Indulge, the lifestyle supplement of The New Indian Express, hosted a spectacular 11th anniversary celebration at the ITC Grand Chola, Chennai on October 27. On the cards was a specially curated fashion show called Indulge Style Check, to mark the occasion. The show saw the likes of designers Minnie Menon, Vivek Karunakaran, theatre personality Yohan Chacko, hotelier Vikram Cotah, model Pavithra Malaiappan, Thai Consul General Krongkanit Rakcharoen and Chennai’s ADGP Sunil Kumar Singh, among others, in attendance.
Hosted by Paloma Rao, the show started with models walking the ramp for brands like Sri Palam Silks and Pothys, to present some of their finest collections of silk saris. Designs from PN Rao’s in-house collection for men saw traditional as well modern designs called Rapture Graffiti and Crescendo among others, ranging from kurtas to suits, making an appearance on the ramp.
Stepping up the style game, fashion brand Manam collaborated with electronics brand Noizzy Box, in a sequence featuring models on the ramp with colourful speakers and desi swag, all with a touch of music with funky elements. To round things up, Lawrence & Mayo boutique also joined in to showcase their newest range of the finest in eyewear. In a segment hosted by Manam, a label that specialises in handloom saris and pure silks, the models walked the ramp sporting stylish sunglasses, while clasping some snazzy Bluetooth speakers.
With such a great start to the evening, Salsa Madras’ Arun Srinivasan and Sneha Vakkala took things up a notch with their fabulous dance performances, making many an audience member want to get up and shake a leg. Choreographed by Arun and Australian dancer Angela Fayth, the first was a groovy bachata performance to the song Darte Un Beso by Prince Royce, while the second was a salsa performance to Luis Enrique’s Ya Comenzo, exuding a touch of Arun’s expertise. Incidentally, while Arun completes 10 years as a teacher in March 2019, Salsa Madras celebrates five years of giving the city a taste of Afro and Latin dancing.
To up the glamour quotient, the show presented Lagan, a label that specialises in men’s wedding wear, with models walking the ramp in dresses that blend modernity with ethnicity, in royal sherwanis, and covered in shimmering gold. The segment ended with the brand’s in-house fashion designer Rajiv, walking the ramp with the models.
With a last walk before the finale, Pothys made an appearance on the ramp with a collection for men and women. Along with pastel and grey gowns, they also showcased their range of designer saris, before giving the audience a glimpse of six different looks for grooms this wedding season.
Homegrown stylist Karun Raman, who has previously chalked out several fashion shows in the city, finally took stage to thank the audience for their support. The much-awaited finale was as exciting as promised, and had Chennai’s favourite fashion designer, Rehane, take everyone down memory lane, as she showcased her collections from the last 11 years in the industry. The designer enthralled the audience with a display of fashion in retrospect, featuring all kinds of jaw-dropping designs from Space Age Sundari (2008), Do You Love Me (2009) and Looks Like Love (2010), followed by her more recent designs.
The other themes were Alice In Wonderland (2011), Marks of Love (2012), Naqshband (2013), and Anatolia (2014), followed by Metallic Collection (2015). A showcase of all the designs also saw the reappearance of Summer State Of Mind (2016) before it ended with Kutch Work (2017) and Spring Summer (2018). From metallic flared skirts to sequin bustiers, asymmetrical skirts, intricate mirror work and contemporary drapes, the designs left the audience completely spellbound.
Here are some of the wishes from celebrities at the fashion show:
“Indulge has given us 11 memorable years of news told in a unique style because of its in-depth coverage, and it always stays ahead of the curve. All the best for the years to come!”
— Rehane, Fashion Designer
“It is an honour to be a part of Indulge’s 11th anniversary celebration because over the years it has turned into an identity of the new generation in Chennai. Indulge always keeps
up with the trends.”
— Arun Srinivasan, Founder at Salsa Madras
“What better way than to celebrate Indulge’s 11th anniversary as a prelude to Diwali! It was an amazing experience for me to curate new aspects for a show and to do the finale for Rehane.”
— Karun Raman, Choreographer
“It has been a fabulous journey for Indulge — for me, both as a reader and a part of the Indulge team.
I’m always reminded of just how diverse Chennai is, and all that it has to offer. The very first installment of Style Check gave everyone a dose of fashion, fun and things style, with promises of more to come.”
— Paloma Rao, VJ and TV host