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Vermillion owner Rohini Dey and chef Maneet Chauhan |
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An Exotic Evening
Vermilion, the delectable downtown Indian-Latin fusion restaurant, isn’t the first place one would go to for fashion. You wouldn’t know that, however, if you peeked through the venue’s windows this past Sunday evening. Inside, the dining space had been transformed into a cozy runway, a carpet running from the entryway to the middle of the floor around which were placed four identical black podiums. Bollywood style Indian music blared through the speakers, but even that wasn’t enough to down the noise of the large crowd that had gathered here for the event, aptly titled “One Exotic Evening”.
As part of Silk Road Chicago Summer and Chicago's Fashion Initiative, up and coming local and Indian designers were given the chance to showcase their work in a relaxed, bustling atmosphere that also included some of Vermilion’s signature hors' d oeuvres. The menu featured mouthwatering tamarind ribs, pani puri, crab cakes malabar, artichoke pakoras, and for dessert, a light mango flan. Prepared by Vemilion’s executive chef Maneet Chauhan, everything tasted as good as it sounded, and who couldn’t resist coming back for seconds and thirds? At 7:30, owner Rohini Dey took the stage on one of the podiums, dressed in a gorgeous, elaborately embellished sari. Her welcome speech marked the beginning of the fashion show, and what followed was a visually stunning presentation that had the crowd enraptured. Models made their way up to each podium, clothed in creations from leading Indian designer Payal Singhal’s eponymous line. Payal’s collection was a sophisticated blend of Indian wear with a strong modern influence. The traditional salwar kameez, for example, was updated with skinny leg trousers, which just happens to be a current trend. A more Western theme followed this set of Indian clothes, and models wore intricately detailed yet breezy tunics over skinny jeans, creating a look that was both comfortable and elegant. Elaborate bridalwear, in the form of long, brightly colored flowing skirts that were elaborately decorated with sequins and stonework, closed out the show.
But what are Indian clothes without the jewelry? Cheena Chandra accessorized the show with her bold jewelry designs. Flashy bangle bracelets, jeweled finely constructed chandelier earrings, and multi strand necklaces were a few of the pieces on display. Adding a fusion twist to the show was Brazilian born designer Diego Rocha, whose Latin inspired patterned leather handbags were toted by the models.
In keeping with the laid back nature of the evening, guests were allowed the opportunity to chat with the designers and get a better glimpse of both the jewelry and the handbags. While the main focus might’ve been Payal’s outfits during the show, Cheena and Diego’s creations were the attractions afterwards. People lined up in front of their displays, and some of the most eager fans snatched up a few of the pieces. Cheena was grateful for the exposure that the event provided her, and though she was busy running from one guest to another, there was no strain of pretension to her. Diego’s handbags are truly a work of art and love, and when he described the labor that goes into each bag, from choosing the leather to creating the patterns, his passion and excitement for his job was infectious. Both designers were very effusive about the success that they’ve had with their lines. As for what he thought about the fusion of things Latin and Indian, Diego gave it a positive nod. “I love it,” he said, “Indian culture is very hot. Latin culture is very hot. What better mix is there?”
-Ann John
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