Bangalore fashion week: Laidback, yes… Boring, NO!

Raised eyebrows, people screaming at the top of their voices, nervous choreographers and sheer chaos — that’s not what the first day of the sixth edition of Blenders Pride Bangalore Fashion Week looked like. Instead, one was greeted with a lazy siesta-like ambience with everyone relaxing. Blame it on good organisation — who’s complaining?
While some might ask if the adrenalin was still pumping, others like international designer Bozena Carter thought it was inspiring and really good for the designers at large. “I’ve always seen mad chaos rule most fashion weeks around the globe, but the planning here seemed to have put everyone into a relaxed mood and that’s really working for us designers — adrenalin or no adrenalin,” says Bozena.
This edition is marked by a more relaxed approach to the week in general, be it the make-up, that stylist Robert Naorem calls ‘minimal’ or the choreography that Sheetal Sharma calls ‘non-intrusive’ — a sense of down-playing the role of the model, the choreographer, the music and the paraphernalia in general seems to be evolving. What matters, and that is being made very clear, are the clothes. Point noted.
“It’s all about new-energy and we’re milking that concept dry,” says Robert Naorem as he puts a few finishing touches on a model just before the first show.
“Most designers have asked me to focus on the clothes and I prefer doing just that. The choreography is clean and simple, while the music is chosen according to the clothes and the theme. I am, however, really looking forward to Ritu Beri’s collection as that’s been the most demanding yet,” says Sheetal Sharma, a choreographer.
Pallab Das, the Kolkata-based designer, who opened the first day, was excited by the crowd turn-out. “I’ve heard that the first show always receives a smaller crowd, but the crowd already seems to be building up and that’s encouraging,” says Pallab. His show was an amazing start to the evening. Overflowing with colour and exquisite fabric, the show was a fitting beginning to a colourful and mind-blowing evening.
“I am really surprised by the crowd turn-out, it’s never been this much for an afternoon show before,” says model Rakesh Chengappa. “First shows at any Indian fashion week have the drabbest of crowds, but Bangalore seems to be breaking that rule this year,” he adds. Though there are more all-female collections being displayed this time at the fashion week, models like Rakesh and a few others have a few shows lined up.
Excitement seems to fill the air and originality is thriving like never before. Be it the clothes, the music or the concepts — the sixth Blenders Pride Bangalore Fashion Week, couldn’t have asked for a better beginning.