Mumbai, December 4, 2016: The finale of the 2nd edition of Van Heusen + GQ Fashion Nights 2016 was a star-studded fashionable affair with ace designers like Rajesh Pratap Singh, Kunal Rawal and Rohit Bal unveiling their brand new range of menswear. Held at Taj Land’s End, Mumbai on 4th December, the property created by GQ India, the ultimate authority on men’s fashion and lifestyle and Van Heusen, saw Bollywood A-listers likeFarhan Akhtar, Anil Kapoor and Kunal Kapoor walk the ramp as showstoppers. Creating a fluidic play between art and fashion, Van Heusen showcased an exclusive line from ‘Fashion Formals’ which redefines power dressing. Inspired by the Kinetic and Optical art, the range includes an array of patterns and hues with optical graphics representing the technological progress in the modern world.
Ever since its launch in 2008, GQ India has always been on the forefront of all things related to the modern Indian man. The last 7 years have seen GQ play an instrumental role in revolutionizing menswear in India, bringing about a tidal wave of change that has trickled down to the average man on the streets, further substantiated by Fashion Nights 2016.
The glittering fashion soiree also saw several known faces in attendance like Aamir Khanwho came with his Dangal co-stars Fatima Sana Shaikh and Saniya Malhotra, Ayaan Mukherjee, Harshavardhan Kapoor, Sapna Pabbi, Robin Singh, Gaurav Gupta, Tisca Chopra, Tanishtha Dhankar, Sheetal Mallar, Candice Pinto, Dhruv Kapoor, Sooraj Pancholi, Suhel Seth, Mira Kapoor, Akshay Oberoi, Urvashi Rautela, Prateik Babbar amongst others.
Sharing his thoughts on the collections showcased at the finale, Che Kurrien, Editor, GQ,said, "This was a seminal day in the history of menswear in India. The designers were at the very top of their game - teasing and provoking us with avant-garde ideas that will soon influence the mainstream. This is the power of the Fashion Nights platform."
Mr Sooraj Bhatt, Chief Operating Officer (COO) - Fashion Brands, Madura Fashion and Lifestyle, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd. stated, "It has been an amazing experience to create the most awaited menswear event in the country- Van Heusen + GQ Fashion Nights. We are delighted to showcase our new SS'17 line. The new collection creates a beautiful connect between art and fashion inspired from 'Optical Art Movement of the 20th Century Kinetic and Optical Art'."
Rajesh Pratap Singh’s collection focused on the winter of 2017 with emphasis on garment engineering and deconstruction. The color palette was deep and dark with a blend of wool-silk, wool-cotton and wool-linen fabric. He brought about a contemporary direction in silhouettes and construction; the looks were pure and modern. The collection focused on his principle aim for a core Indian aesthetic, prioritizing comfort irrespective of geographical bearings.
Talking about the collection, Rajesh Pratap Singh said, “It’s been a great journey to work with professionals at Condé Nast India. Van Heusen and GQ Fashion Nights is a great platform for men’s wear in India. I am glad I got to work with such a renowned property that gives great importance to men’s fashion in this industry.”
Aamir Khan, who was present to cheer for his favorite designer, added, “GQ is a very well-known and respected media house and it is always a pleasure to be associated with them. I have been a fan of Rajesh’s designs and I love what he showcased today.”
Kunal Rawal kept the fabrication, detailing, color palette, silhouettes, embroidery and paneling of his collection extremely classic. It consisted of a wearable line showcasing a diverse play with Indian as well as western wear fabrics created through varied techniques.
Speaking about the show and his collection, Kunal Rawal said, “It's great to be a part of the Van Heusen + GQ Fashion Nights, a platform that gives absolute primacy and prominence to cutting edge menswear in the country. This initiative is a sign of the evolution in the menswear market in terms of awareness, interest, design sophistication and quality. Our collection this evening titled "Grey Method" was for the thinking man who enjoys dressing up and whose style is inimitable. Minimal, fun and easy, this showcase has all our signature trademarks including our military inspired detailing and textile innovations. The Kunal Rawal man embraces all his roles with a structured yet casual never seen before confidence!”
Giving his audiences a riveting finale experience, Rohit Bal’s collection bordered on adventurous experimentation. His collection highlighted interesting ideas, different shapes, incredible silhouettes and displayed innovation in menswear. Bal’s collection was definitely for the brave-hearted embodying the spirit of spontaneity!
Sharing his inspiration behind the collection, Rohit Bal said, “I've had an obsession with GQ since I was a young boy; we had this term amongst us friends saying he's so GQ. It was my first love where fashion was concerned and to be a part of it today and do a show is thrilling.”
Celebrating the latest trends for men in India, Van Heusen and GQ Fashion Nights have created a customized platform for menswear in India. Commemorating the best of menswear in India, `Van Heusen + GQ Fashion Nights 2016’ featured not just the best names in men’s fashion in the country, but also opinion leaders who have been setting examples with their individual sartorial choices.
Follow #FashionNights updates on www.gqindia.com, and @GQIndia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.
And @VanHeusenInd on Twitter.
About Van Heusen
Van Heusen is India's No. 1 premium lifestyle brand for professionals. With a rich heritage of 128 years in the United States of America, the brand entered India in 1990. Over a period of its 25 years of history in India, Van Heusen has emerged as a fashion authority for the ever-evolving Indian professionals becoming the go-to source for the latest in fashion trends as well as for expert advice on what to wear, when to wear it and how to wear it. Today, Van Heusen is not only the most preferred work wear brand, but also effortlessly straddles the entire spectrum of occasions like casuals, ceremonial and party wear.
The brand embodies the positioning, ‘POWER DRESSING’. Van Heusen customers are the corporate leaders for whom elegance and style are not just fads, but a philosophy. Thus the Van Heusen range is modern, minimalistic and timeless in design and is distinguished by high quality. Van Heusen with its distinctive and fashionable range of products helps the corporate leaders create their best impact, as much for their style as for their substance.
About Condé Nast
Condé Nast is a global media company producing the highest quality magazines, websites and digital content. Reaching more than 300 million consumers in 29 markets, the company’s portfolio includes many of the world’s most respected and influential media properties including Vogue, Vanity Fair, Glamour, Brides, Self, GQ, Condé Nast Traveller/Traveler, Allure, Architectural Digest, Wired, W and Style among others. In addition to publishing 143 magazines and over 100 websites, the company operates a restaurant division and several ventures in education. Condé Nast Entertainment develops film, television and premium video programming.