Celebrating tribal craft: Ethnicwear from Monapali

Photographs: Avishek Mitra Sreya Basu/India Blooms News Service

Mingling a glorious tradition with modern sensibility, old-fashioned charm with contemporary eclecticism and a rich sensuality with polished, urban serenity, Monapali's Kolkata Fashion Week II Earth Couture collection celebrates rawness and earthiness juxtaposed with sophistication and elegance.

A mix of rawness and luxury

"Our collection is inspired by tribes...we used their kind of make-up, music, bright colours, beads, yet maintained the contemporary look and feel," Pali said after the show.

According to the designer duo, it's an ode to the beauty of the feminine form, the mix of absolute opposites -- rawness and luxury.

A vibrant colour palette

"We tried an almost seamless fusion of contrasting colours, checks, cuts and fabrics that lends the collection individuality. Materials are mixed, moulded and sculptured into bold new dimensions in a vibrant colour palette set in natural fabrics. A mix of styles conjures up a fusion feel...be it for the kaftans or the saris. An abundance of designs and fabric mixtures in exuberant styling adds a dramatic flair," said Mona.

Beadwork: The choice for embroidery

"The collection celebrates the charm of craft. Beadwork is the choice for embroidery along with thread. Surface texturing is the key word," she added.

A merry mixture

A vibrant palette in blue, red, green, wine and orange was used in the collection. Soft, elegant fabrics have been juxtaposed with rustic, matt, structured materials, like on this multi-hued sari.

Showstopper with starry appeal

Actress Minissha Lamba showstopped for the collection, looking ravishing in a fully beaded ghagra choli.

Sensual yet structured

As the collection took to the runway one last time, we saw a mix of modern and classic cuts, with fusion as the mainstay dominating. Dunagree skirts, kaftans, tunics, kurtas and saris were also very much part of things. Soft, sensual, elegant yet structured and in control, the silhouettes balance contrasts.

A successful attempt

Since the inspiration stems from the tribal heritage of India, with a metamorphosis of shape, colour, fabric, size and proportion, Monapali's KFW collection is a successful attempt to experiment, to play, to be footloose and fancy-free. The designer twosome are here surrounded by their vibrant array of creations.

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