South Asian designers wow New York Fashion Week

Jinal Shah, New York: Designer Naeem Khan went back to his native roots in India with his autumn/winter 2012 collection at the New York Fashion Week. With his glittering line up on the runway he wowed the glitterati off the stage at the Lincoln Center of Performing Arts on Valentine’s Day.

Khan took actor Matt Damon (his first at any fashion week), his wife Luciana, ‘Top Chef’ host Padma Lakshmi, Kristen Chenoweth and others in the audience on a magical journey to his native country with his exotic collection of dresses and gowns embroidered with Mughal paisleys, swirls motifs, Hindu Tilakas and geometric prints. His collection was inspired by the ‘decadence and the dust of India’ as cited in his note.

The designer is known for adorning celebrities like First Lady Michelle Obama. His luxurious collection of impeccably cut dresses, sophisticated gowns, chic separates recently received the title of ‘Mercedes Benz presents’ designer for Mercedes Benz fashion week fall 2012 collection.

First lady wore Khan’s dresses for two state dinners of which one was hosted in honor of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2010. His designs are also loved by Penelope Cruz, Beyonce, Emily Blunt, Lea Michele, Eva Longoria. Khan was inducted as a member of the prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2008.

Khan and some other South Asian designers continue to play an ever growing role in New York City’s fashion scene. With designers like Falguni and Shane Peacock, Sachin and Babi, Bibhu Mohapatra, Prabal Gurung showcasing their work at the New York Fashion Week.

Known for their accent on feathers sequence and prints, Falguni and Shane Peacock brought the rock and roll glam to the runway on February 12. New York based Indian fashion designer Bibhu Mohapatra’s collection was influenced by colonial China. Before his show, he explained his influence on his website: “The early 20th-century Chinese opera, The White Haired Girl. This collection revolves around the protagonist’s strength, passion and courage for love in the imperial China.”

Nepali American designer Prabal Gurung’s autumn/winter collection 2012 had everything from sharp, edgy black outfits to flawless white gowns with feathers and gold lame. His repeated use of skull in his designs, he said, made a statement for ‘storytelling’ purpose. The ready to wear collection by designers Sachin + Babi was successful in bringing couture products to contemporary girls with their global aesthetics.

The fashion week that concluded on Thursday saw about 80 designers including Diane von Furstenberg, Carolina Herrera, Vera Wang, Michael Kors, Rebecca Taylor, Reem Acra, Nicole Miller, Charlotte Ronson, Narciso Rodriguez and Betsey Johnson.