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photos Sandeep Saxena

Different interpretations Designers J.J. Valaya and Tarun Tahiliani with their installations

The art of being quite intimate, relaxed and excessive acquired a very “crystallised” interpretations recently. Five renowned designers – Tarun Tahiliani, J.J. Valaya, Suneet Varma, Manish Arora and Rohit Bal – dabbled with these concepts at The Grand this week. The event was the launch of the elements brand of Swarovski – Crystallised-Swarovski Elements – and also a forecast of trends for 2008.

By interpreting various themes in the context of jewellery, lighting, interiors, textiles and the shoe segment, veteran couturiers made an attempt to move into other lifestyle arena and make trend predictions. Their exploration of diverse themes depicted a move towards a different way of life.

Valaya gave his interpretation of the art of being quiet through a mannequin that has mellow beginnings but ends in a flourish of Swarovski crystals.

The designer chose to give his creation a spiritual reading.

“Spirituality is the biggest luxury,” says Valaya asserting that high fashion synonymous with luxury and spirituality can strike a compromise. “The model represents a journey of self-discovery,” he adds. The colour palette used is mostly greys and whites, and as one goes up the mannequin a flurry of crystals takes over.

“Now, we love luxury like never before,” says Valaya. Since, Valaya was experimenting with the lighting segment, a huge upturned chandelier decked the head of the mannequin.

Tahiliani’s exploration of the art of being intimate was an elaborate re-creation of a woman near her wedding bed. A mammoth bed, mirrors and swinging pendulum with criss-crossing chains of crystals made up his creation.

“It was not very challenging,” says Tahiliani about his focus on jewellery segment. His pet passions like the drapes find their way into his installation.

“The idea was to bring in a time frame from 200 years back to the present. The swinging pendulum is meant to give a sense of infinity. It also shows in the Indian context all that we have given up,” says Tahiliani, again underlining a spiritual thought.

Working on the art of being physical, Manish Arora veered away from his usual fetish for colours. He sought to create a harmony between different worlds. Going back in time to bring alive the era of sages, he juxtaposed it with contemporary India.

“I have used very limited colours here. It is mostly silver, black and grey,” says Manish.

Recreating a mood of relaxation, Suneet Varma gave shape to interiors that had a Miami feel.

Designer Rohit Bal worked on the theme of excessiveness through the vision of a shoemaker.

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