2Contents

Introducing Inverso 3

Meet the Director 4

Department Highlights 6

Madhumita Chandrakanth:

Faces in Phases 10

Shruti Kulkarni:

Made for Each Other 14

Harishma Rajendran:

Celestial Spells 18

Karishma Kristina Singh:

Reflections and Shadows 22

3Today, beauty is in the eyes of the designer. Designers of the world have a unique and extremely important purpose in life; to show everyone else what to wear. It is up to the spectator if they agree with what the designer is saying in their presentations. So grows the concept of INVERSO.

Our presenting designers have something to say to the world. There are no restrictions on language, culture, age, or family. Each designers view is based on their perception of beauty, sadness, pleasure, femininity, and masculinity. However, their presentation will not be

so black and white. Opposites attract and many elements will not be as they seem.

As you are now prepared to witness a new generation of international designers from the largest group of international design schools covering Asia Pacific right here in Bangalore. I challenge your opinion: what do you see as beautiful, ugly, rough, soft, feminine, or masculine? As you have your independent point of view, the decision is up to you. However, do not expect your neighbor to agreeEnjoy the show!

Ayanna Freeman

IntroducingINVERSO

4Meet theDIRECTOR

Edmund Lim has been very supportive of us and our event, Inverso. He has ensured that we are provided with best facilities required to help make our show a success and to help us gain exposure into the professional world.

Here is an interview with Mr. Edmund Lim, covering his views and his vision for Inverso and all the students of Raffles Millenium International.

In which direction do you see the fashion designers heading following the show?The designers need to focus on corporate exposure that will hopefully lead them into the fashion industry. However, it should not be limited only to corporate designers but international exposure too, from which they can get an idea on what is practical and accepted by the market.

Edmund LimCenter Director

Raffles Millennium International Bangalore

The experience of developing their own collection will help them develop and enhance their expertise.

How according to you, has this major event changed the attitude of the student body?This event helped everyone, including the staff to work towards a single goal. Everyone likes to be involved and be a part of a major event. The differences of opinion, compromises, coming to a concensus and a decision making across different departments gives rise to excellent team work.

How has the show influenced the different design disciplines that your college has to offer? How do you think this event will influence the college, as a whole, after the show?The teaching staff have been instructed by me, to involve all the students in the college so as to ensure

5the success of our event. This event comprises of various details like backdrops, graphics, production, etc. We believe that this show is a show by our students rather than a professional show. This show may not portray professionalism but showcases the experience that our students have gained in the two years that they have studied at Raffles. The students gain knowledge on show setup, they learn how to deal with client expectations as well as corporate expectation.

This event is definitely proving a learning experience for the entire college.

How much effort have you seen being put into this event?From what I have observed, I can say that there has been an all round effort. Everyone, from each of their respective disciplines have come

together with their ideas, critiques and hard work, and are all anticipating presenting them to you.

And which department do you think has put in a lot of effort?Apart from our Fashion Designing quartet, that have been putting in months of effort to make this whole show possible, the Graphic Design department has also shown a lot of involvement, responsibility, and professionalism in bringing out the best of what Raffles has to offer.

A special word of thanks is given to the Graphic Design Program Director, Nick Lovegrove, and his foremost graphic designers, Aseem Gautam, Dishebh Shrestha and Tarun Devaraj.

Tell us how the idea for the fashion show began?Well, it all got going,

and continues, with the persistence and determination of our Fashion Design lecturers Ayanna Nelson-Freeman and Vipin Jose. They were both very keen on showing off their students talents and have great confidence in their work.

Their willfulness to put together this event is what assures me that the show will be a success.

What do you think this fashion show will do for Raffles?Needless to say, through holding this event, we will make ourselves increasingly prominent as a thriving design school in Bangalore. Giving people a chance to see what we are all about, we wish to invoke a sense of curiosity and interest in the avenues we have to offer.

Most importantly this show gives our current students the

opportunity to take pride in presenting their work, as well as feel like they are a part of something special and unique.Our students have been offered this learning experience in order to show their talents and creativity, and learn to work together and perfect their skills, to take back to the workplace.

What do you see for Raffles Fashion Show 2012?I see it being bigger, better and bolder!

We thank Mr. Edmund Lim for all his support and encouragement and we are confident that every event to follow will be bigger, better and bolder!

6DepartmentHIGHLIGHTS

Raffles Millennium International Bangalore (RMI BLR) is one of 38 campuses across 14 countries as a part of Raffles Education Corp Limited in a joint venture with Educomp Solutions. The RMIBLR campus, nearing two years of existence, the faculty, staff and students have made themselves known as Bangalores truly international design college. This campus offers an international faculty with respected industry background in clothing design, architecture, graphic design, industrial design, packaging design, furniture design, environmental design, automotive design, stage design, and sculpture design.

Keeping on the familiar international tract, RMI BLR is the host for professional global designers cum design lecturers, involved with overseas design competitions and frequent in student trips abroad. The students are expected to

be marketable both within and outside of India before finishing any program at RMI BLR. Therefore the curriculum, events and special projects all support the student designers' growth in this direction.

The Fashion Design department reflects the RMI BLR objectives in preparing its student designers to be successful anywhere in the world. International exposure is top priority in shaping the design eye of our students. Our faculty is composed of seasoned professional designers from the fashion industry.

The experience of our Fashion Design staff extends from designing womens formal, evening, casual, lingerie, and daywear, as well as mens formal and casual wear for private and large retail companies. Therefore, our faculties are truly experts in the fashion industry. The backgrounds of our dedicated

lecturers also reach into buying, production, and retail as well.

