[ LAKMÈ LOWDOWN ] Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2012

Whilst I was (reluctantly) climbing the mountains of Slovenia (pictures to come soon - promise!), this lot were happy mingling in the comfort of Mumbai's Grand Hyatt Hotel, busying themselves with chatter of the latest unveilings from the Winter/Festive 2012 collections. Lucky them. Taking place twice a year since 1999, Lakmé Fashion Week  is India's most prestigious Fashion and trade event, acting as a platform for the launch of many of India's most talented designers. So that's the intro done, now for the Lakmé Lowdown...take a look at some of the 'best in show' according to the humble opinion of Wandering Threads:

Yogesh Chaudhary

(As above) Definitely one to watch: an unquestionable mastery of print-on-print styling that is synonymously Indian, but what's that? It's inspired by Pac Man?! Yup, Chaudhary's inspiration went on a whirlwind ride back to the 1960's American Retro Era, where he picked up a sunny colour palette of canary yellow, cherry red and electric blue before propelling himself 20 years into the future to play a bit of our favourite 80's childhood arcade game, then hurling himself back to the present day ready with the one and only 'Miss Pac-in District'. Despite the somewhat nerdy inspiration, this collection's got definite sex appeal: a predominantly lean, body snug silhouette in super-modern block vs digital print-colour fusion's gave a new twist to the sari-choli combo, whilst full skirts paired with traditionally cut choli's created a look which would easily find its place on the runways of western fashion weeks. Enough photo's I need to see this in person Chaudhary! Get thee to London Fashion Week! 

Nitya Arora

Winner of the Grazia Young Designers Award: Best Jewellery Designer 2012, Arora's career seems to be skyrocketing to success at only 24. A graduate of Parsons School of Design in New York, Arora launched her accessory line upon completing her studies in 2011 and has already held trunk shows in Dubai, Egypt and New York. Her LFW W/F 2012 'Nouveau Gypsy' collection saw her trademark oversized statement necklaces embellished with a mishmash of mesh and chain, set with gemstones and enamel in geometric forms on beds of tassel's, while spiked chokers kicked up a 'dare to touch' rock'n'roll edge.

Pinnacle by Shruti Sancheti

Synonymous with the combo of indigenous design and contemporary styling, Sancheti's Pinnacle brand combines traditional craftsmanship with a look desirable of modern day India. With a collection entitled 'Thar', this seasons look was very much a contemporary fashion take on the time-honored textiles of the Kutch region. Combining traditional techniques of Shibori (a unique stitch resistant technique of the Nebsarai Village), Sindhi Tanka or Kutch stitch with negative appliqué, herringbone, chain and buttonhole stitches in a colour palette of richly hued fuschia, sunset orange, mango, indigo and royal blue, Sancheti's seamlessly layered and meticulously crafted ensembles made more than an impact on Indian Textile Day. 

Bodice by Ruchika Sachdeva 

Infamous for her penchant for 'androgyny, structure and  contrast', Sachdeva sure didn't fail on any mark this season with her fluid collection inspired by the Indian Maharaja and the Sadhu. Elegant, sheer and floaty blouses, feminine pleated skirts and billowing harem pants were neatly nipped with sharply cut blazers whilst pretty pastels and feminine, soft shades of berry and apricot where starkly bordered with black belts and collars. Picking up on that distinctly tailored western edge? No doubt a by-product of days spent studying at London College of Fashion and stemming from an impressive resume of experience working with both Vivienne Westwood and Giles Deacon.

Pia Pauro

Mara Hoffman eat your heart out! There's a new kid on the block and she certainly stole the show this season at Lakmé with her Mexican Folk Art and Aboriginal inspired prints. Aptly named "Espiritu de Mexico", Pauro's collection IS the perfect holiday wardrobe (NB for those of you yet to leave for your summer vacations). Brightly hued beach shorts were paired with printed cami's, easy-wear patterned jersey dresses featured appliqued Mexican motifs and for that evening transition Pauro provided bead encrusted, heavily embroidered mini tube dresses. Oh and she's a graduate of London College of Fashion, can you tell? 

