From glamazons to geeks: GenNext opens Fashion Week!

Lakme Fashion Week's Winter/Festive instalment opened with a showing by seven GenNext designers who managed an even mix of creativity and chic couture. Take a look. Photographs: Uttam Ghosh

We start off with the works of Manipur's Asa Kazingmei, whose collection 'Immortal' was created using rare textiles handcrafted by the Thangkhul, a Naga tribe.

The motifs, as is apparent, were tribal too, with traditional geometric and zoomorphic patterns.

Seen here is a beautiful strapless dress with a structured undulating hem that lengthens toward the back.

Next we have a mini sporting embroidered panels across the bodice to the shoulder, accompanied by a matching shawl.

Designer duo Astha and Sidharth showcased a line that was "a conversation between quirkiness and androgyny, which is created by juxtaposing various elements like colour, structure, pleats and most importantly, splicing of garments."

The outfits were rather creative, if not wearable, and were dominated by bright yellow and navy blue.

A stiff cape makes a statement, but underneath it this outfit is rather wearable, on-trend and appealing.

Aniket Satam's collection, titled 'Aarambh' (which translates as 'new beginning'), sprung from the thought that if the world ends in 2012, this will be the last fall collection ever.

"I envisioned my wearer like a piece of draft, with blank (read white) spaces, golden foil as hope and ink-splatters suggesting a scripted destiny," he said, offering ivories and whites injected with blues and hints of gold like this shorts and waistcoat combo.

Model Nethra Raghuraman strikes a pose in a dip-dye midi with transparent panels down the side.

From her label Kavvi, Kavita Sharma presented a collection 'It's a Beautiful Life' that explored her childhood memories growing up in the city -- prints of ice-cream parlours, zebra crossings and other everyday aspects of life dotted semi-formals, as seen here on model Surelee Joseph.

Applique work brings out the best on this feminine halter with layered ruffles.

Richa Aggarwal's earthy designs sought to represent the streets of India through colourful textures, offering a contemporary take on traditional desi sensibilities.

Choli-cut tops, ghagra-style skirts and block-printed and dip-dye fabrics were the mainstay of the line, as is apparent from this image.

Aggarwal's outfits were obviously targeting a young audience -- get a load of this patriotic shrug, teamed with a floral top, dip-dye lace skirt and three-fourths underneath.

From their label 'Threesome', trio Mehak, Kanika and Ankit presented an edgy range inspired by the movie Avatar, inspired by the future and showing off abnormal aesthetics.

Wearable or not, this jumpsuit certainly garnered a lot of eyeballs.

In another weird twist, we have this mechanic-meets-alien jumpsuit for men from Threesome.

And finally we come to designer Sneha Arora, whose line 'Paradigm' is influenced by digital cubism and the cubist architecture of Prague, and talks of breaking free from monotonous cubicles and exploring oneself.

Rigid box structures give way to fluid accordion pleats, while the monotony of blacks and greys is broken by bright colours. Even the formal creations are interrupted with casual prints.

Nethra is the epitome of geek-chic in a rather androgynous ensemble, complete with glasses and brogues.