The new wave of couturiers has hit the fashion shore in India, taking it higher with their own imagery of style. One such is Delhi-based designer Nida Mahmood. The NIFT graduate debuted at the Lakme Fashion Week 2006.

Don’t go by her petite frame for this young girl is brimming with ideas and is raring to go. Nida was in town recently to showcase her latest update.

This year appears to be a tribute to Turkey. Right from the ‘Siyahi’ collection by Rohit Bal, the sudden surge of Turkish trinkets and evil eyes at boutiques to Nida’s Spring 2008 collection - the mystical land of mystica appears to have been inspiring the Indian design philosophers.

Titled ‘Flights of Fancy’ from her label ‘Nida for Skin’, her collection was showcased through a performance-based fashion show picking up inspiration from Turkish lanterns and shadow puppetry. Thus, the play of light and shadow was accompanied by a graceful dance performance by theatre artist Rea and other models flaunting masquerade puppets, heightening the drama.

Pret in spirit, Nida’s women’s line accented towards street chic. From tunics, dresses, skirts to trousers, the garments were apt for the upbeat modern woman. Playing with textures, Nida also engineered her garments with interesting pleating, placements of darts, panelling and cut work. Nida also showcased a line of experimental sarees that were teamed with jeans for an Indo-grunge look.

Nida said, “Flights of Fantasy is all about how disjointed elements come together to form a beautiful image. It’s about how imagery, fluid lines and shapes join to create a meaningful whole - like an artist’s paintbrush. With every stroke the image changes and takes a new meaning. Mixing and matching is my forte. All my garments make for great day and night wear.”

Fabrics used included silk, trendy shimmer georgette, chiffon, tissue and brocade. The colour story used pastel peach, pale yellow, blue, minty green, soft pink and ivory to bright orange, fuchsia, chocolate brown and shades of metallic hues.

So, what are the trends to watch out for? “Totally fitted silhouettes like corsets are a big no-no. Wear looser silhouettes on top. Cigarette and drain pipe styles in pants are trendy. Low-waisted jeans are out. Regular high waists are back. Pleats are very in. Experimenting with sarees is very in today. The saree and the belt look or saree over jeans is very trendy,” advised Nida.

A fan of John Galliano of Christian Dior and new wave designer Vivienne Westwood, Nida started her career working as a men’s wear designer at Sheetal Design Studio with Hemant Trivedi and Aki Narula. Ask her if the entry into the fashion fraternity was easy and pat came the reply, “No. It’s very difficult. You need a lot of determination. Every time you fall down, you should have the spirit to rise from the ashes. You have to constantly perform or you are forgotten. You need a lot of finance. But that’s fun. I am doing it all alone and running into my third year now. There are many alternative ways to get there but do it the right way - hardwork.”

A trained graphic artist, painter and designer, art flows through Nida’s veins. A strong believer of the need to look good, Nida said it’s quite a task to design clothes. “Understanding a particular person, his body shape, the look for him in that season - its a lot. We are actually artists. And if its’ frivolous to look nice, then may be!” ended the next gen designer.

Nida’s collection is on sale at ffolio on Vittal Mallya Road for the next couple of days.