Pix: Swadeshi style, batik beauties on the ramp

Designer Soumitra Mondal continues to promote the cause closest to his heart on the runway -- khadi and traditional textiles. Here is a glimpse of his collection 'Frome' on Day One of the LFW.

Khadi is the essence of Swadeshi... please wear natural and handloom stuff, if you support a weaver, it means you support a family."

So says Soumitra Mondal, whose latest offering 'Frome' at Fashion Week was inspired once again by handloom textiles and particularly by Batik, the centuries-old wax resist dyeing technique.

Earthy tones and handmade finishes were the order of the day and antique gold embroidery brought out the best in the creations.

Here we have Surelee Joseph in a green and brown drape with just a hint of glimmer.

A model cops attitude in a rich batik kurta of green, red and black, worn over black churidaar pants.

The luscious, deep red of this ghagra is toned down by a subtle green-black wrap.

Mondal takes a more casual turn with menswear, teaming funky slim-fit pants (which you really need to be able to carry off!) with a basic black shirt.

The earthy tone and floral motif on this brown outfit receive a lively boost courtesy that bright batik dupatta.

Simplicity personified, this tunic is the ideal no-frills number, teamed with Kolhapuri slippers -- you know those will never go out of style!

Green and maroon adorn a beautiful swirling anarkali worn over churidaars.

Freddy Daruwala strikes a pose in a kurta-pajama set worn underneath a sleeveless green jacket and topped with a rich batik shawl.

A pretty khadi silk sari worn by Nicole Faria creates a diversion.

Another anarkali takes to the ramp in a swirl of green and red.

Nethra Raghuraman takes a turn in a lovely drape of geometrically placed florals.

And here we have Mondal's showstopper, a reverie in red that took everyone's breath away.