Completing 30 years in the fashion industry, Ashish N Soni, as part of the FDCI showcase, presented a seasonless collection that diminished the boundaries between womenswear and menswear. The collection titled ‘Change Has Different Faces’ aimed to resharpen the brand’s edge through a new approach towards the designer’s sensual, relaxed yet tailored aesthetic.
‘Change Has Different Faces’, was inspired by the changes the world has experienced in the past two years. With each look broken up into four stories, the designer presented a variety of textures, embellishments, and prints, along with playful shots of sumptuous colours and repurposed deadstock fabric. Textured whites, gelato pastels and floral prints radiated joy and hope for a better future.
Strengthening the tailoring tradition that the Ashish N Soni brand is defined by the collection ranged across soft elongated silhouettes, ankle length pants, 80s inspired floral prints and wide wale corduroy suits, while breaking new ground with fabrics ranging from cotton-viscose, organza, chiffon, fine cambric, silk jacquards and upholstery leftovers and bringing forth a fresh story of relaxed and comfortable tailoring.
His new interpretation of fashion brought the reinvention of style to the forefront. With the pandemic and the dark two years behind him, Ashish moved into a grand colourful fashion offering, quite far from his comfort zone and restrained colour card of the past.
The suit has always been his opening creation with the power shoulders and sleek trousers combined to create the perfect formal look.
The four stories in Ashish’s looks played primarily with colours that created an individual and combined melody on the ramp. From textured, neutral white and beige with floral prints and embroidery, there was a gelato hued clash of pink and orange in combos that spelt out a real zest for colours.
Layering was one of the fashion directions Ashish took, with a wide range of wool suiting, cotton viscose textiles, organza, chiffon, fine cambric, silk jacquard and even upholstery left overs that were turned into wondrous apparel.
Some great eye-catchers on the ramp were the 80’s inspired floral suits with stylish velvet trimming, the wide-wale corduroy suit had a marked nostalgic fashion direction while the classic, geometric, printed, ankle-length pants brought a stylish element into the look.
An arresting visual entry was the belted, unstructured jacket with matching woven trousers in grey that was piped cleverly with peach edging. The cropped, grey, tweed jacket with a floral print brought interesting options, while the staid double-breasted jacket remained elegant and crisply tailored. To break the look, Ashish brought in a geometric, printed jumpsuit but teamed it with a sharply finished ivory jacket.
In the men’s wear segment it was the very well tailored white Nehru jackets with tonal embroidery that stood out on the ramp.
The men’s and women’s wear had a marked floral, printed, elongated silhouette, which is the Ashish N Soni trademark. The designer termed this as a “Relaxed Tailoring Trend”, which brought a seamless boundary into his women’s and men’s clothing.
Ashish N Soni’s trans seasonal collection “Change Has Different Faces” showcased by FDCI will definitely wean away his buyers from the WFH culture of Tees/track pants and into great, relaxed, comfortable, well tailored fashion for the coming season.
Sunil Sethi, Chairman FDCI said, “FDCI’s relationship with Ashish Soni goes back a long way. He has played a critical role in setting unparalleled benchmarks within the Indian fashion industry. It is our absolute pleasure to celebrate his 30 years in the industry and to have him introduce his latest line via the FDCI showcase. It was a surreal experience watching him weave his magic once again on the physical runway.”
Speaking on the collaboration with FDCI, designer Ashish Soni said, “After two-plus years of no physical shows, short films, video games and virtual fashion the return to showing physically after a pandemic hiatus has gotten me super excited. It’s a changed world after all and in spite of the keep calm and carry-on mentality under difficult circumstances here we are, back with a fashion show and that too the first Delhi edition of combined power of the FDCI X Lakmé Fashion Week! I am one of the founding members of the FDCI and have been part of the council since its inception. Over the years, I have some fantastic memories of the initiatives and activities of the FDCI which have been instrumental in not just shaping my career but the industry as a whole. I launched my label in 1992 and as I complete 30 years in the fashion industry, I would like to express my vote of thanks to the council for honouring my work at this edition. Even with three decades and multiple shows under my belt, I feel humbled by this gesture and hope I lived up to what’s expected of me at the ‘FDCI Showcase’. I would once again like to express my gratitude and look forward to being part of this family for another 30 years!”