For more information on Lakmé Fashion Week, click here.  

[ ETHNIC DOODLES ] Nina Chakrabarti's Illustrations

I'm super excited to be involved with The Painted House this weekend at Latitude Festival (where I'll be showcasing a few ethnic bits I picked up along my epic Asian adventure - Friday at 13.30), but one event I'm particularly looking forward to attending is Illustrator Nina Chakrabarti's 'Design a Fanzine' workshop.

Having studied Illustration at both Central Saint Martins and The Royal College of Art, put pencil to page for the likes of Vogue, French Connection, Mazda, Marks & Spencer, The Wellcome Collection and I Want You Magazine as well as publishing two books, with another one ready to launch later this year, I'd say making a fanzine with her is going to be pretty kick-ass!

It seems Nina's fun, playful and folksy style, her love for patterns and (as I'm told) obsession with Moccasins may have stemmed from her early years growing up in Calcutta, India, before moving to London. Her two published books 'My Wonderful World of Fashion' and 'My Even More Wonderful World of Fashion' both draw on inspiration from objects of the past as well as clothing and traditions of other cultures. With the pages from her books positively bursting with ideas on how to make a sari, how to henna your hands and ready-to-colour illustrations of ancient jewellery designs, it seems we've got more than a few obsessions in common!

So come on down to the Faraway Forrest on Saturday at 13.30 to get involved with Nina's 'Make Your Own Fanzine' and on Friday at 13.30 to peruse my ethnic infused stall of traditional, hand-crafted wonders!

All images by Nina Chakrabarti at ninachakrabarti.com

[ PINTER LUSTINGS ] Ethnic Style Inspirations

Just a few more of my favorite picks from my Pinterest Ethnic Fashion board. Reiterating exactly what it is I love about ethnic inspired design -  vibrant colours, geometrical patterns, in-your-face bold prints and innovative use of jewellery making techniques. What I wouldn't give for some tips from those Masai Mara....

All images sourced from Pinterest.com
 
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[ ETHNIC BANDS FOR SUMMER HANDS ] Kuta, Bali

I've been doing a bit of shopping (surprised?) since I touched down in the beautiful tropical paradise that is Bali. First stop, Kuta. Not exactly your ideal holiday spot thanks to all the drunken Ozzie's and Brit's falling all over the streets but thanks to an over friendly insect and a couple of knife wielding doctors, it looks like it's I'll be sticking around here for the next few days. So, in an effort to make the best of a bad situation, I bring you: ethnic bands for summer hands!

I snapped these little beauties (above) from a little jewellery store round the corner. Stocked floor to ceiling with handmade pendants, bangles and rings, all knotted and beaded, carved and chiselled, threaded and laced into brightly coloured, easy-wearing, beach friendly accessories. And for those of you who like what you see, I did a little online window shopping to bring you few ideas for your own summer hands! Of course you can always get crafty and make some of your own...

{Ethnic Bands for Summer Hands} by wandering-threads

Kris Nations cord jewelry, $84, Forever 21 filigree jewelry, $4.80, Giles Brother boho jewelry, £28, Fine jade jewelry, £139

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[ETHNIC FINDS] Jewellery Stories

So as you've probably have guessed by now, I've just jumped on the Instagram bandwagon (hey, I know I'm late but I am traveling around the world with a severe lack of wifi access and a boyfriend who only occasionally lets me completely take over his Ipod). Nevertheless, I thought I'd use my new found skills to show you some of the beautiful ethnic jewellery I've been collecting over the past months. This set comes from my travels around India and Nepal. So from right to left here are the discriptions:

1. Red and white yak bone beaded bracelets, bought off a Tibetan lady who cornered me in Pokhara, Nepal. 

2. Giant (and very heavy) hand painted statement earrings from a stall in Kerala, India.

3. Turquoise and amber (supposedly) inlaid miniature perfume bottle bought from a little old lady on the corner of the street in Pokhara, Nepal. Apparently her husband brings her all her wares one a month from Tibet.

4.  Turquoise and amber (again, supposedly but more like faux) hollow pendant with Buddhist mantra hidden inside. Bought from one of many very keen salesmen at Kathmandu's Durbar Square market in Nepal.

