Wednesday 25 September 2013

LFW Designers' Speak: Nishka Lulla & Nikhil Thampi

The Lakme Fashion Week Winter Festival 2013 left behind the glitz of the runway for us to bask in for the rest of the season. Contemporary designs from the younger designers were a treat to the eyes.

The chic travel collection for women by Nishka Lulla, blended with comfort and convenience, was unbeatable, while the eclectic, tribal inspired collection, in traditional silk, by Nikhil Thampi was a gorgeous affair.

In a candid conversation with students of Whistling Woods - Neeta Lulla School of Fashionthe two innovative and inimitable, Gen Next designers shared their experiences of the LFW grandeur.

How important was it for you to be able to showcase your work on a platform like this?

Nishka : It is important to showcase on a significant platform like LFW at least once a year to create awareness and show buyers what you have to offer.
Nikhil: LFW has been my core existence and would always peg more importance to them for showcasing my work and supporting me; I am a loyalist to LFW. Secondly, the show gives mileage to young designers like me who need uplift.

How have things changed for you after this event?

Nishka: Things have not changed but have become better. People see how my collection has evolved since my last show. There are new business offerings and latest reviews of my designs help me understand people’s reactions.
Nikhil: My first introduction to fashion was when my best friend took me along to LFW and almost blackmailed me to help her. I immediately fell in love with how fashion works. Everyone encouraged me to give it a shot and out of 800 random applications only 8 were selected and luckily I was one of them. And there has been no looking back. Things have really changed after that a lot. From being a “nobody” to a “somebody” today, was possible only because of the platform I got.

                           
How important is fashion education and what are the pre-requisites to a good fashion institute?

Nishka: Fashion education is extremely important. Designing is not just talent but very technical as well. You need to know how to construct a garment, what fabrics to use, how it will stay, the silhouette, draping, history of fashion, how it evolved, crafting and cutting a fabric. Unless you know the process of design, you can’t design.
A good fashion institute is about having experienced faculty. The school should teach the basics of all aspects of fashion from photography to styling and so on. You can always specialize later.

Nikhil: I don’t have a formal degree but at times I see the need of it. When it comes to technical terms, I am terrible. I like to learn my way on the job since I like taking challenges. But its very important to have an education in designing to understand the technicalities.
A good fashion institute should give its students creative “freedom”. Even if it is a garbage bag they want to design, let them. It will help enhance their creativity.

A piece of advice to young fashion enthusiasts

Nishka: Identify your own style according to your personality and be true to your sensibilities. Do not imitate. Imitating wouldn’t lead anywhere. Find yourself and your style.

Nikhil: You must look up to a designer whom you admire but you shouldn’t blatantly copy them. Get inspired. They have made it today because of their individuality. 

Wednesday 18 September 2013

A Glimpse of Glamour

The newly joined students at the WW-Neeta Lulla School of Fashion had a chance to experience the magic of the biggest fashion event of the country, the one and only Lakme Fashion Week Winter festival 2013, held from August 23, 2013 - August 28, 2013. Lakme Fashion Week is India’s most prominent fashion get-together of the finest designers of the country.   


Present among the eminent designers and guests, were our enthusiastic students, the aspiring fashion professionals of tomorrow. They were mesmerized at the grandeur and magnificent creations of the most sought after fashion professionals of India. 

Students of Whistling Woods - Neeta Lulla School of Fashion
Got a grand opportunity to visit Lakme Fashion Week, which was an experience to behold.
Esteemed designers Vikram Phadnis, Anita Dongre, Pria Kataria Puri, Amit Aggarwal, Nupur Kanoi, Payal Khandwala, Dhruv Kapur and Riddhi Siddhi, among others adorned the ramps and showcased their exquisite collection at the Day 3 of this fashion  extravaganza.  

The diploma courses at Whistling Woods - Neeta Lulla School of Fashion are slated to start September 10, 2013 onwards, but the new entrants got a never-before opportunity to experience the real world of fashion and get a vibe of this exotic world prior to their study of the same. This would give them a better insight into the reality of the industry and help them relate to the theory.

