A different debut

Delhi-based designer Namrata Joshipura will kick-start her affair with Lakme Fashion Week with a grand finale show.

Almost 12 years ago, when Namrata Joshipura took up a consignment from the Japanese departmental store Takashimaya, she was understandably excited. "This was one of my first orders after I had moved to New York and here was a chance to put Indian fashion on the map. But I was shocked when the consignment was returned. Upon checking my products, I realised that some garments bore a pin-sized mark," she recollects, adding that the episode was an eye-opener.

Cut to today, the label Namrata Joshipura is a far cry from those teething problems. Other than building a strong presence in India, she has also catered to international stores such as Bon Marche (Paris), Sauce (Dubai), American Rag (Los Angeles) and Beams (Japan), to name a few. But it is her contemporary outlook that has fetched Joshipura her most recent achievement — the plum grand finale slot at the upcoming edition (Summer/ Resort 2013) of Lakme Fashion Week (LFW). Moreover, this will mark her debut at the premier event, scheduled to take place at the Grand Hyatt from March 22 to 26.

"As a designer, it's our job to experiment and innovate. But as far as this year's firsts go, nothing will come close to this stint at LFW. It's a great platform and I am looking forward to wowing fashion lovers at the show," says the enthused Delhi-based designer. But she is not keen to not reveal much about the collection. "In keeping with the spring-summer mood, colours and embellishments will be a key element. It will be a bright, peppy line with western silhouettes such as dresses, skirts, tops and shirts," she says. This apart, she will also be playing with different textures, and juxtaposing the sheer with the opaque. "LFW's philosophy of promoting contemporary, young brands is in line with my own work. So when I was approached by the Lakme team, it was a no-brainer," she points out.

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