11-15th October 2023 in New Delhi
Three Winners of ‘INIFD PRESENTS GENNEXT’ to Showcase their Collections
GenNext, one of the most coveted and credible platforms in the Indian fashion industry announced three talented designers as winners who will have the privilege to showcase their collections at the upcoming Lakmé Fashion Week in Partnership with FDCI, scheduled to be held from October 11th to 15th in New Delhi. The winners of this edition are:
Arnav Malhotra (Brand: No Grey Area)
Sonam Khetan (Brand: Sonam Khetan)
Prasoon Sharma (Brand: Triune)
Entries were invited for the GenNext program, and the shortlisted designers had the opportunity to present their collections to a distinguished jury. The jury panel consisted of notable individuals from the fashion and business sectors, including:
Harman Dhillon: Vice President at Hindustan Unilever Limited
Sabina Chopra: GenNext Mentor
Mehernaaz Dhondy: Editor in Chief, Grazia India
Amit Aggarwal: Renowned fashion designer
Jaspreet Chandok: Group Vice President, Reliance Brands
Arnav Malhotra
An an alumnus of the University of Exter and is currently pursuing his passion in the fashion industry. His previous stints include working with brands like Evoluzione and Evolve Clothing Pvt. Ltd.
The new age statement pieces from Arnav’s ‘Inconvenience today for a better tomorrow’ collection is influenced by solving fabric waste issues at the design stage and a particular focus on zero-waste pattern making. The collection features silhouettes and fabrics inspired by the saree. The Kolam, which can be seen across the garments of this season as block prints, embroideries, and jacquards, is an art form that decorates the entrances of homes in India to balance energy. The colors of the collection are inspired by the bright colours on old Madras homes, which influenced Memphis architecture. Oversize shisha mirror embroidery, carved wood block printing, an oversized Madras check and 3-colour ombres enrich a gender-inclusive range that blends Indian tradition with contemporary luxury.
Sonam Khetan
Sonam Khetan’s journey began with education from prestigious institutions such as the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Istituto Marangoni, and Central Saint Martins. These institutions are renowned for nurturing creative talent and providing a solid foundation in fashion design and craftsmanship. Her creative process is deeply rooted in scientific exploration and research, which serves as a driving force behind her designs. This commitment to combining art with science not only results in unique and thoughtful collections but also reflects her dedication to creating fashion with a purpose.
One of Sonam’s defining principles is her strong belief in raising awareness about social and environmental issues. Each collection from her brand tells a compelling story that revolves around nature and the environment.One of her standout collections, titled ‘Sight of Sound,’ takes a novel approach by visually representing the sounds of the Earth. This collection delves into the interpretations of sounds from various perspectives, including those of scientists, artists, and Buddhists.The collection is made from all natural fabrics like- linen, hemp, khadi cotton, organic cotton and silk. The pieces have been curated with the help of a women-led artisanal studio that specialises in naturally hand-dyed material made from recycling flowers from ancient temples, and an NGO that specialises in the Japanese Shibori technique
Prasoon Sharma
An alumnus of INIFD. With 3.5 years of experience in fashion, Prasoon’s brand, Triune has been admired and worn by several Bollywood stars.
Described as a portal to nature, his collection titled ‘Bivouac’ transports one into a world void of interruptions. Beautifying imperfections, being raw and untouched are an accurate description of the emotions the collection captures.
Bivouac integrates earthy greens, natural browns, vivid accents, animal motifs and prints with natural patterns found in forests. Different elements of the collection are a reminder of the need for equilibrium and co-existence between the environment and humans.
Several techniques have been incorporated to create the final product. Hand braiding and hand nesting has been used along with dori work to get the texture of rawness of nature. Unique ways have been used to achieve the denim looks for the collection. In addition, there has been use of screen printing to make accurate patterns, and digital printing was utilized to generate intricate and sophisticated images with a broad range of colors and effects. The collection uses a range of fabrics like Tencel Dobby, Tencel Satin, Ecru Denim Twill, Cactus textured handwoven cotton and TNT Khadi to accentuate the look of the collection.
