THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR LUXURY COUTURE BRIDAL WEAR –
Sunday 8th January saw the return of the AASHNI + CO Wedding Show at The Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, London. Spotlighting the latest bridal, occasion wear and couture collections from the top tier of the Indian and Pakistani design spectrum, Sunday’s event included a breath-taking exhibition of the best national and internationally renowned designs from industry designers including Anamika Khanna, Anushree Reddy, Elan, Gaurav Gupta, Sabyasachi, Tarun Tahiliani, Monisha Jaising, Rimple and Harpreet Narula, Jade and ASAL by Abu Sandeep.
With January historically being the peak time that summer brides and grooms in the UK browse for and select their wedding attire, Sunday’s event gave UK audiences the unique opportunity to meet the attending fashion talent, personalities in their own right across South Asia’s fashion landscape. Boasting an elegant showcase of the latest designs highlighting the exquisitely constructed pieces, the show allowed the audience to truly experience the form, fit and detail of each garment.
The AASHNI + CO Wedding Show has been created by Aashni Anshul Doshi, Founder and Creative Director of AASHNI + CO, a beautiful concept store in the heart of London’s Notting Hill. The high-end boutique was established with the purpose of providing access to visionary designers of South Asian origin for the residents of the UK. Aashni extended her retail vision to the bridal arena, to produce an uber-luxe wedding show that captured the design pulse of her clientele.
Speaking about the show, Aashni Anshul Doshi said: “It has been a spectacular show, surpassing even last years, and I thank our incredible designers. We had a great response from attendees who had the chance to see a bridal outfit to make their special day even more memorable. What’s more the experience was enhanced further by the creative support of the award-winning floral artist and design consultant Zita Elze – Zita is an integral part of the show and my extension.
I think the best part about this event is that it allows people to meet the designers behind their wedding outfits and if they wish to have a bespoke creation. Our show makes that possible and demonstrates you don’t have to travel to India for the right designer outfit.”
Renowned designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee said, “Aashni is a great friend and her show is very well put together and organised. It feels like coming home. There is absolutely no stress and things are seamlessly planned. A lot of people in London were excited to see my latest debut collection with Christian Louboutin for shoes and handbags. I also showcased my very celebrated firdaus collection that has done well all over the world. I am very happy to bring this to London.”
Famous for pieces that combine the finest fabrics with exquisite craftsmanship, and designs for a range of international stars including Beyoncé in Coldplay’s “Hymn For The Weekend” music video, designer Abu Jani of the renowned designers Abu-Sandeep said: “It has been great to come to the 2017 AASHNI + CO Wedding Show and to introduce our latest brand ASAL to the UK audience. We were enthused by the interest attendees had in our designs which is testament to the strong interest in Indian fashion in the UK. We hope pieces from our collection have helped to make some wedding days extra special.”
Creating paradigm shifts, blurring boundaries, questioning identities and norms within, deconstructing duality and flights of fantasy have always remained the plot of the Gaurav Gupta narrative. Gaurav Gupta said, “Aashni is the only one in this part of the world who organises this kind of show bringing the best from the Indian fashion industry. She is a progressive and forward thinking woman and I resonate with her thought. She is able to give a full range of outfits to all the Asian brides in London. Our collection is futuristic and is a newer take on Indian fashion making it more experimental in a very sophistic way.”
Also at the show was Rimple Narula of the label Rimple & Harpreet Narula. They are the designer due for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s next magnum opus, Padmavati, starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapur and Ranveer Singh. Rimple Narula said: “This is our third time at the show and I think London is become pretty much the second largest market when it is compares to India, looking at how fashion savvy Asians are and their overwhelming response which has been really good.”
Launched in 2015, the AASHNI + CO Wedding Show has earned itself the reputation of introducing discerning wedding buyers to ensembles that are distinct and exquisite in form, whilst providing a unique shopping experience that is reframing the cultural and fashion zeitgeist of brides and grooms to be. The AASHNI + CO Wedding Show is proudly supported by Zita Elze, Sony TV, Akshayapatra, Bazaar Bride, KHUSH Wedding and Hello! Pakistan.
Garments on exhibition at the show will be available to purchase from the AASHNI + CO store in Notting Hill: 47 Ledbury Road, London W11 2AA.