Delna Poonawalla’s solo show at a leading fashion week in Mumbai marked her first show in a long time. The years in between are seen as a sort of metamorphosis within the designer herself. She sees this show as an opportunity to showcase her exciting journey and her own transformation as a designer.
The showstopper for the show was the animal lover, stellar actress and the girl with a golden smile, Kalki Koechlin. Present to support Delna were her parents, Zavaray and Behroze Poonawalla, brother and sister in law Michelle and Yohan Poonawalla, sister Simone Pandole and friends Yasmin Karachiwala, Parizad Kolah Marshall, Cory Walia, Mozez Singh, Rusi Soonawalla, Anandita De, Shobhaa De, Pria Kataria Puri, Arundhati De, Tanaaz Doshi, to name a few.
Delna walked the ramp sporting a hand-painted jacket that claimed, ‘Consent is Everything.’ Whilst the jacket was designed by Delna, it has been painted on by her good friend and artist Pooja Khiani. From the media to the guests present, the jacket was the highlight of everything as it symbolised a statement so true and so easy to comprehend and yet, in today’s times, it has become a hot topic of discussion. “I am trying to convey a simple message, that Consent is Everything. Women can be gentle but also vulnerable, they are also strong and human beings and deserve equal treatment. No one should take advantage of that, a woman can wear what she wants, do what she wants and be who she wants. At the end of it all, you are still a soul, a human and a person,” says Delna about the jacket.
“The collection is soft beautiful romantic but at the same time strong and powerful. The jacket summaries it all so beautifully, Consent is Everything. Women deserve equal treatment. I have been supporting the Me Too campaign since last year and it’s very brave for women who have come out and spoken. From my personal experience of being a public figure, I know how difficult it is to come out and I am proud of these women. The important thing is to see how long-term changes are made in every sector, the corporate one, the film industry and how legally we can help somebody who has gone through sexual harassment, I think that is really important,” Kalki added
Aptly named The Rock Chic collection, these outfits are a beautiful amalgamation of a soft, feminine woman becoming her own person. In her creative journey, Delna evolves from being bashful and demure to a strong, focus woman with powerful opinions.
The transitions are subtle all through the collection- pairing soft floral with bold jackets- accessorised with studs and spikes. The show and the collection have a vibe that spells strength, hope, fulfilment, freedom. The mood is set with positivity, the compatibility of Yin and Yang, faith, and kindness. Swirling skirts meet corsets, jumpsuits vie with skirts, evening gowns match elegant saris, jackets pair up with girly dresses, all forming this enticing collection. Delna’s signature jackets and her signature emblems of unicorns now have more playful motifs of butterflies, bumblebees and ladybirds. Hand-painted motifs, coupled with embroidery give a sharp, edgy look to garments which is reflected all through the collection.
“I see this collection, in many ways as my story. I hope that this is seen as a playful, positive and hopeful space and that my audience identifies with it. The beauty of fashion is that you can make of it what you wish it to be. Like a magician, you can transform into any avatar as per your whim and mood. Appearance is an illusion and at this moment of perception, beauty and creativity are what matters most!” says Delna.
According to me, the Rock Chic collection is not merely a range of clothes, it’s a vibe that resonates with you when you want to look your best, the clothes instil an instant feeling of confidence and power, Kudos to Delna for creating this line!” showstopper Kalki was quoted saying.
