Abhishek Dutta walked the ramp with showstoppers Ditipriya Roy and Prosenjit Chatterjee, who are starring together in the upcoming film Aay Khuku Aay. Ditipriya channelled a smart look in a handwoven linen typography-appliqued and embroidered jacket, paired with high-waisted bloomer shorts, representing the Neo-Bengali sequence in the show. Prosenjit represented the Babu Culture sequence in the show and looked stunning in an asymmetrical hand-embroidered coral pink floral kurta, paired with a linen dhoti and hand-embroidered shawl.
A long and wide ramp set in the middle of JW Marriott Kolkata’s ballroom, resembling the pathway to a rajbari entrance with cobblestone print and rajbari architecture, was the set-up for the fourth edition of designer Abhishek Dutta’s spectacular show ‘Celebrating Bengal’.
Musician Gaurab Chatterjee and his team set the mood, starting the evening’s set by playing the Dubki. The collection was showcased in two sequences — Babu Culture and Neo-Bengali. Inspired from the crossover global style sensibility developed in Bengal during the British rule, the Babu Culture collection was a medley of Bengal’s textiles and traditional weaves like the Dhakai jamdani, Tangail, Shantipuri and Bengal’s craftsmanship with European cuts and design detailing, like lace blouses. The menswear included the traditional dhotis paired with structured jackets and bandhgalas catering to contemporary taste, designed with Bengal-inspired motifs like the owl and fish.
The Neo-Bengali sequence exhibited a neon colour palette catering to the young generation, with quirky motifs inspired from Bengal’s traditional culture presented with a modern twist and comfortable fabrics like handwoven linen, denim and cotton khadi. Outfits like structured boleros, flowy dresses and wide-legged trousers featured motifs like Chhau mask, Bhooter Raja and the Bengal tiger to keep the style rooted in tradition with a touch of contemporary fashion choice. Consul generals of various countries and expats of different origins donned the outfits in style and walked the ramp in a fun mood, enlivening the evening ambience for the guests. Snapshots:
DESIGNERSPEAK
The show is about celebrating Bengal and our love for Bengal, it’s tradition, weaves, craft, music, culture and food. I am really thankful to have the consuls and expats from different parts of the world walk the ramp in our Bengal-inspired collection. This is the fourth season and over the years the event has gotten bigger and better. This year’s theme was to build a bridge between the old-world Bengali charm and the new-age Bangaliana. Since we were doing it on a big scale after a long time we had such a lavish set-up. Some teenagers walked the ramp in the second sequence, where we tried to show that the next generation’s style sensibility is also a part of the neo-Bengal styles. We wanted to bring people from different origins on the ramp. We all love Bengal but how Bengal is celebrated globally and loved by people from different parts of the world was the core idea behind this show — Abhishek Dutta
Abhishek Dutta walked the ramp with showstoppers Ditipriya Roy and Prosenjit Chatterjee, who are starring together in the upcoming film Aay Khuku Aay. Ditipriya channelled a smart look in a handwoven linen typography-appliqued and embroidered jacket, paired with high-waisted bloomer shorts, representing the Neo-Bengali sequence in the show. Prosenjit represented the Babu Culture sequence in the show and looked stunning in an asymmetrical hand-embroidered coral pink floral kurta, paired with a linen dhoti and hand-embroidered shawl.
General manager of JW Marriott Kolkata Sumeet Suri walked with wife Roma. Sumeet wore a tiger-printed hand-embroidered kurta, paired with a white shawl and colour co-ordinated dhoti. Roma looked elegant in a linen-textured cold-shoulder tiger-printed blouse, paired with a Bengal’s classic handwoven cotton Tangail sari with dual-colour border.
Vendula Knopfova from Russia walked in Bengal’s classic red-and-white Dhakai jamdani sari, paired with a stylish ruffled lace blouse, along with Simon Kleinpass from the German consulate in Calcutta, sporting a linen embroidered bandhgala teamed with a matching dhoti.
Consul general of Australia in Kolkata, Rowan Ainsworth, looked elegant in a vintage-style laced linen blouse complemented with a colourful handwoven resham jamdani sari.
(L-R) Karita Low, wife of Nick Low, British Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata, looked pretty in a linen hand-embroidered lapel jacket with lace detailing on the sleeves and a belt around the waist, paired with a triple-colour handwoven linen sari. The beautiful lace embroidered umbrella added to the look. US consul general Melinda Pavek looked beautiful in handwoven linen jamdani sari, paired with a lace blouse and a kantha-embroidered jacket. The hand mirror was an apt prop. British Deputy High commissioner in Calcutta, Nick Low, sported a kantha-work bundi jacket paired with a silk kurta, kantha scarf and jamdani-motif dhoti.
Thai consul general in Kolkata, Sweeya Santipitaks walked the ramp in a linen shirt blouse with exaggerated sleeves, teamed with a linen batik sari with lace border.
Nutt Svasti-Salee, consul at Thai consulate general in Calcutta, kept the mood fun on the ramp in a summer jacket with Bhooter Raja print (inspired from Satyajit Ray’s movie Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne) styled with an asymmetrical linen shirt and the trending wide-legged trousers.
Nicolas Facino, director of Alliance Francaise du Bengale, walked the ramp in a cotton drill handcrafted asymmetrical zippered kurta detailed with intricate embroidery.
Hemley Gonzalez looked dapper in a zippy Chhau mask-inspired printed cotton bandhgala, teamed with a pair of linen slim pants.
Solveig Iria from the French consulate walked the ramp in a vibrant Bengal tiger-printed draped jumpsuit, with embroidery detailing around the bust.
Representing the style sensibilities of today’s youth, Aaryansh Dutta walked the ramp in a Bangali typography-printed linen asymmetrical kurta from the Neo-Bengali collection, paired with a denim pants.
Pictures: Pabitra Das
Jewellery: D’ Jewel
Hair and Make-up: Bhaskar Biswas and Kishore Biswas
Usha Uthup mesmerised the audience with her popular number C/0. Kolkata before the showstoppers walked the ramp.
Musician Gaurab Chatterjee played live music with his team as the models walked down the ramp.
Every year this is a very different show for me because they are all senior expats and for them to wear the Indian garments and walk is a different experience. For me, choreographing this show is to keep in mind that they enjoy the experience because it is not every day that they wear beautiful Indian garments and get their hair and make-up done. I only tell them to enjoy on the ramp and they do, so overall it is a fun experience for all of us. We showed two different eras on the ramp and the hair and make-up was done according to the theme. The props were added in the first sequence to give the full look and add the old Bengal feel to it. The live music was composed by the musicians themselves, the first set was classical and the next more modern to go with the theme
— Pinky Kenworthy, who choreographed the show
DESIGNERSPEAK
The show is about celebrating Bengal and our love for Bengal, it’s tradition, weaves, craft, music, culture and food. I am really thankful to have the consuls and expats from different parts of the world walk the ramp in our Bengal-inspired collection. This is the fourth season and over the years the event has gotten bigger and better. This year’s theme was to build a bridge between the old-world Bengali charm and the new-age Bangaliana. Since we were doing it on a big scale after a long time we had such a lavish set-up. Some teenagers walked the ramp in the second sequence, where we tried to show that the next generation’s style sensibility is also a part of the neo-Bengal styles. We wanted to bring people from different origins on the ramp. We all love Bengal but how Bengal is celebrated globally and loved by people from different parts of the world was the core idea behind this show — Abhishek Dutta
