Bollywood actress Aditi Rao Hyderi peers out at the camera, stately, her dupatta wrapped about her with scallops with twinkle with hand embellishment.
Fledgling designer brand Waniya by MA has devised some very eye-catching imagery as a showcase for its first bridal collection, titled Mehrunnisa. Running the gamut from the classic red bridal to designs in lilac, fuchsia and gold, this is a heavy-duty fully embellished lineup exuding timelessness.
Designer Mehr Azam observes, “We are thrilled to launch our first bridal collection, Mehrunnisa. It has been created keeping the modern bride in mind, merging classic couture with an avant-garde sensibility. The silhouettes are traditional, with innovative twists added to them. Age-old craft techniques have been applied to a range of luxurious fabrics; dabka, tilla, resham, kiran, dori and sequin-work, painstakingly worked upon over long periods in order to create designs that are statement-makers.”
Taking a closer look at the collection, Raya is a classic farshi, paired with a modern bodice and glittering with a spectacular variety of hand embellishments that are unique to the subcontinent: resham, dabka, tilla, kiran, dori and sequin-work.
Vasl is a magenta, mono-toned three-piece peshwaz meshed with hand-embroideries forming three-dimensional patterns and complemented by a detailed dupatta in blush pink.
Inara is an ode to royalty, embellished all along its length with dabka, tilla, kiran, kat-dana, mukesh, resham and fine crystals. The heavily bordered turquoise organza dupatta adds a pop of color against the outfit, which is in a brilliant pink.
Nuri is beautiful with its pastel palette in lilac and gold aimed towards entrancing the bride-to-be. Hanf-crafted embellishments include pearl, dabka, dori, tilla, sequins and fabric cut into petals to create three-dimensional motifs. The outfit is completed by a heavily-scalloped sheer organza dupatta.
Aimed towards the modern bride, Taia is a heavy-duty fishtail lehnga in a subtle gold tone, uplifted by dabka, antique gold sequins, gota, katdana, resham and stone-work. The blouse is similarly worked with elaborate hand embellishments.
No bridal-wear collection can be complete without a classic red bridal. Dahr is luxuriously hand-worked with gold and silver sequins, tilla, fine pearls, gota, dabka, naqshi, resham and kat-dana wound into three-dimensional patterns. A contemporary cropped bodice, similarly embellished, and an organza dupatta edged with heavy details complete the look.
Ruhi has a whimsical beauty about it with its refreshing palette in peach and hand-embellishments twinkling along its length. An organza dupatta, lightly worked with embroideries, drapes gracefully over the design.
Lastly, Mahru is opulent and regal. The double-layered ensemble in pink pays ode to the maharanis of yore while adding modern touches. The design is densely embellished with naqshi, dabka, resham threads, sequins, kat-dana, kiran, gota and fabric cut into three-dimensional patterns.
What do you think?