It feels like Mr. Malhotra heard all of us because for his Resort collection, he really dialed down the bling factor. Having adopted 45 girls from the Mijwan village for their craftsmanship in chikankari work, Manish used their handiwork in his latest collection which besides chikankari also employed kashmiri embroidery too.
The show started with menswear that showcased simple embroidered kurtas paired with slim trousers and jodhpur pants.
The women’s collection was, of course, a lot more elaborate. Manish presented his trademark lehengas and kalidar anarkalis that were again rich in chikankari and kashmiri embroidery. The gota work was not as dominant as it was in his past collections which in fact worked to this one’s advantage. Each outfit had just the right amount of glam factor and traditional work. What the designer didn’t stray from though were his trademark patchwork lehenga (see inside) and sheer anarkalis.
It’s been a while since we’ve felt excited about a Manish collection but this latest one just changed that. I applaud him for taking a step back and integrating a lot more of traditional work into his designs. It goes a long way in reviving the old arts.
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