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[ ETHNIC BEACH CHIC ] Holiday Style

 

{Ethnic Beach Chic} Holiday Style by wandering-threads

Dorothy Perkins cotton dress, $17, Mara Hoffman corset top, $207, Cropped shirt, $48, Vanessa Bruno Athé pleated skirt, $310, THU THU denim shorts, £245, Christian Louboutin lace up high heels, $1,095, Giuseppe Zanotti wedge heels, $795, Kenneth cole sandals, $45, Dannijo tribal necklace, £185, Erickson Beamon beaded earrings, £224, Pamela Love resin bangle, $220, Sami silver bangle, £140, Gigi Chic tribal jewelry, $70

In the words of Finley Quay, for some of us right now "the sun is shining and the weather is sweet yeahh". Yehh. I'm currently sunning myself on islands of Thailand, Kao Tao to be precise, and low and behold I'm pining for a beach side wardrobe to put my backpacker glam sack to shame (well, that wouldn't really be difficult). One can only dream...and thankfully Polyvore has once again entertained that dream and voilà, here we are with another compilation of my favorite pieces. This time I've assembled them all into outfits so, if you're sitting by that fire at home on this cold winters day, dreaming of outfits for sunnier days to come, let this help you along. 

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[ FORBIDDEN INTERIORS ] Beijing

Though I am currently in Vietnam, as promised, here's a little token of my very first day in China. Starting, naturally, with the capital city of Beijing, I thought it only right to make my first visit a trip to Beijing's legendary  Forbidden City, home to 24 emperers during the Ming and Qing dynasties . I could show you the exteriors of the somewhat repetitively symmetrical Taoist buildings within the 74 hectare complex, but you've probably seen images of them a thousand and one times (if you haven't you should watch Yimou Zhang's epic Curse of the Golden Flower). So here are some of examples of the opulent intricacies and  grandeur interiors of Beijing's Imperial Palace.

 

Notice the recurrence of the two principal colours: yellow and red. Each carries symbolic significance: yellow, an auspicious colour associated with the earth was used extensively and exclusively by the Ming and Qing emperors who were regarded as the Sons of Heaven and supreme rulers of humanity. Red, on the other hand was symbolic of solemnity, happiness, wealth and honour, another auspicious colour that is to this day traditionally associated with China. 

 
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[ DIGITAL SCRAPBOOKING ] Pinterest

So, once again I have to admit I'm a bit behind in the social networking front. What with my recent discovery of Polyvore, Stumble Upon and Fancy, I am slightly ashamed to admit that I have, only now, discovered the wonders of Pinterest. And wonderous it most  surely is! I love this idea of digital scrapbooking, it makes nomadic life a little less stressful knowing that even if my beloved Mac gets stolen (god help me) at least I can rest assured all my inspirations are locked away somewhere in digital cyberspace. So, making full use of this beautiful site, my eclectically patterned brain has been busy pinning away ethnic inspirations, catergorising them into boards of interiors, fashion, accessories and homeware. Go on, have a look at my pin boards for more ethnic inspirations like these spectacularly vibrant interiors!!!

All images on this post are copied from Pinterest. 
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[ INDRA JATRA ] Bhaktapur, Nepal

 

Whilst meandering around the beautiful red brick streets of Bhaktapur the other day, I came across masses of these costume clad girls. Adorned head to toe in brightly coloured fabrics: red and gold patterned metallic silks, luminous pink veils, marigold-yellow headbands and sashes, and copious amounts of dangling silver jewellery, it must be time for the Indra Jatra Festival. 

One of the most important festivals in the Newar calender, the eight day Indra Jatra takes place in and around the Kathmandu Valley in early to mid September, marking the end of the rainy season. Giving thanks to Lord Indra, the God of Rain and the King of Heaven processions and dances are performed, one of the most important being that of the procession of the Royal Kumari Devi, a preadolescent 'living goddess' who is taken around Kathmandu's Durbar square to give thanks to the rain god and to bless the President of Nepal.

