Surely we agree that the highlight of this edition’s Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive was the all summer pop of colour, size, style, fabric and attitude. Surely you expect nothing but wholesome fashion for real people from the Wendell Rodricks design space!
And it was everything and celebration of a mindset that needs to be spoken out loud for. If the faces on the ramp were beaming, it was because each model who walked the hallowed ground owned the body they were born with. Unapologetically. A refreshing change to regular fashion beats, so kudos to the team who pulled this off roses.

FASHION DEMOCRACY
aLL – The Plus Size label said forget the Zero and let Schulen Fernandes for Wendell Rodricks create our every man and woman to be, making the `aLL Primero’ showcase a rocking sensation.

The garments celebrated `shapes’ — the Apple, Pear, Hourglass, Rectangle and Carrot — crowning it off with Varonica Campabell, India’s first transgender plus size model, who opened the show. Varonica, along with 20 other plus size models who walked the ramp, were selected through an audition process held in June, which saw over 300 participants from across the country.

“aLL: The Plus Size Store has been a pioneer in the Plus Size Fashion Industry with a strong belief that fashion is for everyone and that size is just a number. It is our constant quest to give our customers the latest in fashion to suit their body type and hence this season we have collaborated with ace designer Wendell Rodricks to bust popular fashion myths with our very first designer collection PRIMERO. We’re sure that PRIMERO will breathe a new life into the fashion industry,” revealed Hetal Kotak, CEO, aLL – The Plus Size Store.

PRIMED UP FOR PRIMERO
The collection saw many `rule-breakers,’ starting with dispelling the no-no myth of colours – white – which has been taboo for too long where Plus sizes are concerned. Well, until now. Neutrals, grey, pista and clothes with great volume created an aura of confidence.The fabric choice too was adventurous with models featured in moss crêpe, Lycra, cotton satin, jacquard, polyester georgette, single jersey, Lycra cotton and mercerised Giza for men’s T-shirts. Linen dobby stripes were an interesting part along with over-dyed twill Lycra that was perfect for men’s and women’s jeans.

Men’s shirts featured deconstructed plackets, mull bundies, tunics, and twill cotton. Lycra shirts with contrast stitch detail, poly knits, silver speck foil prints, crush pleated poly georgette and pewter shine stripes completed the extensive fabrics and detailing choices.

Women’s wear was a kaleidoscope of colours and fluid creations – layered tunics, asymmetric gowns, swinging dresses, capes and kaftans, some speckled with silver heart motifs. Adding pizzazz to the garments were the ‘Love Your Curves’ appliquéd hearts that brought a fun and humorous element to the collection.

Wendell Rodricks was a beaming man, “I have always wanted the fashion industry to be size inclusive and this collaboration with aLL -The Plus Size Store takes it one step further. There are so many restrictions put on plus size fashion whether there are certain colours that flatter their shape or a fixed silhouette. With PRIMERO, we’re breaking all these myths and prevailing rules and regulations. It’s fashion democracy,” said designer Wendell Rodricks.

The finale surprise – singer and actor of musicals like ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ Deveika Bhojwani dressed in a glamorous magenta and purple creation by Wendell Rodricks, serenaded the audience with a rendition of the soulful ballad, ‘Killing me Softly.’

Adding magic to these voluptuous personalities on ramp was Lakmé Makeup Expert, Donald Simrock who created personalised make-up interpretations for each model, playing with a range of colours from Lakme’s new lip colours to bring out the model’s own respective avatars. Super chic!

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