INIFD spring/summer 2017 collection catwalk show for LFW

LFW has been the springboard for many young designers hoping to achieve international recognition and Saturday’s INIFD catwalk show gave guests a insight into the young talent treading the boards for the first time this season. 

INIFD is an internationally esteemed fashion and design college – the calibre of students is high and the competition for a place in the show fierce. The INIFD whittled down eight finalists to showcase their SS17 collections, including Jatin Kanwar, Sabah Shabnam, Roshni Gupta, Urvi Vira, Jimmy Devda, Faiz Zariwala, Pradnya Kamble and Komila Lalwani. 

College shows are particularly fun to watch because of the variety of styles on display. Students have not yet been pigeon holed by industry highflyers and the media into representing one “vision” and so are far more comfortable experimenting with their designs and fabrics. Shabnam offered a range; tulip skirted dresses with painstaking floral appliqué were shown next to sari-inspired two pieces with laser cut necklines and pleated skirts, which lent the outfit a modernised movement and shape.Two of the shows highlights were Shabnam’s ball gown pieces; a navy floor length gown with gold glitter fronting and a gravity-defying red and orange off-shoulder piece, complete with a teardrop pleated skirt, elicited a stunned murmur from the audience. Kamble took on more challenging materials, showing how leather can retain its classic appeal whilst being updated to offer a fresh aesthetic. Leather pencil dresses were made up of clashing intersectioned panels and fixed with an asymmetric buttons down the full length of the dress. The level of industry interest in such up and coming designers is unsurprising. With any luck, this month’s LFW will be the first of many for these students.

Katie Dean
Photos: Melissa Williams

For further information about INIFD visit here.