A snake, sitar player and plenty of sparkle: Ashish’s SS17 collection brought Bollywood to LFW
We thought we’d seen it all… until we saw a snake take to the catwalk [Photo: Getty]
There’s a reason why every Ashish show is fit to burst; it’s always one of the best, and most Instagramable, shows on the London Fashion Week schedule. Each collection is fresh, alluring and visually spectacular - and the SS17 range presented on Monday evening was no different.
Both male and female models, including Naelam Gill who opened the show, took to the runway in traditional Indian fabrics teamed with Westernised cuts and shapes. Wonderfully intricate embroidered jackets, billowing veils, glittering full skirts and metallic trousers were showcased among a slogan T-shirt and floral dresses.
Not a high heeled shoe in sight: Models went bare foot at the Ashish SS17 show [Photo: Getty]
Naturally, Ashish put a glittery spin on the slogan tee [Photo: Getty]
Heavy Indian jewellery adorned the models’ necks, noses and ears while bells jingled on their bare hands and feet as they walked. Waist-long ponytails were adorned with more bells, jewels and fabric, and worn over one shoulder.
Some models even sported blue and yellow face paint, based on the Hindu goddess Kali.
But it was the little extras that made the show so enticing. Metres and metres of multi coloured lights were strung up across the ceiling of LFW’s Brewer Street car park venue, bringing the white space to life and a musician played plinky plonky (for lack of a better term) music to accompany the show.
Models sported blue and yellow face paint on the runway [Photo: Getty]
Ashish Gupta has been a designer to watch since his first LFW show in 2005. Last season, in February, he served up a disco inspired collection, teeming with sequins and multicoloured afro hairstyles. And the season prior to that models quite literally glided down the runway on skateboards.
Like Ryan LO, Ashish, who’s bagged an impressive three NEWGEN awards in the past decade, is a wonderful reminder of just how creative the capital’s emerging designers are. Year after year, he crafts a memorable collection that’s miles from the biker boots, velvet slip dresses and suede jackets we see so often at London Fashion Week - and that’s why we’ll be back next season.
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