From winning the Gladrags Mrs Indian title in 2004 to writing fitness columns and her foray into designing clothes, Shilpa Reddy is a woman of many talents. The model turned fashion designer will be showcasing her new collection at the Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive (LFW) 2013 for the very first time. Her collection which is inspired by the empowered women is different from her previous designs. “The collection is very different from what I have done till now. It is very strong and has a lot of structure to it. We are incorporating the elements of a woman who is fierce as well as nurturing, caring and loving,” says Shilpa Reddy.

Well constructed and structured combined with fabrics which are fluid, flowy and feminine comprise the collection. “We have used silhouettes which are out of the box,” explains Shilpa. The collection which promises a country-centric theme includes Indian clothes with a festive look in bright hues with lots of embroidery in gold.

The designer admits LFW happened sooner than she had expected. “I was confident that LFW will happen eventually but not so soon. But then Lakme felt I had  a good profile and a strong portfolio behind me so I thought might as well showcase my collection this season,”explains Shilpa who will exhibit her collection at the main showcase arena. Shilpa Reddy is one of the four designers from the city who will participate at LFW. “The fact that four designers will represent Hyderabad at LFW itself says that Hyderabadi fashion is evolving at a good pace. There is a boom of fashion designers in the city now,” adds Shilpa.

One must-have this season for a woman’s wardrobe according to the designer is a jacket. “A well-fitted jacket is a must have in the wardrobe as it can transform anything you wear whether it’s a sari or a simple dress. It makes the whole outfit look glamorous, modern and stylish.” When asked about advice for aspiring fashion designers, she says, “When people are able to identify the designer just by looking at his or her designs, that means you have won the battle.”

Another designer who will be making his debut at the LFW is Shravan Kumar who is no stranger to the arena. The designer who has been in the fashion circuit for over 20 years now will showcase his collection which takes traditional handlooms to the next level. “The collection will showcase an Indo-Russian look with cropped jackets, handprints over khadi, silver Banarasi zaris. It is all about Indian textiles,” says Shravan. The designer is also known to encourage artisans and weavers of AP through a society which provides employment opportunities to widows and weavers in the village of Allavaram.

Shravan also feels strongly about research and development. “Every motif, every design is well researched, down to the last detail,” says Shravan who is currently working on his India International Jewellery Week collection. “The collection is titled ‘Voyage of Saklara’ inspired by the  Deccan plateau where both genders wear jewellery.”

The Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2013 will be held from August 23 to 27 in Mumbai.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Kota Saumya / ENS – Hyderabad / August 01st, 2013