“Embracing the future of fashion begins with the creative minds we discover and foster through the GenNext program at Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI. At Lakme, we are constantly in search of what’s the next big conversation in beauty and fashion, and this season’s GenNext designers represent not only the resilience and creativity of a new era but also our commitment towards identifying, nurturing, and empowering young talent who will sculpt the future of global fashion. We are thrilled to spotlight the GenNext winners as they unfold their creativity, in line with Lakme’s vision as a fashion forward beauty brand with product lines and collection themes bringing forth a blend of fresh perspectives and avant-garde styles,” Sunanda Khaitan, vice president, Lakme, said.
Lakme Fashion Week’s ‘INIFD Presents GenNext’ showcased four innovative designers.
They included Rohitash Notani’s ‘Rosani’ featuring workwear with a twist, Charmee Ambavat’s ‘The Terra Tribe’ highlighting indigenous African influences, Shimona Agarwal’s modern reinterpretation of crafts, and Kriti Greta Singhee’s sustainable collection ‘Third Space’.
Rohitash Notani’s label ‘Rosani’ was created after a firm knowledge acquired at the IED, Milan, where fashion marketing managing was the segment of interest. His collection ‘Anima & Animus’ was all about workwear and uniform fabrics like cotton drill and Oxford presented with a splash of embroidered materials, trims and florals. Rohitash took a fresh innovative look at clothes that were seamlessly crafted together. Boxy cuts and beads of bugles made a daring fashion statement, while baguettes and crinolines were an offering for every body shape.
Charmee Ambavat’s background in investment and banking was replaced with her true passion for fashion when she graduated from NIFT, Mumbai. A creative stint with Nimish Shah of ‘Shift’ encouraged her to start her label ‘The Terra Tribe’. Her references for the collection were drawn from indigenous tribes of Africa and the painted mud houses. Merging the nuances of masculine and feminine elements, Her collection called ‘Indigene’ drew creatively from timeless, versatile archives. Using 100 per cent locally manufactured cotton made by conscious weavers in India; the garments were a medley of pigment dyes that are kind to the environment. Each garment was a labour of love that maintained a firm hold on low waste production, fair wages, and no animal-based material the company said in a press release.
Shimona Agarwal has honed her talents further with one of India’s top designers, Hemang Agarwal in Varanasi. For her eponymous label, Shimona unveiled her collection HUE, which was a re-imagination of fashion for the modern soul and a modern interpretation of crafts and styles that could transcend seasons.
An alumnus of NIFT Kolkata, Kriti Greta Singhee’s collection ‘Third Space – Sustainable Future’ focussed on a creative flow of geometric patterns mathematical art and folds. The colour palette was warm and earthy to match the title of the collection. There were tons of white, grey and ash tones, which were highlighted with pleats and folds, while the fabrics were a medley of organic, sustainable eco-friendly, hand-woven, natural silks and cotton silks from Fulia in Bengal.
“INIFD presents GenNext, is a remarkable talent discovery programme that has consistently played a crucial role in offering a valuable platform for aspiring young designers in India. This initiative is designed to provide an opportunity to showcase their creativity and aesthetics to a broader audience, both nationally and internationally. The programme not only aims to highlight the innovative designs of these budding designers but also network with key players in the fashion industry and launch on a larger scale. Our association with Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI has spanned for over 30 seasons during which over 150 GenNext winning designers got the opportunity to showcase at this prestigious event,” Shaunik Khosla, business head – INIFD, said.
“INIFD expresses gratitude to Reliance Brand Ltd and Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI for helping fresh talent with such a splendid platform. This programme is a commitment to fostering and promoting the next generation of designers, contributing to the vibrancy and innovation of the Indian fashion industry,” Khosla added.
“It brings us immense joy to witness the continued success of our GenNext programme, which has consistently nurtured remarkable young talent. For over a decade, the programme has played a pivotal role in introducing exceptional designers, many of whom have left a lasting impression on the Indian and global fashion industry. As we welcome the winners of the 37th batch of GenNext designers, we wish for their continued growth and impact on the fashion industry,” Jaspreet Chandok, group vice president, Reliance Brands Ltd, said.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)