FDCI X Lakmé Fashion Week Was Flavoured With Inclusivity And Diverse Designs, But There’s Still A Long Way To Go
Fashion for many years has kept its distance from conversations that deal with inclusivity and a wide spectrum of diversity. Something which soon became a driving mechanism for trends, the world of glam seems to have opened its doors for one and all. Replacing the ideas and pre-conceived notions of beauty and age, the industry is constructing its way to a more open, inclusive universe. A glimpse of what we witnessed on the runways staged at this year’s FDCI X Lakmé Fashion Week.
While for many times, the ideas of body positivity and diverse model line-up seemed nothing short of a limited garnish on the runway, it kept us hoping for more. Flagging off styles that serve to a fluid fashionable closet, gender-neutral silhouettes shinned above all. From designer Siddartha Tytler’s idea of dressing up men in a lehenga, boAt X Huemn’s allowance of some mid-riff flossing for men, to Shantnu And Nikhil’s spectacular approach to gender-less fashion, everything seemed refreshing for a usual runway setup. Perhaps a trend we might witness in the coming years, where Ranveer Singh is no more trolled for styling a lehenga and men actually take on to pair the classic sherwanis with the wedding veils, (fab imagery as painted by designer Siddartha Tytler), Indian fashion is spreading its wings already.
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Being messengers of important dialogues, models of all age strutted on the runway this year. A limited selection though, but we saw the inclusion of elderly models in the roaster of new model faces. From JJ Valaya’s ‘Rumeli’ showcase to Tarun Tahiliani’s stunning soirée-ready designs, the model line-up was diverse and made sure to banish the boundaries that labelled age as a criterion.
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Also Read: From Pearl Core To Mandatory Glitter, We’re Taking Home These Visibly Big And Bold Trends From FDCI X Lakmé Fashion Week
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Pretty much a mirror to the society and a world we live in, after many years of flipping through the glossy pages of fashion magazines felt like a version, close to home, and change. Designs that opened their arms wide for one and all, with no distinctions between size, number, age or colour. What further surprised me (which it shouldn’t have) was the designers’ cautious take on body positivity. Easy and well-knitted, plus-size models were no more wrapped in abundant fabric, or resorted to only wearing sad, pale silhouettes. A crop top did not just stick to washboard abs or a braid did not limit itself to a woman’s head, designer labels from Rahul Mishra, Outhouse jewellery, Nirmooha, Huemn, Shivan And Narresh to Tarun Tahiliani, walked us through their world of designs that keeps away from fitting in a box.
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Also Read: From Folklore To A Fun Party, FDCI x Lakmé Fashion Week Day 3 Saw Manish Malhotra, Rimzim Dadu, Ashish N Soni Bring Home Energetic Design Language
Diversity in terms of garment wearers for many designers remained an option open for all. A special member in the aLL: The Plus Size Store model line-up was Ashutosh Sharma, whose hearing impairment did not limit his dream to walk the runway. Expressing his experience of walking the ramp, Ashutosh penned his feelings down, during a conversation with showstopper Neha Dhupia and touched our hearts. Similar energy marked its presence during the Two Point Two showcase, that welcomed people of all age, colour, size, and skin conditions–vitiligo.
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Indeed a conversation starter, a slice of style that caters to one and all, felt like a breath of fresh air. Replacing meagre tokenism with visible efforts, everything flavoured the designer showcases at this year’s season-fluid FDCI X Lakmé Fashion Week. Applauded for its efforts, invitees clapped in unison for the seemingly happy change. But the relatability is yet to bridge the gap between garment producers, show designers and its wearers. Zeroing down on the perspective that often painted a glimmering image of the world through its eyes, a norm that has stayed close to the dolled-up world is yet to carve a culture that serves best to all communities and probably break them down into a whole, especially with disability as a criterion that still seems barely touched.
But all and all, after years of battling the ideas of ‘perfection,’ fashion in India is coming to terms with the notions of diversity. Definitely a long road ahead, but the future is somewhat near.
Image Credits: Instagram/FDCI X Lakmé Fashion Week
