No Filter: City designer set to make waves at a prominent fashion event

From models getting through big auditions to being part of viral campaigns, the whole city has been talking about how the onus is now on the designers to represent themselves on big platforms.

Let me be the first to tell you that Bandana Narula will be showcasing her debut collection at the Lakme Fashion Week (LFW). Even as you read this, she will be in the midst of model fittings — a crucial aspect to every fashion show. Having a model don the right garment can help elevate one’s designs. Bandana, who participated in several local fashion weeks over the past few years, is more seasoned than an average debutante.

As we caught up over a phone call, her excitement and nerves were palpable. A mild tremor in her voice, yet a high-pitched excitement, show that this is a culmination of six years of planning and constant efforts. This is her third and successful attempt to be invited to showcase her work at the LFW. Bandana is very excited and hopes to change mindsets with regard to south Indians and fashion.

Her collection, Dazva, is for every minimalist bride and wedding guests. They are perfectly wearable elements as part of a bride’s trousseau. She has created her own prints and experimented with chevron (V-shaped lines) and floral motifs – long time fascinations of hers. Many aspiring designers reading this may wonder how she cracked the magical code to be part of the fashion show this time. Let me tell you that 6degree, a leading fashion platform which is also the talent partner for the LFW, selects the designers who they believe have potential. They go through an exhaustive checklist to ascertain the quality and standards of each of the designs. They also invite designers from pan-India for a workshop with a jury of designers and fashion fraternity members, who are regulars at thefashion week.

In April, Bandana was invited to this workshop, where she presented her potential collection with mood boards (a collage of samples), sketches and swatches, etc. She became one of the four designers selected and invited to showcase their designs at the LFW. She jumped right at the opportunity.

As a new mother of a baby boy who is just fifteen months old, it makes one wonder how the young designer is pulling this off. Bandana says her motherhood has helped her multitask better, and she also hopes to walk the runway at LFW along with her adorable son, if the organisers allow. “Motherhood has made me wholesome and I understand the value of time and the importance of productivity so much better,” she adds. Shibani Dandekar will be her showstopper, as she can be the perfect fit for a collection that is youthful, trendy yet minimalist Indian wear. We offer you an exclusive sneak peak of her debut collection. As always, we are rooting for one of our own to shake things up nationally.

Aradhana Sivakarthikeyan, all of six, is a star in her own right. At a recent awards show that I had hosted in the city, this star kid had the audience oohing and aahing at her cuteness as she delivered an acceptance speech for her award win. Actor Sivakarthikeyan and his wife, Aarthi, were proud parents on the stage, beaming with pride, as their daughter was polite and adorable. The ever-obedient child checked with her parents before she sang a few lines with great composure. She seemed very much at home on stage. With Kanaa and the team winning several accolades this awards season, Aradhana has been the star that has been shining the brightest this season. From standing ovations to leaving people teary-eyed, this little girl is a born entertainer!