Raffles unique pool of design lecturers represents the status level which the success of all campuses is based on. Industry experience which is fresh and relevant is passed on to our talented student fashion designers within our program.

Program highlights reflect the international tract of fashion design in modules offered, trips planned, and events carried on throughout the years. Many activities this year include international trips, seminars with design professionals from India and abroad, and workshops judged by worldwide known design brands and publications. These events are an investment of our student designers for a successful design career outcome.

Ayanna Freeman

7Vipin JoseWomens Wear Pattern-making and Production

Over 8 years experience

Ayanna FreemanFashion Designer for major clothing private labels, major retailers, and celebrities

Over 10 years design experience

Ernesto IbarraFashion and Luxury Industry Management

Over 5 years experience

Jean Guy BousquetAcademic Director

Merchandising and Business Industry

Our Experienced Fashion Faculties

8Raffles Millennium International Design Institute is the only one of its kind in India. Our Bangalore campus was introduced in 2009 by Educomp Higher Education Ltd in India.

The Fashion Department of Raffles Millennium International, Bangalore sees fashion in a broader perspective, as a form of neo-expression in this current world. We practice a culture with the freedom of expression which can at times be inverse.

The training provided by the Fashion Department stimulates innovation in our students. The impulse to re-create, to open up new

horizons and to overthrow existing concepts is essential and characteristic of the fashion culture we follow. Every fashion design student is influenced by this cultural flow to a greater or lesser extent. This different thought angle keeps fashion at its best.

Above all, this training is aimed at encouraging the students to create and to explore creative forms, color combinations, development of techniques and materials. Our approach is focused on experimentation, improvisation and formal innovation. The goal is that the students ultimately achieve a marketable, appealing fashion portfolio

of all these aspects, on the basis of the artistic design and technical skills they have acquired.

We stimulate the tendency of designers to research unexplored areas for ideas and inspirations. Fashion design students study with Product, Interior, Multimedia and Graphic Designers, along with and students of Marketing and Business and live in a creative artistic atmosphere that leaves a mark on their personality. This well rounded training is the base for the effort and perseverance required for developing new philosophies in fashion.

Vipin Jose

Department Highlights

9

10

MadhumitaChandrakanth

Faces inPHASES

Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder,

Yet what is to behold is imaginary,

Colours flit beneath her eyes;

Of faces she shows,

Distorted and sharp.

She craves clarity in someones eyes,

By hiding whats in plain sight.

She wears a mask of endless facets,

Enclosing all that lies beneath.

An obsession with perfection,

A need for deformation,

A feel for obscurity,

Beauty is an excess she chases.

11

...a feel for obscurity...

12 Faces in Phases

14

ShrutiKulkarni

Made forEACH OTHER

I have always been inspired by the natural

romance from Asian influences and colors.

The idea behind MADE FOR EACH OTHER is

that, just as life, not everything is completely

black or white (Yin & Yang). The two energies

complement each other and cannot exist

without each other. They are both beautiful

and ugly in their own ways. This whole

collection will describe how two contrary

forces like fire and water are interconnected as

well as interdependent through the contrast in

colours and in fabrics. The colours being olive

green and aqua blue, rose red and tree green,

then a masculine grey and feminine white.

15

...not everythingis completely black or white...

16 Made for Each Other

18

HarishmaRajendran

CelestialSPELLS

My design philosophy gives me choices

in terms of designing fashion trends,

functionality and fabric manipulation

methods. These helped me in re-interpreting

my theme into a collection of outfits. It

helped me achieve a style in my designs. My

inspiration for spring/summer 2011 being

the zodiac stars is all about shimmer, shine

and sparkling with feminine elegance. Hence,

I decided to call it CELESTIAL SPELLS. My

colour pallette shares space with beautiful

hues of blues, purples, and blacks seen in

outer space. These hues are accompanied

with glittering silver, gold and oranges. The

fabrics I have used include flowing satins, dual

toned chiffons, luxurious pure silks, linens,

and durable cottons. I have included fabric

manipulation techniques like the patch work

and appliqu to bring out the elements of my

theme in my collection. In terms of design and

drafting, the outfits have panels which

look abstract.

19

...all aboutshimmer...

20 Celestial Spells

22

Karishma KristinaSingh

Reflections andSHADOWS

The night is dark and the water is calm

The storm has come and gone now

Leaving traces of its destruction

We find reflections and shadows that this disaster has left behind

There is ugly perhaps in the beauty of rippled reflections and broken images

Distorted pictures of beautiful sights

Deep dark shadows of colourful beings

This has inspired me

A quiet subtle worldthat bursts with energy and mystery

23

...distortedpictures of beautiful sights...

24 Reflections and Shadows

26

Acknowledgements

Management & MarketingJudith Roma MirandaKalyani DesaiPritika ShridharShreya Bhardwaj

Catalog DesignAseem GautamDishebh Raj Shrestha

Catalog EditorAyanna Freeman

Fashion PhotographyHemanth Narayana

Multimedia DesignTarun Devaraj

Exhibition Design Rijo K Joy

Collateral DesignAaron Stefan KhareBhushan RajEktaa RavishankarUjala Shrestha

AdvisorsAyanna Freeman - FDChris Hand - MDNick Lovegrove - GDVipin Jose - FD

Event MarketingDileep CV

Assistant Fashion DesignersReshma DileepanSanam AboobackerTanya VarkeyVevoshelu Nienu

Special thanks to:The Leela Palace

HM Vibha Towers, 4th Floor, Luskar Hosur Road, No. 63, Bangalore 560030

T: +91 80 43418888 F: +91 80 43418899

www.educompraffles.com