Pearl Academy at The Amazon Fashion Week 2016
As winters set by they make way for the spring winds. The five day fashion extravaganza takes wings at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Lodhi Road, Delhi. Pearl Academy along with Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) held the most appreciated sessions at the coveted Amazon India Fashion Week 2016. We are here to take you through these events from Day 2 and Day 3.
DAY 2: 17TH MARCH
BeSomebody Talk
In the world today when it comes to the Creative Institutions, the students seek a lot more than just skills required for a mere job. As a creative person they have a thirst for accomplishing the unimaginable, to dream the unthinkable, to create the impossible, and to get in the spotlight… to ‘Be Somebody’. At Pearl Academy students are trained for challenges that they might have to face tomorrow. It serves as a catalyst for success in the field of Fashion, Design and Creativity.
At the ‘BeSomebody’ talk, eminent speakers share their success stories to inspire the students and achievers alike. The book WoW (Works of Wonder) was launched, which featured 12 socially inclined projects by the students of Pearl Academy.
The prominent speakers were
- Anju Modi
She is a traveler, a thinker, a dreamer and a designer. She is the woman behind eponymous label and the details as well as the elements in each of her creations. The catalyst and the foundation of her designing philosophy has been her love for textile and the Indian craft.
She, over time, has been able to build a strong repertoire in the techniques and nuances of textile by research and working closely with the master craftsmen as well as weavers across the country. Her collections balance India’s rich cultural heritage and designs which are inspired by a wide gamut of references from philosophy and architectural marvels. She has been highly praised across nations for designing costumes for the lead star cast in Ramleela and Bajirao Mastani. She was honored as the best costume designer in the Filmfare awards among others.
- Rahul Mishra
The Mumbai and Delhi based Indian Fashion Designer has been the winner of several prominent awards in the field of Apparel Designing. He completed his graduation in ‘Physics’ from Kanpur University (now known as ChhatrapatiShahu Ji Maharaj University). Followed by post graduation in ‘Apparel Designing’ from the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmadabad where he won the Best Student Designer of the Year in 2005.
He made his debut the very next year in the ‘Lakme Fashion Week’ with the collection using Handloom Textiles from Kerala, especially off-white fabric with golden border. In the year 2009, he made reversible dresses, employing Kerala mundu on one side and Banarasi fabric on the other side, woven by traditional craftsmen. Over the years he has successfully been able to showcase his works at Fashion Weeks in London, Dubai and Australia besides the Indian Fashion Week. He is the only Indian designer chosen by ‘Rent the Runway’ the online rental boutique.
- SuketDhir
A graduate of ‘Fashion Design’ from NIFT, Delhi is known for his stunning and luxurious menswear collection. In the year 2008, Suket launched his eponymous label ‘SuketDhir’ which is synonymous with high detailing, quality finishing and use of eco-friendly textile. His collection features cottons, linen, bamboo, fine mulmul and silk blends that have now turned into universal silhouettes.
The designer has showcased his collection at ‘Lakme Fashion Week’ and they are currently available at Good Earth in India and internationally at Benares in Singapore. He even has a design studio in Delhi.
DAY 2: 18TH MARCH
What’s next in Fashion
Fashion as a cultural and creative force is highly competent in communicating change. Change that explores the unknown, that drives a difference, that unravels the pulsating quest for ‘What’s Next’
The Panel discussion on ‘What’s Next in Fashion’ included esteemed industry and fashion fraternity as they came together and discussed upon how is fashion consumed and what’s the future of fashion industry. It was an insightful session and the audience from the industry & our alumni were enthralled by the discussion.
The panelists were:
- Phyllida Jay
She is an anthropologist specializing in Indian fashion, luxury and sustainability. Her research has been about what fashion means to individual’s lives, aspirations and identity as well as the creativity and conceptual world of Indian designer’s. She also studied the livelihoods of India’s crafts workers. Her research provides in-depth ethnographic insight into the exciting world of contemporary Indian fashion. She spoke on ‘Maximalisation and Minimalisation’ which was about negotiating consumer’s desire, aesthetics and ethics.
- Ganesh Subramanym
He is the Founder and the CEO at Stylumia, a technological venture solving real world problems in fashion and lifestyle business using artificial intelligence. He is the ex COO of Myntra which has been associated with reputed fashion retailers like Reliance Trends, Arvind Brands, Tommy Hilfiger and Indus League Clothing. He spoke on how technology will transform the way the fashion brands approach the consumers and how the consumers consume the fashion.
- David Abraham
He is a graduate from National Instituted of Design (NID), who initially grew up in Singapore then moved to Bangalore before joining the NID and had a close link with the design community. As a famous fashion designer and a knowledgeable person he stressed on the fact the consumption is a dangerous beast and should be monitored at every stage.
- Nonita Kalra
She is a veteran journalist with over two decades of work in print and broadcast with publications like India Today and Indian Express. She has played the role of Editor-in-Chief to ELLE India for 12 years and shaped it into the fabulous fashion fix that it is today. Today she’s a well-known and well-respected Editorial Consultant, working with the best brands in India and shaping them up to match international standards. She spoke on the anarchy of fashion communication and consumption and what are its effects.
- Manou
He shoots people on the street and has one of the top Street Fashion blogs in India. He elaborated on the consumption across classes and the role of blogs in the fashion industry.
- Narendra Kumar
He is the designer, whose day job as Creative Director at Amazon India. The year 2012 saw Kumar make it to the Esquire’s Big Black Book of Style’s list of “The Best Men’s Stores in the World”, becomes the only Indian brand to have achieved that distinction. He explained in detail the concept and relevance of Modern India.