Tuesday 26 March 2013

Lakme Fashion Week S/S 2013: Why Aarti Vijay Gupta's Map Print Is Bang On Trend

When I saw the catwalk images from Aarti Vijay Gupta's Spring/Summer 2013 collection at India's Lakme Fashion Week, my heart skipped a beat. Not just because I'm a massive fan of her work, for its use of conceptual prints, but because I saw maps and stamps. 

For the designer it was the start of 'I Love India', a clutch of pieces that included references to Mahatma Gandhi, Indian tigers and a coal train. For me, sitting in rainy old England, it was the chance to step into another country and to get a glimpse of it from AVG's perspective. 

 The print looks beautiful on a sari.
[Catwalk images via Lakme Fashion Week].

If there's one trend that's been simmering on the surface of this season, it's a print that relates to travel - from Mary Katrantzou's S/S13 stamp and coin inspired designs and her collaboration with Current Elliott, to Christopher Raeburn's map dress and Topshop's map-emblazoned bikini, swimsuit and scarf that are currently flying off the shelves at a store near you.

Mary Katrantzou for Current Elliott [Image via fashion-law.org].

Christopher Raeburn dress, S/S13 [Image via christopherraeburn.co.uk].


Topshop's traveller trend is in full swing [Images via topshop.com].

Whereas 2012 in commercial fashion was all about patriotic UK flags, with the Union Jack getting a boost from the Jubilee and the Olympics, 2013 is about where you're going, as well as where you're from. That's why cartography has become a recurring inspiration for clothing and accessories, along with travel-inspired jewellery such as beaded glass and thread bracelets.

 Whatever the colour palette, the maps still look edgy and crisp.


It's all about heritage prints and more stamps than you can shake a stick at.
Nice to see AVG's trademark glasses making an appearance again, too.

More than anything, this collection reminds me why I want to visit India; to get out my passport and explore a little more of that world map, but also to see the place that inspires great designers such as Aarti Vijay Gupta. I will be upholding the traveller trend as much as possible this year!

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