his refusal to be bound by convention.

We saw many contemporary motifs as in the previous show, but Aki shows it with a twist that few could pull off. Who else would show football shorts in sari fabric, or chain mail and bondage with crochet?

He showed us camouflage combat gear, but before you yawn, this was like you've never seen it before. There were bondage details, which looked stylish and humorous but never vulgar. You'd think too, we'd had the Orient up to the back teeth, but Aki took Chinese brocades, Kimono cuts in a different direction. A high point of this stunning show was the button detailed parachute silk collection: a trench coat, a deep aubergine and a brown skirt, a pair of grey pants.

Aki Narula was striking with his exclusive designs on the ramp. Aki has once again proved his excellent combination of fashion with colours in the Lakme India Fashion Week (LIFW) 2003. The collection was very much appreciated by all the visitors.

Aki's collection has been greatly influenced by pop culture, which has cascaded into his form of design. He has a knack of making tacky and funky attire looks sexy and authentic...One can recognise as 'Aki Narula Creation' from a distance...

Referring to his collection this year Aki said, "My clothes are me...they have attitude...they have substance...they are chic!!! I have played with conservative ethnicity and given it a provocative urban touch...that is the pleasure of designing...your clothes transform into words and say what you want to convey".

He exploits the texture of polyester and various lace fabrics. The garments are accompanied with numerous and funky embellishments like satin ribbons, multi utility pockets, tough chains, belts and buckles adding that pungent essence to the overall look. A huge success

Aki Narula's LIFW 2003 Collection will be available exclusively at Sheetal Design Studio in Mumbai.

E-mail: Aki Narula