So, with the plethora of pomp and traditional dress on display, obviously I couldn't help but take some snaps. If you like what you see and fancy a look at some more traditional Nepalese dress, take a look at my earlier post on Dhaka Topi hats!

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[ WINTER SHOE LUSTINGS ] Ethnic Feet

{Winter Shoe Lustings} by wandering-threads

Steve Madden flat boots, $80 Zara boots, $129 Steve Madden peep toe wedge booties, $95 Belle by Sigerson Morrison suede shoes, £395 Steve madden booties, $200 Steve madden boots, $130 Zara boots, $100 Big buddha boots, $69 Minnetonka flat shoes, $40

Shameful to admit, I know, but I have to confess that I have just discovered the wonder that is Polyvore. In my defense I have only been blogging properly now for a grand total of five months. Nevertheless, here we are, my very first Polyvore collection! As I'm currently trawling the streets (or rather the mountains) of Nepal in nothing but the same old flip flops and canvas pumps, I've now got to the point where I'm positively lusting after a pair of pretty new 'ethnicy' winter shoes. If, however I happen to find a pair of suede moccasins on my travel like the Minnetonka ones above, I will be snapping them up. I don't care if they're impractical for traveling, I miss my moccasins! 

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[ ATTRACTIVE TREKKING ] Pokhara, Nepal

                    River Island Backpack with Tribal Print Flap £35                              River Island Canvas Tribal Backpack £30

I've never been a big fan of over exerting myself when it comes to exercise, nor am I a big fan of the practical 'active' gear that such enthusiasts seemingly consider mandatory. Bit weird then, you may think, when former fashion student decides, voluntarily, to go on a three day Himalayan trek. To be quiet honest, when I first started backpacking in 2007 the concept of needing to wear trainers, carry round a giant Karrimor backpack and wear strange 'fisherman' style pants in order to retain my modesty (or so the Thai's see it) was all a bit overwhelming. Now, thankfully, four years on and I've realised traveling doesn't need to mean looking like some 'just-stepped-out-of-Blacks-hippy'. 

Loathe to purchase a typically practical backpack for activities such as said three day trek, I've found a rather good looking alternative. These two felt-touch finished cotton tribal canvas bags from River Island are nice and light-weight, big enough to fit a that essential pair of leggings, warm socks, hoodie and long-sleeved jersey and a few toiletries. Perfect! Plus, they double up as rather stylish city day bags or as hand luggage for the rest of your trip! 

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[ THE CRAFTS CENTRE ] Pokhara, Nepal

Shops like this are the reason I keep adding to my photographic collection of super bright, ethnic patterned fabrics, clothing and accessories - they make it so easy! I wondered into The Crafts Centre, again on Pokhara's Lakeside area, having been dazzled by the array of coloured weaves and embroidered homeware strategically placed out on the roadside. 

Whilst I'm a big fan of shopping in local markets and bazaars on my travels, I love discovering small, independently owned, fair trade stores like this one that stock hundreds of locally produced, traditional items. You may pay a slightly inflated price for those desirables but, generally, you can leave happy in the knowledge that the local artisans who hand crafted them are getting a fair price. Heed the obvious warnings though and assess the shop by its owner or salesperson - too pushy and you know they're out to make a quick buck, most likely paying under the odds for the goods themselves.  

 

 

The Craft Centre's chirpy owner was happy to take the time to show me around, explaining to me the significance of the symbols embroidered and woven into wall hangings, cushions and bags as well as the location of the villages that produced the unbelievably soft 100% yak wool scarves - perfect Christmas presents!

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[ TIS' THE SEASON... WELL, ALMOST ] Pokhara Knits

              Knitted Pony Jaquard Cardigan by Topshop £45                                           ASOS Christmas Jumper ££35.00

Christmas is now in sight and that familiar chill is probably starting to weedle its way back into the air (or so I can ascertain from the UK weather forecast - over here its still 30 degrees!) and there's nothing that says winter warmers better than the Christmas jumper! Strolling around the stalls and stores of Lakeside earlier today I came across a couple of snug looking ethnic knit jumpers. I have to say, whilst resisting the urge to snap one up, the sight of them made me a little sad, knowing that this year I won't be back at home with the family for Christmas, but on a beach somewhere in South East Asia. Ahh well, it's a hard life....

