After the success of the first ‘NEXA presents The Spotlight’ last season, FDCI x Lakmé Fashion Week announce the winners of the 2nd edition of its one-of-a-kind program. Naushad Ali of label Naushad Ali and the label SWGT were declared winners after a competitive selection process. Participating designers presented their collections along with the idea and concept of their fashion film through a virtual presentation to an esteemed jury of industry experts. The winning designers have been given the gratification to shoot and create their fashion film which will be showcased at FDCI X Lakmé Fashion Week in October 2021.
The jury that was part of the selection process comprised Shashank Srivastava – Senior Executive Director, Marketing and Sales, Maruti Suzuki India Limited; Ram Suresh Akella – Executive Director, Marketing, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, Sunil Sethi – Chairman of FDCI, Jaspreet Chandok – Head, RISE Fashion & Lifestyle, Raghavendra Rathore – Fashion Designer, Rooshad Shroff – Architect & Interior Designer and Priyanka Khanna – Fashion Features Director, Vogue India.
Naushad Ali’s winning presentation is all about seeking answers to a new path. Called ‘Getting out there- A ride through the dawn’ it’s a story of a free-spirited girl who is breaking all the ground rules. It essentially is a road to oneself, a drive towards dawn. A path where the comfort and power of NEXA open the door to new thoughts and ideas. With his SS/FW’21 collection, the 34-year-old designer from Pondicherry has re-interpreted Indian weaving techniques, brought multi-coloured bold strokes of Jamdani in textured cotton, largescale irregular checks, and variegated stripes in a plethora of natural colours.
SWGT’s winning presentation takes inspiration from Shweta Gupta’s childhood experiences and local histories of Almora, where the 34-year-old designer was brought up. Her label SWGT reflects the connection between the mountains, people, and its culture where the muse is personified as a seeker, wanderer, gatherer, and thinker. Her collection this season depicts the folds of mountains and waterfalls around us, and the techniques used while creating her ensembles are inspired by the cuts of the Himalayan Ranges. The Chanderi textiles from Central India used to create her pieces are a derivative of the play of light with these mighty forms.
