Minister says ‘no’ to student union polls

Sonepat: Putting an end to rumours, the State Education Minister, Mr Bahadur Singh, categorically said today that the ban on elections to students unions of universities and colleges would not be lifted. “The ban will continue and there is no question of holding the elections as rumoured by people with vested interest,” he said. He was talking to mediapersons at the canal rest house in Gohana on Monday. He said, keeping in view difficulties of the private school owners, the State Government has deferred the enforcement of the new rules for the next academic year, but there would not be any relaxation from the next year. “Admissions will be allowed only in those private schools which fulfil conditions, ” he said. OC

CULTURE

GLITZ&GLAMOUR
Fusion of inspired fashion with Indian sensibilities
Smriti Kak

Fashion and fusion are analogous, well to a certain extent. There is hardly any design or a cut that is not inspired. Take the case of Manju and Bobby Grover, where an amalgamation of contemporary western silhouette with strong oriental undertones, warps, sashes, Kimono sleeves and wrest form an integral part of the whole collection.

The collection, which will be a part of the Lakme India Fashion Week (LIFW), has been adapted creatively to “meet the Indian sensibilities in its true genre”.

Surface texturization like gathering, fluting, crushing and rousing have been used to add a playful touch to the silhouettes enlivening the colour and giving it a whole new dimension.

Talking about the collection, the duo said, “a dash of titillating colours provides a fresh lease of life to the collection. Abstract unstructured with a dash of sophistication provided by experimental sashes and wraps form the essence of this collection. The classy silhouette of the kimono experiences an exceptional experimental streak”.

The collection also includes delicate Indo-Westerns, drawing heavy oriental influences. “The elegance lies in the subtle, but emphatic inter-play of antique gold with copper and rustic tones of fine embroidery detail,” the designers add.

As for J. J. Valaya, the LIFW will showcase his “global journey”, inspiration drawn from five sources, including the bejewelled finery from the Qajar dynasty, 18th and 19th century fans in a Russian museum, the emperor’s robes from ancient China, the colours of Mexico and the spirit of India.

Valaya shakes off overt conventionality and effectively combines tradition with elements from contemporary styling for the women. He has combined faux fur with denim, faux leather with the finest of silks and signature embroideries treated in a modern manner. “Colour of yellows, oranges, emerald, royal blue and reds flash through the entire collection, jostling for attention along with the antique metallic, brilliant blacks and the nouveau neutrals”.

The Styles “have a touch of modernity, classicism and at the same time are evidently very ‘real’. It’s all about today’s way of dressing. The waist is playful and seems to swing between high and really low. The sari, tweaked and tested, the churidar gives way to the churi-pant. It’s not at all romantic, it’s about a rather strong femininity”.

For the men, the collection is “part pure, part posh and consists largely of slim trousers, sharp jackets, evening shirts, cashmere knits and sherwanis”.

The colours are a soothing ivory and various other muted colours apart from the evergreen black. What is new for the young men is “options galore in mod striped cashmere sweaters, laser embossed denims, embroidered Jodhpur jackets and sherwanis in sophisticated colour combinations and traditional handcrafts”.

Seamless fashion on the anvil

Seamless technology will provide a classy look to garments.

Seamless will soon be in fashion. The Capital recently played host to a fashion show displaying garments that can be produced using the seamless technology, which was primarily used for lingerie, but has evolved to casual wear, active sports and party wear.

Apparel & Leather Technics Pvt. Ltd., a total apparel solutions provider, have introduced the concept in the country. The seamless technology seeks to change the design and comfort of lingerie, sportswear, outerwear or any other imaginative apparel to give it a light weight, classy look and make it versatile.

Talking about the technique, Madhu Kapur of ALT adds, “imagine designing your own garment suiting your needs of colour, size, comfort etc., and having a tailor made product to suit your individual need.”

The ALT Training College will open a brand new section of education for seamless wear. This will provide the new generation a great opportunity to pursue excellence.

Launch pad for Sikhs only

An exclusive modelling agency is all set to cater to the Sikh youth.

The Sikh community has given the modelling circuit some very successful and interesting faces, but they are either women or men who were content with the clean shaven look.

“The modelling agencies just turn down guys with beards and turbans”, laments G. S. Gill, the brain behind Launchers, a modelling agency that trains “only Sikhs with a turban”.

Gill recounts, “I was turned down by all the leading agencies because with my turban and beard I did not fit into their bill of a male model.” Instead of opting for a clean-shaven look, Gill decided to challenge the norm of clean models.

“I joined an agency and started work as an assistant model co-ordinator. Having learnt the tricks of the trade, I decided to venture out on my own”.

So up came Launchers, which offers “turbaned Sikh boys” a seven-day training programme to help them “prepare for the competition and build up their confidence”.

“The boys are talented, smart and their personality matches up to that of their clean shaven counterparts, yet they are shown the door, which makes them disillusioned,” says Gill.

Gill’s seven-day module is a mishmash of ramp walking, photo sessions, with yoga and personality development thrown in. “The duration is more than sufficient. I isolate the boys for a week and from five in the morning till 10 at night, they are made to work vigorously. And at the end of it, they are ready to face the world”. Though Gill does not guarantee work, he is confident that “his boys” are soon going to be adorning bill boards and magazine covers.

Swarn Sambandh

Sercon’s Swarn Sambandh, a jewellery exhibition is to be held in the Capital from August 8 to 11 at The Grand. It is supported by the World Gold Council to provide a networking platform to the jewellers to develop their markets beyond their immediate cities and also to create awareness about the latest trends in jewellery.

The organisers claim that Swarn Sambandh will encapsulate every aesthetic plane, from the cosmopolitan lifestyle of Mumbai to the royal jewels of Rajasthan and the fine goldwork of Bengal.

“I am delighted to be a part of such a platform as I know what it means for a designer to offer something new to her discerning clients,” says former beauty queen turned jewellery designer, Naina Balsaver.

Sherwani collection for all occasions

K’s Mall has launched a new line of sherwani’s for their in-house brand Parinay. The new line of sherwani’s is a collection for different occasions. Parinay, the ethnic collection, offers the best of sherwani’s with a perfect fit and attempts to bring together all elements of the forecasted trend for the season.

The new collection of Sherwani’s emphasises on combination of colours such as cream, fawn, beige, navy blue, black, cuts, embroidery, contracts and keeping in mind the different occasion one would like to wear them. 

Short shirt collection for men

Lee Cooper has launched a new range of ‘men’s short shirt collection’ as part of its summer collection 2003. The range includes a wide variety of short and semi-fitted shirts. The colours of the season are shades of orange, sky, lemon, and lilac besides the khakis, olives and anthras.