Designers put their best foot forward

Fashion design is an art that is a melange of functionality and style. And there's more to a fashion show than just images of youthful ultra-slim models sashaying down ramps dressed in fancy designer wear. On display also is the creativity of the designers.

"Fashion Show 2005", organised by the Inspiration School of Design and Technology at the Ball Room of Dhaka Sheraton Hotel recently, was a show with a difference. Firstly the show revealed the future of our fashion scenario through the works of the young talents and aspiring fashion designers of the institute. Secondly, it was a joyous moment for the students as the institution has completed six successful years.

It was back in 1998 when Architect Alamgir Jalil established the Inspiration School of Design and Technology, which is affiliated and supported by the Inspiration Design school of Singapore. Today Inspiration has achieved the position of a leading fashion institute in the country. As a part of its curriculum, Inspiration regularly arranges exhibitions, workshops and fashion shows. From 2001 it has regularly organised annual fashion shows which are regarded as a major event.

The fourth annual fashion show by the students of the institution drew the attention of the fashion savvy people. This year the designers worked on nine especial themes.

The designs were based on the theme of "reincarnation", focusing on keeping alive the heritage of designs, while "twilight beauty" simply celebrated the beauty of wonderful nature.

The designs, based on the theme "summer chill", revealed cool styles and "Chic Charis' ma" was a display of great beauty. The other themes: enigma, night magic, misty wood, back to basics and sporty spirit also conveyed the unique works of the designers.

Sometimes the designers went back to our traditions; sometimes they veered around to fusion works by mingling the East with the West; while sometimes they just simply went wild with the West. Moreover, this fashion show successfully projected the works of a good number of innovative designers who have the potential to lead our future fashion industry.