Comment

Manav Gangwani’s collection was well worth its weight in crystal. The bling element was very much in evidence. There must have been enough there in gold thread and crystal to pay ransom money should the occasion arise.

But there was a saving grace of black as a background. Some of the bodices, boleros and waistbands were really exquisitely worked, and so were some of audacious blouses that just about stayed on by sheer willpower of the wearer.

Heard one member of the audience saying she would give her right arm for a blouse with gold worked sleeves. Quite apt, I thought, as the blouse anyway had only one sleeve. Pretty nonetheless.

A green sari with a jewelled belt clutching the waist jarred as did some of the menswear.And prospective sisters-in-law please note, if your brother-in-law shows up wearing the gold shoes Manav sent on ramp, please steal them and lose them.Suneet Varma was his understated self. A black and gold theme again, but at the other end of the spectrum. A quiet, almost a gentle, shimmer after Manav’s blinding sunlit creations.

Some gold and solid purple, red, maroon, combos on a line of ensembles were very pretty. But Suneet quickly descended to the tried and tested, and sent out confections in embroidered pastels. A show that was pretty and palatable but could have benefited by deft editing. There is no need to send similar garments in pink, gold and cream. We see one, we get the idea.

But one organisational improvement must be noted here; the second show started almost on time, back to back with the first. Sanjay Sharma of Swarovski, who had managed to get the last seat on a flight to Mumbai to be here for the glittering shows, wore his fatigue well. He had obviously fought traffic all the way from his place in Delhi to the venue in Mumbai. Perhaps the glitter of the crystals that hung from the ceiling and that marched along the bar and sparkled from instillations along the lounges helped to keep the sparkle in his eyes.

They did light up as he explained that the idea behind the strings and patterns in crystals was the continuation of the couture theme taking the glitter of the ramp onto lifestyle.
But the crystal lights that hung at the venue were really covetable. Would catch on, big
time. Sanjay’s eyes will sparkle a bit brighter at that thought.