Devil from the dark- AW10

Samant Chauhan brings to us his AW10 “Devil from the dark” .

A collection that makes dark ambient with confusing, deep, sometimes mechanical atmosphere. Inspired with dark side of psyche, modern world, false dogmas, philosophy and death. He has dedicated this collection to his favorite designer Alexander McQueen who has now left us with only his memories, some real and others very dark and surreal.

The story behind this inspiration is a witch who has cast a spell on the protagonist never to see the day light again. A spell to turn his heart into stone, mind into a deep well, his blood into ashes and his very existence into a soulless pit.

Chauhan surprises us with his choice of Black and keeps the momentum going with the use of his signature silks and other indigenous fabrics from Bhagalpur.

The enticing cuts are simple while the textures are intricate and complex. Black flowers and fine lines make a deliberate entry into the slim body hugging dresses while the long flowing skirts transcend away into the endless darkness of the night. The unique silhouettes and intricate hand made textures are ones to watch out for.

Silk route: India Fashion week AW2009

A day in the life of the weaver is a lesson in stillness. Broken only by the din of his warp and weft moving deftly as it weaves the thread of life together in a beautiful body of fabric. The fabric of life. The source of his existence. His unsung song that will soon leave his loom, his home, his cocoon to begin a faceless journey .Till it catches a designer’s fancy and swiftly becomes his song, his rendition, his voice……

Samant Chauhan this season gives this fable a name, tracing this anonymous textile to its roots, saluting its creator on the glitzy ramp where he seats, on centre stage, a weaver with his loom. The most dedicated voice of ethical fashion in India, Samant carries forward his love for Bhagalpur silk infusing in it an internationality that could well transcend each piece to the Louvre and Champs Elysees.

A color palatte of many delicious shades of beige come together in this rich collection. Skimpy and slim tunics get rusched, plissed and pin tucked to lend form to a flowing creation .Tone on tone embroideries follow a strong impressionism .Full bodied motifs get interpreted though thread embroidery and rugged edged piping.

Samant’s coats are vintage in appeal and rooted in their treatment. Brocade in the finest count follows a-line and straight silhouettes as innovative placements of pleats and tucks gives each piece its uniqueness.

The humble frock goes formal as the tunic gets a form of richness. For Samant Chauhan this winter like many that will follow is an ode to ethical fashion that looks beyond commercial parables to a story of nurturing weaves and their origin .Making sure that the great textile trunk of India remains alive: For many generations to live with, wear on themselves and relish.

This has been made out of 100% hand woven silk from Bhagalpur Village in Bihar, India.

London Fashion Week AW09

Young Fashion Entrepreneur Award & London Fashion Week

Samant Chauhan won the runner up award at the Young Fashion Entrepreneur awards held in December 2008 organised by the British Council.

This engaged him in several activities to promote Indian crafts and textiles in the UK. One such event is the “talk on ethical fashion” in Partnership with the London College of Fashion and CHOOLIPS-as part of their current India initiative – Shared Talent that will be recruiting UK and Indian designers. The event is on the 25th of February at London Fashion Week. It will be publicized via the official BLOW London Fashion Week timetable that goes out to all journalists, buyers & stylists plus all the networks of partners & Relatives involved plus press & TV.

It will mean that Samant Chauhan will present, for about 20min all about who he is, his motivations and his work in front of a very eager audience.

At London Fashion week:

Samant chauhan will exhibit his AW09 collection which is dedicated to the Silk worm at the London Fashion Week’s “Esthetica” from 20-24th February 2009. Esthetica is a showcase for eco-sustainable designers now in its sixth season. What started as a BFC initiative to promote the best in British eco-sustainable fashion has now evolved to become the epicenter for London's ethical fashion industry. Estethica offers a unique chance for like-minded companies to come together, network and inspire emerging designers with a conscience. It provides a feeling of community and education about fair-trade, eco and ethical fashion design at The Exhibition at London Fashion Week.

AW09 collection: The story of a silk worm:
http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/designers_details.asp?DesignerID=1141

Chauhan’s fall 09 collection is dedicated to the unsung hero-the silk worm. Unfortunately, silk worms are killed by millions while producing silk. This is totally uncalled for and can be done away with, easily. I aim to bring the Bhagalpuri silk to the fore and facilitating its entry into the domestic and global mainstream markets. I want to provide maximum employment to the silk weavers in Bhagalpur who would otherwise be becoming extinct by the day.

The silks used for my collection have been hand woven and made from eco-friendly processes without the use of any dyes in its purest form. The silhouettes in this collection are structured, feminine and body-flattering with the emphasis on the texturing to beautify the silk fabric to the superlative. There is no use of embellishments and maximum treatment is given to the fabric to make it wearable, so that the accent is primarily on all kinds of SILK.