India Couture Week-day 1

HDIL India Couture Week- an event people were fervently awaiting; and when it arrived, those present were nothing less than inundated. Though people were a bit apprehensive as it was raining cats and dogs on day 1 of the HDIL India Couture Week, the event couldn't have had a better start than an opulent Ritu Kumar show. It evident that, Kumar had geared up to enchant the audience by her collection, come rain or shine.

Indian diva of fashion designing, Ritu Kumar, marked her 40 years in the Indian fashion fraternity by opening the country's first ever indigenous 'Couture Week' on September 16 at Grand Hyatt, Mumbai

Opening the couture week with a bang, the ace designer put together a retrospective anniversary collection with a blend of classical designs and modern twists. A beauty beyond praise, Priyanka Chopra was dressed in a red 24 kali ornate lehenga with intricate embroidery and an emerald green short sweetheart neckline choli with churi sleeves made up of net. An exquisite work of traditional embroidery in the front and back epitomized this unique oh-so-sexy choli with a curve-hugging fit. Hemline was beautifully done with tassels (ghunghru). Fully sequined dupatta enhanced the look of the dress. She stole the heart immediately with her typical bollwood jhatka matka style like kajra-re hairstyle and a teeka. Ritu also had Neha Dhupia in traditional look trying to cash her Julie look, the big bindi, cleavage-showing choli and purple dupatta. It seemed that Ritu was very much inspired by the traditional Indian paisley and prominent use of brocade. Riya Sen's golden choli with deep neckline and Raima Sen's tunic with Rajasthan-inspired motif was an astonishing creation of Ritu Kumar.

Models such as Carol Gracious, Jesse Randhawa, Nayonika Chatterjee, Shamita Singh, Dipannita Sharma, Tapur Chatterjee and Miss India World 2008- Parvathy Omanakuttan, Miss India Earth 2008- Tannic Vyas, Miss India Universe 2008- Simran Kaur Mundi and Miss India Earth 2006- Amruta Patki strutted down the ramp wearing kutchi gathered coats worn over divided loose pants, ghararas, khara dupattas with intricate embellishments, interspersed with a line of antique textiles like kalamkari and jaamdaani. Ritu Kumar's collection perfectly bridged the gap between traditionalism and modernity.

Ritu Kumar, a gem of a fashion designer, has developed a unique style of her own, reflecting the ancient traditions of Indian craftsmanship in a contemporary vocabulary. Ritu Kumar's understanding of ancient designs and the innovative use of traditional crafts has created a new classicism. Ritu holds the status of a revivalist in the Indian Fashion Industry