Indigenous Fashion from the waste

From Left - John Sengupta and Sharbari Dutta 

"Bajlo tomar alor benu" -- This song marks the arrival of Devi Durga. It marks the cleasining of all that is waste and signifies the start of something new. This is the sole concept that Inter National Institute of Fashion Design (INIFD) has taken up in their Pre-puja collection "ABAHON 2017". Just as mother Durga transforms all waste into wonderous forms, the students of INIFD has ressurected all waste easilu found around us into beautiful and breathtaking attires that does not fail to mesmerize us. Instead of using expensive materials to produce a rich range of clothing, the students of the fashion Design Department from INIFD has transformed the ordinary things in an elegant way that has the audience stupified. The icing on the cake was the presence of the eminent designer Sarbori Dutta who charmed the event with her presence. Being a humble person, Sarbori Dutta does not fail to indulge the students with her views as she pointed out ways for the students to improve in their own fields.

The collection shows the hard work that the students have put up for the show. Every project needs to be researched throughly and the way the students have designed their cloths, it can be said that their cloths speak for themselves. Their 'AGOMONI' collection is synonymous to the characteristics of the Adi Shakti as it signifies the inner strength of the women. The age old 'Lal Paar Shaada saree' has been portraed n a new form taing inspiration from every aspect of the Bengali life starting from the Taal patar pakha (Pam leaf hand fans). Decorated with 'frills, ruffels and motiys' the Bengali tradition has been well depictyed through these saaris. These saaris lived well upto their intentions of keeping the Bengali tradition alive and they serve as a reminder to modern day people who seems to have forgotten them.

Fashion Show

INIFD's next category 'Best out of the Waste' has been themed around the Phoenix, a mythical bird that takes birth from its own ashes. Phoenix is examplary to the fact that what we regard as waste can actually be beautiful and not something to throw away.  Students of this institute have proved that waste if treated properly, artistically and creatively can look beautiful. Thrown away packets of chips, thermocol plate and bowls, plastic waste bags, deflated balloons have never been made to look so enchanting. Through this category the students of INIFD have explored their creative side and expressed their thoughts just as a painter does with is tools on the canvas.

INIFD's next category Knit-Knots has taken our outlook on the simple day to day worn T-shirts to a whole new level. Daily wear boring T-shirts have been restructured to look trendy. This unimaginable fact is what the students have achieved, they have conquered the unconquerable. T-shirts have been made into a cape and sometimes a funky shrug, the sleeves have been given various cuts that make them look like expensive clothing but with a chick and ober look.

Sometimes we wonder what to do with all our old clothes. Every piece of clothing has a story and an emotional attachment. We neither want to throw them nor do we want to keep them. The students of INIFD comes to our rescue. Through their next category 'Metamorphosis' they revived the old clothes and revamp the wardrobe. Through unique combination of clothinh and style they show us how we can reuse our old cloths and look fashionable.

Fashion Show

Feminine grace is best emphasised with a saree and festivals in Bengal are incomplete withot them. Be it any occation or festivities all a woman wants is a saree. So, the students of INIFD has redefined sarees in their own unique way to make it popular among the youth by giving them a designer's touch and draping it in different styles to make it popular among the youth.

Magnamious designer Sharbari Dutta was impressed with the efforts of the students of INIFD. To her fashion is an way of expression by a designer just like a painter or a singer. Fashion designers do not only make clothes for the rich but it is the sole work of a designer to introduce a trend so that it can be worn by all people in general. Fashion designers should work towards growing the economy through their works. She takes her inspirations from various indigenous cultures of India and the Indian mythology. She intoduced coloured Dhotis taking inspiration from Lord Krishna who wore a yellow dhoti and is thus called Pitambar. Sharbari Dutta encouraged the students to keep up their work and experiment.

                                                                                                        (Reported, Written & Images by Somrita Das)