Manish Arora: A Goofy War On Fashion (Fashion Wire Daily)

New Delhi - Imagine being Manish. Your signature shock-value art deco style is something that people are getting used to and so for your fall 2008 collection, you need something big, something outrageous, something as intense as war. And then it occurs to you, thats what youre gonna give em: war.

As is evident, Manish Aroras fall collection for India fashion week in New Delhi on Friday was filled with different suits of armor. Inspired by warrior fashions from around the world, Arora showcased shapes and forms derived from knights, Samurais and modern military gear, tempered with a sprinkling of Disney characters embroidered with sequins into the mesh and metal.

The ramp itself set the tone for the show, with the models emerging from the mouth of a glittering warrior mask. This same mask adorned each of the models as they strutted their spiked and shackled boots and jackets down the runway. The show started with a Roman-inspired piece, a short skirt made out of flaps of copperish metal, topped with a full breastplate of steel etched with copper carvings. The show went on to present several such martial items, though some of the highlights were the playful long coats emblazoned with Mickey Mouse in a helmet, and Goofy in a knights suit of armor, wielding a sword, ready for battle.

Arora also presented several short dresses that were fully embroidered with Samurai masks for which, he said, he took his cues from modern avant-garde Japanese artist Keichi Tanaami. The real stunner of the show, however, was the last piece, a long, full-skirted dress which was embroidered, tapestry-style with a raging war scene, complete with charging horses and warriors. The model wearing this piece stood at the centre of the ramp for several minutes to allow the audience to take in the enormity of Aroras skirt.

The scandalizing newness of Aroras work was evident in this latest collection. As goofy as they may have been, Manishs warriors certainly made an impact.