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Lycra love

Everybody, right from superheroes to supermodels, love Lycra. And so do the designers who brought their creations to the ramps in the city, reports MINI ANTHIKAD-CHHIBBER

PHOTO: BHAGYA PRAKASH K.

BOHO CHIC Namrata G's collection, Joy, spelt retro and fun in capital letters

Many years ago, in 1959 to be precise, a chemist named Joseph Shivers invented a synthetic fibre which pushed the envelope of elasticity to the utmost. The fibre was called spandex (an anagram for expands) and soon became the preferred fabric for superheroes. Why these comic book staples choose to trip along in Spandex, capes and hoods is the subject of many learned theses. However, we can safely conclude that their choice of underwear as outerwear is definitely to make a style statement. A look at the lingerie at the Lycra Rendezvous 2006 showcased at the Taj Residency helped one figure out why grown men prefer to fight crime in underwear over their tights.

Lycra, incidentally, is the brand name given by Invista, an integrated fibres and polymers business, for spandex. While most of us had that slightly glazed look during the presentations and trend forecasts for Spring Summer 07 — mainly for the textile mills, designers and retail brands — there was a visible widening of eyes and snapping of heads as the models strutted their stuff. The lingerie and swimwear decided to be firmly on the side of functionality and utility, giving flamboyance and naughtiness a wide berth. Leave that to Victoria's Secret on FTV.

Pre-stitched saris

After the coffee break, designers Deepika Govind, Jattinn Kocchhar, Manoviraj Khosla, Suneet Varma and Namrata G showcased their lines. Deepika, who designed a range of pre-stitched saris in Lycra that you can wear like a skirt, said: "Euro Jersey asked me to design saris as evening wear for the western woman. I think it is quite something for Indian garments to shift gears from ethnic wear to mainstream."

Deepika worked with Sensitive, a new high-content Lycra. While a Lycra sari prompts visions of a stretched-to-fit sari with the depraved Kauravas going berserk trying to peel the garment off Draupadi, Deepika says: "Lycra is a generic term for the fibre. It is always used in blends. I have blended it with silk for the saris."

The saris in bright yellows, blues and striking combinations of beige and red had a beautiful fall. The blouses were equally interesting with fitted sleeves and pleats. Deepika said: "I don't like to do the regular spaghetti straps for blouses thing. The Gujarati mirror work blouses were the inspiration for my line." The tops — in cool, crisp whites with tie-ups and divine edging — are exactly what the doctor ordered in these sizzling hot days.

Namrata G's collection, Joy, spelt retro and fun in capitals. The polka dots in scarves used as bandanas, wrapped around the wrist and even the ankle was just the start of it. As the King crooned about his "Blue Suede Shoes," a line of lads and ladies walked the ramp. Green and yellow dominated the palette while the silhouette was a fitting A-line. The empire line baby tops teamed with capris were begging to go on a summer holiday. Accessories, from bags to tights and loads of beads, all contributed to a rocking retro boho chic.

Vintage glamour

Jattinn Kochhar's Grey Matter line used fine cotton, viscose and poly Lycra. The line sported a lovely vintage glamorous look. Chic and sexy with a palette of snow white, vanilla, mandarin, electric blue and powder pink, the variations of the little white dress were delightful. Jattinn said: "Lycra has no limit and gives me an opportunity to stretch my imagination." And did he stretch it! The layered asymmetric skirt in bold solid colours was a head-turner all right.

Manoviraj Khosla, fresh from his triumph at the India Fashion Week with his line Rockstars at the Palace, worked with Lycra on denim. Some of the outfits from the Fashion Week made their presence felt. The overcoats, the cowboy hats and berets gave a whiff of street fashion and memories of a certain Mr. Morrison. The faux fur and animal prints added a splash of eclectic eccentricity to the clothes. And for some more eccentricity there was the swami skirts (all the swamis laser-printed on the fabric).

Suneet Varma's line redefined peek-a-boo. The white and red outfit with a high Chinese collar was demure and dramatic with the gasp-inducing waist-high slits giving the right hint of mischief. The chudidars in Lycra had detailing on the cuff with chudis around the knee. Metallic colours dominated the palette while the men's line had a range of screen-printed cotton shirts.

The designs were a celebration of the versatility of the fibre that has found favour with everyone across the board — from superheroes to supermodels.

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