The first day at the India Lakme Fashion Week started off with much pomp and enthusiasm and took off to a jam-packed hall of over 200 foreign buyers, doyens of the Indian fashion industry and PTPs (Page Three Personalities) galore. On the first day of the fashion festival eight designers presented their breath-taking work with style and excellence.

Show 1 : Anjana Bhargav and Priyadarshini Rao The day started off with designer Anjana Bhargav's and Priyadarshini Rao work who presented a perfect synergy between rustic romanticism and artistic sensibilities which forecasted the fashion trend for Summer 2002.

Anjana Bhargav: Anjana's collection had tiered, layered and gathered skirts in georgettes; chiffon teamed with empire waist blouse, leg o'mutton sleeves with sensuous slits and asymmetric hemlines. The colours - maple greens, corals, whites and grays, peaches and pinks, came together in a pleasant melange of contemporary silhouettes

Priyadarshini Rao: On the other hand Priyadarshini Rao collection was full of innocence and femininity portraying the hidden beauty of human body. Her collection included corseted tops, off-shoulder necklines, handkerchief skirts and tiered and crinkled dresses. A peaceful relaxed range that brought together straight lines, clean silhouettes, tonal embroideries, with calming colours that created a waify nostalgic feel.

Show 2: Nandita Basu and Abhishek Gupta Next show featured the collection of Nandita Basu and Abhishek Gupta.

Nandita Basu: Nandita believes that her work should influence and work best for the young and trendy people who value style and class and thus her collection included textures with patch work and pleating, slits and lashes put together with leather. Red, white and black, almost signature colours for Nandita, were creatively used carve the box pleated skirts, the slender jackets, drainpipe trousers, slashed sheath dresses and voluminous skirts. The collection for the winter had a liberal use of leather trims, suede strips, and bulky knits. Fine thread embroideries, quilting, and patchwork accentuated the silhouettes at the show.

Abhishek Gupta: Abhishek Gupta's work on the other hand was dominated by folklore prints and motifs. His embroidered loosely fitted ensembles were strikingly juxtaposed with structured quilted jackets. The finely quilted knee lengths jackets brought out the Indian ethos. Sequins and hand embroideries added that touch of evening-glam to the collection. Beautifully embroidered shoes and leather fringe belts completed this story.

Show 3: Kiran Uttam Ghosh Nandita Basu and Abhishek Gupta collection was followed by Kiran Uttam Ghosh's work which highlighted a delicate blend of fruity colours, wispy fabrics, and willowy silhouettes. Asymmetric silhouettes in handkerchief hem tunics worn with straight slit trousers and capris, brocade blouses, flyaway cuts all defined the theme for the collection. Low waisted ruffled skirts worn with angle sleeve blouses and shredded scarves created a distinctly gypsy look. The limes, roses, and icy blues moved from a frosted hue to more concentrated tones.

Show 4: Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna presented their collection which presented the upbeat eclectic mix of the feminine and the masculine, pattern and print, and textured with the smooth and lovely blend of contrasts and colours. The entire collection of about ten stories, had the underlying commonality of the colours of brown and tan being juxtaposed with the shades of the season- coral, turquoise, teal, ash rose, maple green and powder blue. The clothes represented an interesting fusion of the rebel and the feminine, had off shoulder dresses, fringed bustiers, handkerchief skirts, low waisted pants, patchwork skirts and cropped jackets.

Show 5: Rocky S The day ended by Rocky S's salutation to the hottest fabric of the season- denim marking the 'Primitive' Collection. His denim jeans, skirts and shirts were wild and edgy, in colours like clay, slate, midnight blue and indigo and had effects like that of distressed denim, razored, shredded, ombre dyed, patch-worked, asymmetric, embroidered and beaded. These were teamed with funky street style t-shirts and white shirts. The unfinished hems, frayed edges, careless lace trimmings and suede fringes of the shirts added to the untamed and wild look. There was ample use of leather tassels and broad leather tie-up belts with embellishments like embroidery, square copper sequins and mirrors as accessories.