Kathmandu:

The excitement is palpable as D-day for Sunsilk Nepal Fashion Week draws near. And yes, this is surely going to be the biggest and most exclusive fashion extravaganza to hit Kathmandu this year. The event is being organised by Indian Education Centre (IEC), Nepal’s premier fashion design institute and is scheduled to happen from September 9 to September 13, 2005 at Hotel Yak and Yeti. The show will be a magnificent presentation of some of the best designs of the country.

A total of 79 designers who are divided into 30 groups will be showcasing their designs on the ramp. The fashion week would also be featuring a trade show where 32 stalls would be put up exhibiting various items related to fashion including clothes and accessories. The main motive behind organising this event, which is the second in a row, is to upgrade the image of the Nepali fashion industry. Watch out for chitchats with all the designers and know more about their plans for the fashion week.

Group Name: Dheerja Karki, Bijan Shrestha, Natasha Khemka and Shiwa Pyakoral

Theme for the show: ‘Seamless Collection with Colour Therapy’

What’s the collection like: None of their designs have been stitched and are based on draping style. The collection includes one-piece, two-piece, three piece and four-piece attires that can be worn as eveningwear, party wear and beachwear.

Colours highlighted: All colours from the Colour-Wheel

Fabrics Used: Jute raw silk, south cotton, silk and chiffon

What’s Unique: The collection will focus on the kinds of variations of designs that can be created just by draping a fabric.

Background of the group members: All the designers of this group are ex-students of IEC and are participating in the fashion week for the second time.

Price Range: Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000

Group Name: ‘Novice’ - Ninu Shrestha, Shweta KC, Preksha Jain and Madhupriya Dugar

Theme for the show: ‘Beads and Sequins’

What’s the collection like: The collection comprises both traditional and westernwear and the common thing in all the designs would be embroidery. The designs include ponchos, skirts, salwar suits, pants and sarees and are all ready-to-wear attires. The embroidery on the clothes is done by using beads and sequins and the designs are targeted towards the young and the middle-aged.

Colours highlighted: All colours without any boundaries

Fabrics Used: Satin, tissue, georgette and chiffon

What’s Unique: Embroidery has been done to make casual clothes stand out

Background of the group members: All the four designers of this group are freshers in the field and are all students of IEC. Being so young, they are full of innovative and creative ideas.

Price Range: Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000

Group Name: Bhintuna Gongel and Tsering Yangzi Sherpa

Theme for the show: ‘Casual Wear’

What’s the collection like: The collection mainly focuses at casual western wear targeted towards the young generations. The collection has one-piece and two-piece designs, which also include pants, skirts and tops.

Colours highlighted: White, orange, yellow, purple, green and maroon

Fabrics Used: Satin Silk, chiffon, raw silk, tissue, Lycra and georgette

What’s Unique: Embroidery has been done to make casual clothes stand out.

Background of the group members: Both the designers of this group are final year students at IEC and aspire to pursue their careers as designers all through.

Price Range: Rs 500 to Rs 5,000

Group Name: ‘Touch and Feel’ - Suman Shrestha, Pratistha Shah, Rupa Bajracharya and Tara Adhikari

Theme for the show: ‘Romantic Party Wear’

What’s the collection like: The entire collection is meant to represent regular party wear in a totally different light, which will be more romantic and wearable in its outlook. The dresses will be a fusion of traditional and western party wear with a lot of emphasis on cuts and colour combinations. The designs are mostly one-piece and two-piece dresses and is targeted for mostly people who are under 30.

Colours highlighted: Mostly bright colours including red, yellow, white, electric blue, pink and magenta.

Fabrics Used: Silk, satin, georgette, chiffon, Lycra and net

What’s Unique: The fact that normal party wear will be presented in an entirely different way is what makes this collection unique.

Background of the group members: The four designers belonging to this group are ex-students of IEC, two out whom had participated in the fashion week last year too.

Price Range: Rs 700 to Rs 2,500

Group Name: Usha Pun and Nimona Limbu

Theme for the show: ‘Celebrating Womanhood’

What’s the collection like: The collection is a complete fusion of traditional and western wear and will showcase designs ranging from pants, sarees, lehengas, salwar suits to a modified version of beachwear. A lot of emphasis is put into the cuts and embroidery and all the designs are completely wearable. The collection is majorly targeted on teenagers and the clothes are fit to be worn as party wear.

Colours highlighted: Light and dark

Fabrics Used: Chiffon, georgette, crepe, silk and satin

What’s Unique: None of the designs have been repeated in this ensemble making each one a cut above the rest.

Background of the group members: Both the designers of this group are students of IEC and at present are getting themselves trained at Sunimu boutique.

Price Range: Rs 2,000 to Rs 12,000

Group Name: ‘Chrysalis Custom Tailoring Boutique’ - Laxmi Mahat, Sandhya Pandey and Anju Khadka (Rana)

Theme for the show: ‘Its Your Choice’

What’s the collection like: From ready-to-wear, evening wear to party and simple wear, the collection boasts of almost all kinds of fashion wear. An amazing deal in terms of sarees, salwar suits, long dresses, tops and skirts.

Colours highlighted: The collection is made by using all colours especially bright colours.

Fabrics Used: Chiffon, raw silk, cotton, linen, silk and net

What’s Unique: The designers’ claim that their collection is extremely wearable and does not require even an inch of skin show.

Background of the group members: These three designers are all students of IEC. While Mahat owns the boutique for the past eight years, Pandey runs a training institute called ‘Saraswati Silai Prashikshan Kendra’ and Khadka is a lecturer at Nobel College. They all aspire to continue with fashion designing for as long as they can.

Price Range: Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000

Group Name: Shanti Maya

Gurung (Lama), Akriti Bijukchhe, Neelu Garbuja, Jaya KC and Deepa Gurung

Theme for the show: ‘Naulo Collection’

What’s the collection like: This collection ranges from party wear, formal wear, club wear to traditional wear. A lot of embroidery is used and clothes fit for winter too have been created.

Colours highlighted: Black, white, cream, red

Fabrics Used: Silk, net, chiffon, georgette, mixed cotton

What’s Unique: The embroidery

Background of the group members: All hail from Pokhara and are students of IEC.

Price Range: Rs 1,000 to Rs 6,000