Lets put Lakme Fashion Week, India on a hold for a bit. There is little from what I have seen that is exciting me right now. Lets, instead, look at how emerging Indian designers are faring in New York Fashion Week. 

Have you met Bibhu Mohapatra's S/S 2011 collection? Don't you adore everything from the young, flirty cocktail numbers to the grass georgette column gown with an Orion brooch to the ethereal royal blue dress made out of net, the bottom of which was dip-dyed in black? Such a well presented day to night look evolution in the dresses.

Mohapatra is originally from Orissa, India. He says his first dabble in fashion was making dresses for his sister. :) When asked what part of his collection was inspired by his Indian roots, he pointed to the colors and luxe silks that comprised his Spring Summer 2011 collection. You can also notice the use of intricate embroidery in the first image that mimics a rope effect and Indian cup sequins sown to mimic a chain mail effect in the fifth image. These techniques just feel quintessentially Indian to me. ;)

 Trends I'm distilling from the collection: Deluxe minimalism, Nipped waists, Laser cut organza seems to have made a comeback, creating visual riddles with your outfits that is wearing lots of layers in varying textures particularly the tulle underskirts, mysterious digital vapour prints as seen in third image, luxe silks in deep plums and greens, hand embellishments in wearable doses and giant white-rimmed 60s sunglasses!