Kolkata’s renowned designer Ritu Kumar, loved for her vibrant, lively, fun-filled apparels, unveiled her brand’s spring / summer 2019 collection, Native Spirit that scorched the ramp at the ongoing Lakme Fashion Week.
The prêt collection was a fashionable, colourful, ode to nature, homage to the great outdoors. The inspirations were unique as Label Ritu Kumar merged the rainbow-like grandeur of the Native American life with the rustic charm of the Inca civilisation and then topped it all with vigour of the memorable Wild West.
The colour card was very close to the unique inspiration. So, Label Ritu Kumar allowed burgundy, red and mustard to flow on the runway but with the freshness of citrus pastels added, in order to turn the garments into a ‘must-have’ ready-to-wear.
Detailing was as exciting as the colours, with leather braiding and clean metal accents that appeared on the ensembles to further accentuate the theme. The print story had to be based on the tribal art works of the regions but it was the fabrics – chiffons, cottons, silks and soft crêpes -- that did the magic.
Opening with a colourful, halter asymmetric maxi, the show moved into top gear with denim shorts, capelets with sparkle, mini smocks, kimono style minis and off-shoulder smocked-waist, long dresses. Tasselled skirts over shorts, kaftans, a mini sack dress with sequins, ombré flared gathered mini and a multi-coloured maxi tent gave some more fun options. The baby doll mini with shoulder cut-outs, a dungaree with printed shirt, tiny shrug with extra-long back tassels and the final gold corset dress with a sheer black maxi skirt offered more options for the coming season.
To ensure that the Wild West theme was quite apparent, corduroy dungarees were teamed with printed tops. The characteristic fringe detailing that was often favoured on the gaucho pants appeared as a feisty trim to evoke the Wild West theme.
Get into great retro fashion of a bygone era, awake the “Native Spirit” when dressing up for the coming season and watch the accolades pouring in when the Label Ritu Kumar’s collection hits the racks.