Continuing with its storied tradition of turning the spotlight towards young, talented designers, Lakme Fashion x Fashion Design Council of India’s (LFW x FDCI) exciting property ‘INIFD presents GenNext’ will be introducing its 34th batch of emerging talent at the upcoming season of the fashion extravaganza. GenNext designers are those that boast the potential to make waves in the design and business space with their unique take on all things fashion. At the FDCI X Lakmé Fashion Week October 2022, INIFD presents GenNext showcase, the spotlight will be on the collections of five aspiring designers - Aseem Kapoor, Ateev Anand, Somya Goyal, Arshna Raj, and Ankur Verma.
Zee Zest spoke to the GenNext designers for a sneak peek into their showcase ahead of the show.
1. Somya Goyal
Delhi-based designer Somya Goyal started her eponymous label in 2019 and has since continued to imagine new possibilities in womenswear. At the FDCI X Lakmé Fashion Week October 2022, she will be presenting her autumn/winter 2022 collection titled ‘New Light’. “New light is (inspired by) an aspiration – to mould ourselves into that which feels like us, but larger and bigger,” the designer said, while talking about her upcoming showcase. Her idea is to create clothing that is not just a vehicle of self-transformation but also a manifestation of the larger-than-life people that we can/we aspire to be.
‘New Light’ by Somya Goyal will feature eight looks – each made using a variety of fabrics such as Tencel, Cupro, and Viscose, and tailored to create contemporary clothing. “This time we have taken textiles a step ahead with hand weaves with PVC cords, we are also using our fabric leftovers to make cords and textiles. Like our inspiration we have kept the energy high in the looks,” Somya added.
2. TIL by Ankur Verma
Ankur Verma’s label TIL will be showcasing ‘Khwab’, a seasonless collection that consists of simple yet statement-making silhouettes, made using signature prints by the brand, and fabrics such as cotton and silk. According to Verma, the highlights of ‘Khwab’ are the prints, layers, and textures created using the art of Zardosi. A total of eight looks of the 20-look range will hit the runway, and on offer are kurta sets, embroidered dresses, sarees, gilet, and co-ord sets with a twist.
When asked about the inspiration behind ‘Khwab’, Verma told Zee Zest, “We believe that every iota of the universe lends inspiration. From the multitude of galaxies, if we look beyond, to the [body] cells, if we look within. Khwab brings together these fragments and translates them into stories that one can touch, feel, and adorn.”
The ensembles to be presented by TIL are versatile and each item can be styled or paired in multiple ways. His favourite is a vintage floral co-ord set with an embroidered gilet. “It’s such an easy, effortless outfit. You can take it from a casual dinner to a cocktail party – it’s that versatile.”
3. Re- by Ateev Anand
Fashion designer Ateev Anand of label Re- takes pride in his brand’s conscious craftsmanship – a concept that promotes slow fashion, is conscious of the environment, sustainable, and promotes multifunctionality. “Slow circular approach to clothing inspires us. We are launching a new line called ‘re-ceremonial’, which is our way of elevating recycled cotton textiles to refined and elegant clothing suitable for Indian celebrations,” Ateev explained. His runway showcase will feature eight ensembles and each item is crafted using recycled textile yarn, and dyes made from used coconut skins and marigolds from the Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai.
Re-‘s garments are light and easy to wear and store, and they come with drawstrings. “We have drawstrings in almost all our styles that create desired fit, irrespective of size, and allow for pieces to be worn by one person over the years as their bodies evolve or are shared between people. They are also easy to care for as nothing needs to be dry cleaned. The natural dyes respond best to a gentle hand wash at home,” the designer added.
Anand's favourite from ‘Re-ceremonial’ is a silk saree that is paired with a knitted blouse. “The saree has taken over 200 hours to be crafted and both the garments are made from the same recycled cotton fibres dyed with a mix of madder roots and marigold petals.”
4. Aseem Kapoor
Aseem Kapoor’s eponymous label will be unveiling ‘Ambi’, which he describes as ‘a tatted nostalgia of a vintage Kanni Jamevaar, which his mother inherited, spliced with Byzantium jewels, and aged metal yarns. Talking about the USP of ‘Ambi’, Kapoor said, “The USP of the collection is its relevance and ease at which it can be adorned - breaking it into cool separates for a music festival while layering and using the sets for occasions.”
Aseem Kapoor's ‘Ambi’ consists of ensembles crafted from natural crepes and mushroom twills and enhanced with print appliques, zardozi, marori work in fine zari, and embellished with gemstones and beadwork. “We started with some hand drawn Ambi motifs. They were hand-painted and then digitised to be printed on natural crepes and mushroom twills,” the fashion designer elaborated.
5. Stoique by Arshna Raj
Inspired by the emotion of longing for home and finding meaning, Stoique by Arshna Raj’s newest showcase ‘Rising’ features light, breathable ensembles made using natural fabrics such as cotton matty, viscose lycra, and khadi cotton. Arshna’s creations are then enhanced with bold shapes, handprints, dyes, and appliqués in a combination of colours like grey, beige, white, and blue.
A total of eight ensembles will be showcased at the LFW x FDCI October 2022 ‘INIFD presents GenNext’ by Stoique by Arshna Raj. According to the designer, it features thoughtful silhouettes that complement all shapes and sizes. Designed with functionality in mind, this collection features utility-inspired pieces with fine tailoring and oversized silhouettes.
Raj's favourite of the lot is a tunic and pant set. “I think you can never go wrong with a good old tunic and pants set. The ‘Seasalt’ set is a modern take on the traditional salwar kameez, making it more relevant to modern times and extremely comfortable,” she added.
The INIFD presents GenNext showcase is scheduled for October 12, 2022, at noon. Stay tuned to this space for all LFW x FDCI October 2022 updates.