Celebrating India's North East: Manipuri beauties on the runway

Veteran designer Krishna Mehta turned to India’s north east for inspiration for her latest line that was showcased at Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2013.

The bright colours of Manipur descended upon the city’s runway on the fourth day of the Lakme Fashion Week. Krishna Mehta who showed her latest line at the event had turned to the fabrics and weaves of the India’s north east and the result was a rather colourful affair.

Mehta’s show opened with the sounds of a flute and went on to feature vibrant Manipuri folk music played by a love band -- Nadabrahma of Imphal.

The line included hand-woven traditional and tribal weaves in silk, wool and tweed in shades of crimson, cobalt, fuchsia, red, purple and orange.

Here, Mehta contrasts the solid colours of the waistcoat with the colourful designs of the lungi.

Silhouettes in the line included long sophisticated jackets as well as feminine skirted dresses and flared tunics and variety of pants besides of course the traditional six yard saris.

For the men, Mehta teamed kurtas, some with delicate embroidery on the yokes and cuffs with pajamas and scarves.

Next up we have this plain black kurta with stunning red embroidery teamed with a contrasting salwar.

Mehta mixed patterns, colours and textures and even included long skirts such as this one, sharara pants with floor length kurtas and knee-length sherwanis in her line.

Mehta’s garments featured origami folds even as she used tie-and-dye techniques as well as embroidered mulberry silks, woven tweeds and translucent stripes.

Krishna Mehta’s greatest achievement with this line was her ability to blend traditional handloom fabrics for contemporary wear.