DPA’s ‘The Real Cut’ Season 3 at Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2020 epitomizes slow fashion through natural diamond jewellery

The Diamond Producers Association (DPA), an international alliance of the 8 largest diamond mining companies in the world, partnered with Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2020 to bring the third successful edition of ‘The Real Cut’. Six winning emerging natural diamond jewellery designers showcased their novel work in collaboration with renowned fashion designers Ragini Ahuja, Shriya Som and Ridhi Mehra, communicating the message of slow fashion to the consumers.

The winners – Kinnari Shah for Reliance Jewels, Riddhi Shah for B R Designs, Ashraf & Team for A S Motiwala, Sourav Hanra for VBJ, Deepa Agarwal for Sona Chandis and Subhajit Bag for Senco Gold & Diamonds drew inspiration from nature, geometric designs and life experiences to create their unique designs.

The theme for The Real Cut Season 3 was  ‘Slow Fashion’, which focused on spreading the message of conscious luxury. Billion-year-old natural diamonds embody slow fashion because of their versatility, eternal sparkle, ability to transcend everything from traditional to contemporary wear and unmatched relevance overages. DPA through the Real Cut reiterated that natural diamonds play a vital role in enhancing the beauty of couture through their timelessness and brilliance.

The stunning natural diamond jewellery collections perfectly complemented three very different looks at the runway. While Shriya Som’s designs balanced florals with grandeur, Ikai by Ragini Ahuja highlighted geometric shapes and classic silhouettes and Riddhi Mehra celebrated a combination of pastels with embellishments with her ‘Yours Truly’ collection.

Richa Singh, Managing Director, Diamond Producers Association (DPA), said, “As DPA, it makes us happy that The Real Cut Season 3 has been a success. We wanted to showcase that natural diamonds are an integral part of slow, timeless fashion because of their versatility and ability to complement both traditional and contemporary wear. The winning natural diamond jewellery designers have successfully brought alive this idea of slow fashion with their contemporary, unique designs. We truly hope that the platform keeps growing so that we can keep seeing more stunning works of art with natural diamonds.”

Jaspreet Chandok, Vice President and Fashion Head- IMG Reliance said, “We are absolutely thrilled to be back with yet another season of ‘The Real Cut’. The collaboration is a celebration of the best talent in fashion and jewellery design. In its 20^th year, Lakmé Fashion Week’s endeavor to support and nurture talent continues to grow, and we are glad to have partners like Diamond Producers Association with us.” 

Ragini Ahuja’s label Ikai presented a pristine ivory line at Lakmé Fashion Week summer/Resort 2020 With Sourav Hanra for Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers and Deepa Agarwal for Sona Chandi Jewellers

When it comes to delicate feminine women’s wear the ‘Ikai’ label by Ragini Ahuja is in the forefront. Her collection at Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2020 was a pristine ivory line with amazing embellishments painstakingly executed on the garments. On a fabric choice consisting of cotton silk and handwoven Chanderi, Ragini dreamt up the line in a tonal ivory palette.

The emphasis was on the cutwork and chain stitch technique along with tassels and braid detailing. The delicate 3D motifs appeared on the flowing shapes and highlighted the design sensibilities of the ensembles. The cutwork was amazing in its detailing and use, as it formed a mélange of patterns. The fabric texturing was intense but allowed the apparel construction to present an impressive style statement. Feminine dresses, flowing skirts, relaxed blouses and tops were ideal summer wear.

When the mercury moves north Ragini Ahuja’s ‘Ikai’ label had all the stylish cool options for summer dressing.

JEWELLERY DESIGNERS

With over a decade’s experience, Sourav Hanra from Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers has had a momentous start to 2020. Apart from being selected for the prestigious 3^rd edition of The Real Cut and Lakmé Fashion Week he also had the honor of designing diamond jewellery for Oscars 2020. An elated Hanra said, “My designs are based around Art Deco with clean lines and patterns, flexibility and a hollow structure made with delicate natural diamond jewellery. I mainly focus on light weight natural diamond jewellery which has a contemporary look.”

An Uttar Pradesh Ratna Awardee, Deepa Agarwal from Sona Chandis stated, “For me jewellery design is like creating my own little version of nature. I enjoy incorporating elements with movement to bring alive my natural diamond designs.” The decorated natural diamond jewellery designer collaborated with Ragini Ahuja’s label ikai to bring alive the amalgamation of natural diamonds with pret wear at The Real Cut Season 3 by Diamond Producers Association.

RidhiMehra sent a fashionable message to the neo Indian women at Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2020 With Subhajit Bag for Senco Gold and Diamonds and Ashraf Motiwala & Team for A S Motiwala

RidhiMehra’s lush, luxurious collection was a fashionable story aimed at the neo Indian women at Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2020. It was timeless occasion wear that appeared on the runway in quick succession to the delight of the fashionistas in the audience. Beautiful flowing evening dresses were light as the summer breeze, while printed coordinate sets with bralettes offered ultimate luxury.

