Thaindian News

Bangalore, March 10 (IANS) In keeping with its tradition, the royal house of Mysore late Thursday presented its enchanting spring-summer fashion line of 2011 at the imposing Bangalore Palace here.

With the Mysore rulers’ scion Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar as couturier and chief architect of the show, the collection flagged on the catwalk had a range of innovative designs, elegant cuts, intricate motifs and swirling silks and chiffons.

“I have relied on Puranic texts and intricate mirror-mosaic patterns inscribed in palaces for this collection to create dazzling gowns, ghagras and sarees. The colours in the range define garments worn by deities,” Wadiyar told reporters at the fashion show.

For instance, the Ganda Berunda, a symbol of the erstwhile Mysore ruling family, threaded in ancient gold on the seamless sarees recapture the aristocratic lineage of the royalty.

“Royalty conjures up visions of a bejewelled throne, exotic maharajas and maharanis in their gem-encrusted robes decked in glittering emeralds and rubies with a lifestyle swathed in splendour. The collection reflects a class that enunciates finesse, elegance and poise with timeless style,” Wadiyar asserted.

Another motif in the range is the Babri or tiger stripe, adopted by Indo-Aryan civilisations.

The association of the Babri stripe with the Mysore rulers dates back to 1399. Durga, in her manifestation as Chamundeshwari astride on a lion, is the presiding deity of Mysore and its royal family.

“These tiger stripes and leopard spots create striking patterns on silk sarong beach wraparounds, casual evening-wear harem pants and the fashionable cholis,” Wadiyar said.

The spring-summer collection also introduced the chevron, an ancient heraldic device and a military badge of rank.

The versatile insignia, which is also a stylised babri, is dominant motif in Islam as well as Hindu culture and leaves its imprint on the wraparound skirts.

“The spring summer collection traces the heritage of our royalty and delves deeper to inculcate themes from ancient Indo-Aryan civilisations. As a must have for connoisseurs of fashion and fine art, this line will leave its royal stamp on all those it adorns,” Wadiyar added.

The cocktail collection, with its subtle shades was characterised by grace and luxury. Seductive slim line chiffons and sleek georgette silks in box pleats, gathers and twist belts, embellished mirror and zarowski stones illuminated the ramp.