Shantanu & Nikhil lauded for collection on pre-independence era

Designers Shantanu and Nikhil Mehra, known for their drapes and ability to put subtle India on contemporary fashion, got a standing ovation from fashionistas here for presenting their collection titled 'The Cabinet Mission 1946'.

The brothers, who have their own label Shantanu & Nikhil, opened the two-day Van Heusen GQ Fashion Nights 2015 with their collection that blended fashion with patriotism on Tuesday.

They unraveled their portrayal of men of independent India grasped in turmoil over the national movement on one hand and the country's partition on the other.

The duo brought back the essence of the Nehruvian era through cutting edge silhouettes, keeping in accord with the contemporary styling of the modern day man paired with a colonial blend of British India.

"We wanted to show the diversity that makes India," Nikhil told IANS after the show that was also attended by Bollywood actors like Dia Mirza, Aftab Shivdasani and Tusshar Kapoor.

The collection mostly had draped kurtas with fitted bottoms in colours like black, white and grey. The Jinnah and Nehru caps gelled with the theme of the range that had fluid fabrics.

Sarod masters Amaan Ali Khan and Ayaan Ali Khan closed the show as showstoppers.

Amaan was thrilled to see how the designers combined fashion with patriotism.

"It is beautiful. I had goosebumps while walking on the ramp."

As they took the final bow along with the designers, everyone stood up to laud the collection. The national anthem in the end of the show further added to the patriotic feel.

It was a mixed bag of emotions for Shantanu.

"The storytelling was emotional. There was partition happening yet there was ecstasy about being independent."

Commemorating the best of menswear in India, Fashion Nights, a collaboration between GQ India and Van Heusen showcased trends that are sophisticated and sharp, catering proficiently to the urban Indian men.

The evening also saw creations by designers like Troy Costa and Raghavendra Rathore.

(The writer's trip is at the invitation of GQ India. Natalia Ningthoujam can be contacted at natalia.n@ians.in)