For all you ethnic/Nordic knit jumper lovers at home, I've found a couple of favorites for you to snap up in time for the festive season! Purchase at will.

               Messia Knit Top by VILA £47.33                          Knit Jacquard Sweater by United Bamboo @ ASOS £245.00

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[ JAPANESE FANCY ] Taj Mahal, Agra

Once referred to by Rabindranath Tagore as 'a teardrop on the face of eternity', iconic in its white marble purity, you think of India, you think of the Taj Mahal. You think back to all those stunning images of the pristine white Taj set against a background of sapphire blue sky and you sigh with appreciation for its beauty, longing to set eyes upon this wondrous sight just once in your lifetime. You wake up at 5.30am, ready to see the sunrise behind the Taj, a moment shared with but a few other early risers. You jump eagerly out of bed, look out the window....and yes you guessed it, its raining! 

So that was my experience of the Taj, as you can probably guess I was pretty peeved having bused it all the way out to Agra. Typical. Here's a tip: don't visit India in the monsoon season! However, every down has its ups, and I found mine at the front of the Taj in the shape of two very pretty Japanese girls who had thought it only right to dress for the occasion. Check out their coordinating printed saris! Later I saw one of their male companions walk past in a very regal looking Indian costume. 

Click below to see more images from inside the Taj and around.

[ WITH LOVE FROM TIBET ] McLeod Ganj, India

Down the hill from McLeod Ganj lies the Secretariat of the Tibetan Government in Exile and of course, the residence of his Holiness the Dalai Lama. Decorating the outer walls of the Library complex are these brightly coloured examples of Buddhist art. Directly above you can see a bhavacakra, a painted, symbolic representation of saṃsāra (cyclic existence)) and if you click on the link below you will also find some examples of the Buddhist Wheel of Life. Hopefully these will give you a little breather from all the Indian aesthetics I've been bombarding this blog with up until now, as well as a little taster of what is to come from Nepal where I shall be heading in just over a week!

[ ETHNIC LUXURY ] Scarves by Etro

                                          Printed cashmere scarf £469                                                Paisley-print cashmere and silk-blend scarf £257

Did I mention my obsession with scarves? No? Well, I have at least 20 of them (ok, so 20 that I actually wear/can find), most of them handmade and originating from far off lands such as Thailand, India, Kenya, Russia (the background of this blog is none other than my beloved Russian scarf, bought back from St Petersburg by my lovely Ballet Russes obsessed friend Imogen), the list goes on. I rarely leave the house without a scarf and some big dangley earrings (cue the inner gypsy in me). So now I'm in India and there are not only scarves, but paisley printed scarves, EVERYWHERE (especially here in Pushkar)! Lucky for me they are all at a fraction of the price of these beautiful cashmere SS'11 Etro scarves, but what I wouldn't give to get my hands on one of these beauties (although I'm not sure they'd last the wear and tear of a year in Asia). If you've got a spare bit of dosh lying around, I would highly recommend snapping up one of these. Not only are they designed by such a wonderfully bohemian luxury brand, instantly making them investment pieces, they can also be tied, draped, wrapped, or hung in a myriad of ways, giving them ultimate accessory appeal! I love Etro. Yes. I. Do!

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[ JUTTI, JUTTI! ] Jodphur

Shoes! Glorious shoes, everywhere! I've now decided that Jodhpur is my new favorite Indian city. I came across this (thankfully unmanned - and therefore devoid of pushy sales person) stall tucked away at the far end of Tambaku Bazaar, crammed full of line after line of colour-saturated, finely embroidered camel leather jutti and mojaris. Jutti are traditional, ethnic Indian footwear, mostly popular in the north. Easily identifiable by their curled up toes and often high rise ankle pieces, they were originally designed to be worn by royalty and would have been heavily embroidered with real gold and silver threads and decorated with precious gems and pearls. Most of the shoes pictured above are more akin to the flat backed mojari style - like sandals - a little more practical in a land where taking your shoes off at every doorway is imperative!

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