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Tarun Tahiliani's Kumbhack collection was much too in number of clothes and in juxtaposition of fabrics with techniques
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If keen anticipation is good publicity, Tarun Tahiliani’s Kumbhack collection inspired by the drapes of sadhus who visited the Mahakumbh of 2013 had it in plenty.
Tahiliani had spoken to Mint Lounge last month (Fakir Fashion, 16 February), about his exploratory trip to the Kumbh for this collection.
He had promised a novel interpretation of some of India’s oldest drapes—worn by roaming seers who layer their garments with effortless sensuousness.
It was a great idea, refreshing and bold, but it did not live up to the curiosity it had evoked.
Kumbhack (Tahiliani had earlier also toyed with Coombhack as the spelling) that was displayed on Day Two at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) Autumn/Winter 2013 edition was good but only in parts.
And its good parts told us what we already know—that Tahiliani’s strongest talent as a designer is his ability to give the drape a new personality every time he as much as touches unstitched fabric.
That said, it was difficult to make out last evening what else it was that he was trying to convey.
The show, which began more than 45 minutes later than its scheduled time was too long to put it mildly.
Too much accessorizing—chotis with trinkets, stacked bangles, saffron flowers, long beaded rudraksh necklaces, silver earrings with beads, armlets, embellished clutches made it much too much.
The stark sadhu drape would have been astounding by itself.
Footwear looked a bit of a mishap: each model’s feet were uncomfortably jutting out of strappy sadhu sandals with block heels—very funky in concept but not well-fitted.
Yet, as a show, Kumbhack failed to give the goosebumps that some of Tahiliani’s collections have done in the past, raising the bar for the designer himself.
Was it an irony then that the pieces that stood out in the procession of sadhu fashion were his beautifully structured menswear garments (nothing Fakir about them) and a deep blue sari with intricate tie and dye styled pallu and a sexy off-shoulder blouse?
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