Using a colour card comprising sunshine yellow, sea foam blue, old rose, pink coral and mint green; Ridhi opted for plush satin, crêpe, silk, chiffon and sheer organza that will fit perfectly in the evening and destination wedding categories.

Silhouettes played with numerous shapes as power shoulders once again were favoured along with asymmetrical skirts and some retro flared pants. Feminine vintage necklines were eye-catching, while exaggerated sleeves were the highlight of many ensembles. The dual length parallels with sheer and opaque fabrics looked ultra chic teamed with a softly belted transparent blouse. A front ruffled over shirt with slit long sleeves created interest on the catwalk, while the finely draped eveningwear was a more breath-taking addition in the show.

The most striking element of the collection was the monogram play that Ridhi used lavishly. The designer’s newly launched logo was transformed into kaleidoscopic prints and appeared on jewel-embellished logo belts and broaches thus giving the line a “RidhiMehra” stamp.

Filling a much-needed gap in RidhiMehra’s timeless Indian occasion wear, the designer’s latest western wear line was a grand offering.

The well-curated and designed fluid, breezy; collection by RidhiMehra will thrill the fashion-forward buyers during the coming season.

JEWELLERY DESIGNERS

Senior Jewellery Designer at Senco Gold and Diamonds, Subhajit Bag added, “My inspiration and personal challenge was to make natural diamond jewellery that our customers can wear every day.” Truly embodying the ethos of The Real Cut Season 3, Bag continued “That is the reason we created designs inspired from sleek geometric modern elements that every woman can wear with her favorite pair of jeans or any modern outfit.”

Intricate designs blended with modern cuts and techniques, A S Motiwala’s fine natural diamonds exude contemporary charm, set preciously in the femininity of rose gold. The 5^th generation jeweller Ashraf Motiwala stated, “Nature is a constant source of inspiration for me, so I always tend to have that in the designs we create at AS Motiwala fine jewellery. This year we have taken it a step further by using enamel with natural diamonds to depict all the glorious colours of nature”

ShriyaSom’s “Trouvaille” collection had amazing textures and treatments at Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2020 With Riddhi Shah for B R Designs, and Kinnari Shah from Reliance Jewels

“Trouvaille”, ShriyaSom’s collection at Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2020 was a beautiful fashionable study of contrasts. The ensembles on one hand exuded relaxed, calm, connected vibes but on the other hand there was some vibrant, exuberant and curious images. Shriya’s creations are always renowned for their stylish luxurious silhouettes with shades of immense grandeur and timeless pizzazz so it was but natural that this season too she unveiled glamour at its best.

For the coming months, Shriya collaborated with three artists and artisans to present her creations with traditional and modern aesthetics that have been her signature style statements always.

Introducing prints for the first time from a print artist, Shriya added colour to her ready-to-wear look. For her textural experiments, Shriya worked with the Godavari Women from her home state and introduced the local craft of cotton crochet for her latest line. The ensembles offered a wide spectrum of options to women who want complete wardrobe solutions for all occasions.

From ready-to-wear, the looks moved to creations for the cocktail soirées and then onto the destination bridal line that will be welcomed by many fashionistas.

Selecting a colour card of pastels like pristine white, ivory, powder blue, cool mint and pale pink, Shriya broke the shade story with sunny yellow. There was relaxed sophistication in the layering, while the ribbon weaves, draping, embroidery and 3D embellishments added to the visual beauty of the garments.

ShriyaSom’s “Trouvaille” collection was a glam offering to women who jet set around the globe but want to stay fashionable at all times.

JEWELLERY DESIGNERS

Known for her soulful and playful, conceptual approach, from retro classic brooches to rings that tell a story in dazzling natural diamonds. Riddhi Shah’s designs are not mere jewels but wearable art that provokes thought, a smile, and an everlasting Jewel Stories. Riddhi Shah from BR Designs is was ecstatic about being showcasing at LFW and commented, “The wonders of nature have always enchanted and inspired me. Every motif has a story behind its creation and is the soul of the design creating perfect, rare and unrivaled fine natural diamond jewellery which touches the soul of the beholder.”

Attracted be the fluidity of the marine world, head of design team at Reliance Jewels, Kinnari Shah said, “Natural Diamond to me is THE EPITOME of strength and sparkle, it’s about owning something so rare, brilliant & beautiful.” The SNDT alumni continued “To use such a rare natural resource to make beautiful designs which makes the wearer confident IS A DESIGNERS PARADISE.”

Courtesy: Retail Jeweller India News Service