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Fashion meets charity in Karma

Karma will showcase designer Hari Anand's clothes on April 2. Top models will walk the ramp at Taj Malabar and FTV will telecast it to the world

WAITING FOR D-DAY Haollection for the show, Karma Photo: Mahesh Harilal

FTV is coming to town tra... la la la. And that's the kind of excitement this fashion event, Karma, to be held on April 2 at Hotel Taj Malabar, is generating amongst the city's fashionistas. More so because the city-based designer, Hari Anand's ensemble will be paraded by top models from the country. The silk and linen prêt porter line will showcase imprinted, contemporary pop art created by New York based illustrator, Patti Stren.

Toons on dresses

This buttonholing of East and the West gives this collection an interesting twist. Ms. Stren's toons and word bubbles on desi wear add the fun element. A wedding collection, in keeping with the coming wedding season, will be spot on. Indo-western fusion wear and a men's line too will be on show. Sheer silhouettes in both light and dark shades in crepes, georgettes and chiffons will give the ensemble a wispy, breezy feel. And all these 60 embellished, detailed designs will be smartly sashayed by a bevy of beautiful men and women.

Shonali Rosario, a face lapped up by viewers in a number of music videos, Anchal Kumar, Gladrags super model, Channel V's `Get gorgeous' winner and presently Channel V VJ, Archana, and Miss India finalist, Priya Nayak are some of the models who'll light up the ramp. Two `Elite models', Meghna and Malvika Rathore will also be seen flaunting the specially crafted garments. Tarun Arora, actor and Gladrags Manhunt winner will model the menswear.

So as hemlines go up and necklines dip, cuts, drapes, embellishments, swirls and furls will take to the stage on gorgeous, top models. The Karma effect gets the extra edge, as it is associated with a charitable cause. The Cochin Backwater Round Table (CBRT) 131 who are co-ordinating the show are involved with the Freedom Through Education (FTE) project, whose main objective is to impart primary education to one million children by the year 2008. It is this noble cause that attracted FTV to Karma and of course to the interesting fashion line by Hari Anand. Said Himesh Arora, of Just Entertainment, the event managers for FTV, " Mr. Anand's creations, Patti Stren's interesting illustrations, the proceeds for charity and the beautiful backdrop of Kerala made perfect sense to bring FTV here." And the big, big advantage of the show is being catapulted on to the international fashion scene of London, Paris, Milan, NY. Can one ask for more? In true FTV style, oozing with oodles of glitz and glam, there will be FTV mementos like tattoos, Tee shirts and danglers as souvenirs for audiences to remember the event. Looking in terms of what a fashion occasion like this means for Kerala, says Mr. Anand, "With FTV we go international straight away. It will be a big step as far as fashion merchandising goes. Local fashion will be in focus. Kerala designers will get noticed. More business will come to us as Kerala has great potential."

And this great potential will be professionally staged by FTV. The choreography, the ramp design, models, make up and emcee will be in style with their characteristic sophistication. Other sponsors for the event are Ford India, Taj Group of Hotels, Samsung and the media partner is The Hindu Metroplus.

So Mr. Anand's 15 wedding saris, embroidered trousers, short kurtas with details, apparels in chiffons and gorgeous georgettes, cartoon prints of Ms. Stren will be aired internationally with the locale being Kochi, the savvy chatterati being Kochiites. Here's what Karma 2006 promises to be: A fine melange where fashion meets charity. And meets her in the scenic backwaters of Kerala sweeping her off her feet to initiate kids into the world of knowledge. So get ready for the F-event, Karma. With its splendid line of clothes, its sizzling models, and its noble cause it sure will be fashion for the body and food for the soul.

PRIYADARSSHINI SHARMA

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