Inspired by Indian heritage, Manav Gangwani Couture 2017 collection had inspirations like Kathakali, Mughal & patola. Here’s a review!
Review | Collection
Also pleasantly, but only mildly, surprising. Compared toย Manav Gangwaniย Couture 2017 collection when Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut walked the runway, this latest collection certainly ups the ante. Pretty and experimental, that was an impressive collection in itself. But with Gangwani trying a new theme this season, we’re gonna keep him on our style radar.
Kathakali was a prominent inspiration in the embellishments. Full figurines or masks of dancer were used as embroidery motifs on lehengas. The cholis were short, Rajasthani style, kaftan style or cold-shoulder style. Dupattas came both in heavy and light fabrics – velvet or net, and even a long sheer one-shoulder poncho.
Lehengas, anarkalis, gowns and sarees kept theย Manav Gangwaniย Couture 2017 collection purely Indian and Indo-western, fit for the big fat Indian wedding. Other than Kathakali dancer motifs, we also saw many other inspirations borrowed from different parts of India. Miniature Mughal art paintings replete with ornate gold frames were embroidered (or patchworked) onto a lehenga. Another lehenga had meenakari-inspired designs with Krishna and a large crescent-shaped moon embroidered in the middle of it. There were also animal motifs – elephants and one the bridal gown – tigers – large and small – all over its girth.
In sarees, we saw halter blouses paired with ruffled borders, fringed pallus and two tone sarees. I liked the heavy dupattas paired with plain anarkalis, and heavy borders to plain sarees, etc. Bollywood actress Disha Patani walked the show in a black lehenga choli. Overall the collection has the couture quality but is still very wearable!
Manav Gangwani Couture 2017 Collection: Gallery
Shilpa Ahuja the editor-in-chief of ShilpaAhuja.com, which she founded with the goal of inspiring confidence in the modern working woman through fashion. Other than defining the direction of the magazine, she also writes about fashion & beauty trend forecasts, industry analysis, and opinions.
Shilpa’s work has been published in the University of Fashion blog and Jet Airways magazine. She is also an artist, illustrator and cartoonist. She is also the creator of Audrey O., a comic series that represents the lifestyle of millennial women. She enjoys creative writing and world travel. Her art has been exhibited at Harvard Graduate School of Design and the Aroma Hotel, Chandigarh and been published in Chandigarh Times.
Originally from Chandigarh, Shilpa also has a degree in architecture and has worked in interior project management. She is also the author of the book “Designing a Chinese Cultural Center in India”. Shilpa has a Masters in Design Studies degree from Harvard University.
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