Attending the Lakme Fashion Week on Day 3 of the event, Niyati Pathak, Mohati and Pranali Oswal,  of WW- Neeta Lulla School of Fashion, were all gaga about the same.  This is what these youngsters had to say about their ‘grand’ experience,

"My experience at LFW’13 was just divine. It was great to cheer the designers and see all the efforts they put not only into their collection, but the entire show. From the theme, to the music, the hair and make-up, it is amazing what goes into bringing their ideas to life”, said Mohati, who observed with great interest.


Niyati Pathak
An excited Niyati said, “The show was just amazing. I loved the show and I am glad that I got an opportunity to watch this. It was all about the glamour, which I love the most. It was a great new world for me and I enjoyed a lot there.” 


Pranali Oswal
To all this, Pranali added, “Attending LFW was a wonderful experience. I learnt that in a fashion show, it is not just about designing fancy clothes but you must also be extremely creative and imaginative to excel in this field. Sincerity brings a lot of exposure and scope of work.”
  
In all, the glitz, the glam and the grandeur swept the young students off their feet and they took home a taste of the best works of Indian fashion and a whole of lessons to learn.

Friday 13 September 2013

Welcoming the ‘First Class’

Whistling Woods - Neeta Lulla School of Fashion had its first ever Orientation Session for the introductory batch of students on September 5, 2013. 
Neeta Lulla, Dean & Founder , Lighting the Lamp
Whistling Woods - Neeta Lulla School of Fashion
Esteemed personalities from the fashion industry of the country adorned the event. Sought- after fashion experts like Jeannie Naoroji, Anjana Sharma, Usha Batra, Meher Castelino, Nachiket Barve, Sathya Saran, Nishika Lulla, Nikhil Thampi, Rahul Narvekar, Kalindi Randheri, Manish Mandhana and Belinda Bawa, present at the Orientation session, shared their insights and opinions on fashion as a career option and how students can explore its possibilities. 

Four students - Richa Shah, Piyush Jain, Niyati Pathak and Pallavi Jaswani were selected for scholarship through Nationwide Design Contest, where they were to design a collection of ‘Corporate Wear with Indian Influence’.

Meghna Puri , President, Whistling Woods International
&
Neeta Lulla, Founder & Dean, WWI -  Neeta Lulla School of Fashion
Being the only fashion school in the country that provides unparalleled exposure to the film industry, the institute focuses on honing aspirants to fit the talent needs of the dynamic fashion industry of modern India. The curriculum is structured in a manner that it enables to fill the space between education and fashion. Along with basic domain knowledge like draping, illustration, costume history and styling, the courses also take the students a leap forward by educating them in the ‘Business of Fashion’ through  visual merchandising, garment construction, wardrobe planning.

The Orientation Session shed light on the program along with an overall understanding of the advantages of the same and possible career opportunities in fashion and how it can help enthusiasts to make a mark in the fashion industry as a professional.

Fashion Veterans Present at the Orientation Session
L-R: Meher Castelino, Sathya Saran, Kalindi Mandheri, Jeannie Naoroji
Addressing the session, Sathya Saran, fashion editor, talked about finding inspirations in mentors.

“Enjoy what you do and go at it with passion. We should give immense importance to Indian fashion, keep the traditions alive and excel”, she added.

Krishna Mehta, shared her thoughts on ‘heritage’ being the starting and ending point for all her design inspirations. “Innovation is the key. Learn the most you can, be proud of your country, culture and heritage”, she advised the students.

Manish Mandhana welcomed the aspirants to experience the charm and magic of the industry and be a part of Mandhana Group; while Meher Castelino shared her experience of being a Fashion blogger in today's technologically upbeat world.


In all, it was an event to remember for the institute, bejewelled by the elite of the fashion industry and lightening the path of the aspirants into turning their dreams into reality.