Vancouver Fashion Week (VFW) returns for another season of local and international style from over thirty global fashion capitals. 

On Friday, March 21, VFW will spotlight three South Asian designers, each presenting a diverse collection for Summer and Fall. Well Groomed Inc. from Vancouver, and Parvesh & Jai and Shravan Kumar from India will present their runway shows from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Chinese Cultural Centre. Makeup and hair will be provided by CoverGirl, Pantene Pro-V and Olay, and tickets can be purchased at www.vanfashionweek.com/tickets.

 

 

Designer Profile: Dave Singh from Wellgroomed Designs Inc.

 

Wellgroomed" by Dave Singh is a symbol of high quality, stylish bridal and fusion wear. With a strong background in textiles and a distinct passion for fashion, Dave Singh introduced the Wellgroomed label to Vancouver five years ago. Since then, Wellgroomed Designs Inc. has created highly coveted ethnic Indian couture & Indo-western fusion wear. 

Wellgroomed's latest collection, "Once Upon a Bride," is inspired by Indian Parsi thread work that originates from Kashmir. Dave Singh has integrated Swarovski crystals into each and every piece that will show at Vancouver Fashion Week. This collection tells a story of a bride blossoming from a young simplistic woman into a beautiful swan lake creature that will capture her audience. 

 

 

Designer Profile: Parvesh & Jai

 

After graduating from North India Institute of Fashion Technology in 2002, Parvesh & Jai entered the fashion world by storm. By 2004 they had two major studios in South Delhi, and were already designing for Bollywood celebrities, London-based music band Trickbaby, and the Royal family of Nepal. 

With the launch of their swimwear brand “Blue Coral” in 2006, Parvesh & Jai were invited to participate in many fairs worldwide. They’ve made a name for themselves through their ethical practices and environmentally friendly efforts, and more recently, launched a beachwear line, Blue Coral, at India Fashion Week. They continue to create a high-end couture line, Raasleela, which, along with their beach line, can be found around the world in places like Turkey, Milan Paris, Greece, Los Angleles, New York, and London.

 

 

 Designer Profile: Shravan Kumar 

 

Shravan Kumar Ramaswamy started creating clothes for his family and friends when he was a teenager. At the age of 17, the Indian designer forayed into the fashion industry, and overwhelmed by the positive response, established his label Shravan Kumar and the Shravan's Studio in Hyderabad. Known for his unusual creations using a rich variety of handlooms available in India, Shravan Kumar has often shocked the fashion community with his bold use of unconventional fabrics in his designs. His collections reflect his approach to life that is ethnic and regal. 

Shravan Kumar’s collection at VFW focuses on the Indian Dancing god, Nataraja. Kumar is passionate about supporting the weaving industries in India, and has used weaves from across the country in his collection. Millions of weavers work out of their homes, and defective policy and competition from multinationals have taken a toll on the communities of traditional weavers in the country. Taking a note these tragic issues, Shravan Kumar plays his part by paying tribute to weavers of the nation at VFW.