Tisca, Neena at zoya masaba event

ZOYA HOSTS PREVIEW TO LAUNCH “ANNAIKA” BY KANIKA AND RESORT 2010 BY MASABA GUPTA- The evening of 16th March proved to be one of avante garde style, fashion and creativity at. Zoya the eclectic multidesigner store by Jytoti Gwalani, Azmina Rahimtoola and Aparna Badlani who hosted the India launch of Anaikka, the accessories label by Kanika (of Nikka NewYork fame) and the Resortwear line of Masaba Gupta.

Zoya in a short span of three years has carved a niche for itself at a store that is known as a destination for experimental fashion and expressions in creativity. Zoya stands for understated fashion, with utmost attention given to silhouettes and drapes.

The collections of Annaika and Masaba fall within the parametres of the Zoya philosophy and find pride of pace this season at the store.According to Jyoti Gwalani of Zoya “We are happy to present new labels this season at Zoya and offer our customers one of a kind fashion from Annaika’s accessories and Masaba’s garments, that make a statement of unconventional style anytime, anyplace in the world”.

Anaikka by Kanika embodies industrial architecture with a chic modern feminine sensibility.T Metallic grey and gold are the key colors. The collection comprises of neck pieces,shoulder pieces and shrugs and the driving force behind Anaikka is the strong, independent, new age woman.In addition to that, Anaikka is immensely influenced by metal, machinery, sci-fi, gadgetry, technology, metallic installations and sometimes junkyards. Anaikka is also rough around the edges with a hint of harshness.One can also see glimpses of a Goth in her pieces.

Anaikka’s goal is to create a niche for concept jewellery and body pieces.

After debuting as a Gen Next designer at LAKME FASHION WEEK SPRING/SUMMER 2010, Masaba Gupta presents “Chhalni” resort wear 2010.Chhalni literally means ‘net’. Here the ‘chhalni’plays the role of the ‘purda’in her ensembles.The idea is not to give away the beauty of the garment in a moment, but to slowly unveil it. The color palette is contained with a canary yellow, rani pink, black and white polished with a bottle green with deep aqua . Silhouettes are flowy with layers, rustic and consumer friendly with the ‘pocket saree’ making a comeback this season!

Seen admiring Kanika’s goth inspired pieces of truly avante garde jewellery and also trying on some of the neckpieces and Masaba’s colourful creations were Tisca Chopra, Shweta Kawatra, Meenal Kapoor (Rajat Kapoors wife), Pia Raichoudhury with Shayan Munchi, Anita Raj, Nina Gupta (who was present to lend support to Masaba, but she also bought some pof Kanika’s pieces) Krishika Kulla, Kunika Singh, Shraddha Nigam, Shazia Gowarikar. Nishka Lulla came wearing a dress by Masaba. Also seen were Rocky S, Vikram Raizada, Umesh Jivnani, Nikhil Tampi, Karan Valecha. Also present to suppory his wife Kanika was Anuj Choudhury.

Jyoti Gwalani Azmina Rahimtoola and Aparna Badlani played the warm hostesses on this festive evening, looking after guests and ensuring all had something sweet since it was “GudiPadwa”!

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Kanika (who resides in New York)) After graduating from the Philadelphia College of textile design and engineering. Kanika helped her brother Arjun Saluja to launch his line ‘Rishta’ of avant-garde women’s wear which quickly became a buzz in the New York Fashion scene.Driven by an innate passion for individual style and leveraging her father’s factory capabilities, she developed a collection of embellished t-shirts which were quickly picked up by Barney’s, Henry Bendel, Nordstrom and numerous speciality stores.In 2003, Kanika’s collection was launched under the new eponymous ‘Nikka New York’ label, which set the ball rolling for the creation of a top-notch design,production and marketing team. As the Creative Director, Kanika spearheaded Nikka New York into a fast growing lifestyle brand of high-end women’s wear apparel and accessories. With the growing popularity of Nikka, Kanika created a huge following of press and celebrities. Celebrity clientele regularly picked Nikka, including Sarah Mac Lachlan Mischa Barton, Kimberly Stewart, Paris Hilton, Rihanna, Ashanti, Brandy, Vanessa Minnillo, Tyra Banks and Nicole Linkletter for America’s Top Model, Miss Universe 2007, and Jenny McCarthy for her top picks for summer 2005.

Masaba
The embroidery in her creations is hand worked with geometric motifs in shocking pink threads boiling down to pearls.The fabrics remain light and easy with the ikat still going strong,along with net and muslin.One will witness everything from light crushed mul and net jackets,unusual drapes ,to the ‘pocket saree and ultimately an Anarkali which you could even wear to the beach. Lastly,this season she will also present to you her first Menswear Line –‘Litmus Test’. ‘ Chhalni’ And ‘Litmus Test’ will hit stores on 10th April 2010.