Swimwear still a taboo in India: Rina Dhaka

Designer Rina Dhaka, who believes that fashion is the language of her expressions, says swimwear is a requirement, but it is yet to be accepted widely by the people of the country.

With the pool side the location for her show at the ongoing Gionee India Beach Fashion Week 2015 (GIBFW) at The Lalit Golf & Spa Resort Goa on Friday, her collection had ready-to-wear resort garments as well as bold swimwear.

Talking about her collection, Dhaka told reporters post her show: "I showed spring 2016 collection. All the pieces are ready-to-wear. There is laser cutting, surface treatments and wearability to it. Swimwear in India is still a taboo.

"Swimwear is a requirement in India, but it hasn't taken off. There is a very small percentage which wears it and one of the reasons is because we feel uncomfortable around it.

"I am not trying to sensationalise it. I am looking at it purely wi th the objective of pool side and around it."

Apart from two-piece swimsuits, she also presented resort wear that can be worn for lunch or dinner. The silhouettes were long with halter dresses or dresses with frills and more.

"The necklines are V-shaped, waistlines have dropped... they are simple clothing with rectangle looks," she said about the "Bohemia n Beach Belle" collection, which had block prints too.

Navy was very big in the collection, while indigo, aqua, green, orange, maroon, black and white also made it to the colour palette of the outfits.

There was something for men as well. A touch of crochet to the khaki and white pants and shirts gave a summer feel to the ensembles.

What added to the beach look, was the crab tattoo on mostly legs of the models who walked barefeet.

"I did the tattoos with the make-up team. I liked the crab because of the sea feel and the resort mood and the simplicity," said Dhaka.

The three-day fashion event will conclude on Saturday with Wendell Rodricks' show.

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