A Star is Born, and He Certainly Shines Bright!
22-01-2009
Could you ever think of a more exciting line?! I couldn't and having watched the show, I knew without a doubt, that if there was any justice in the fashion world, only one man could walk away with the prize. Thankfully, I can sleep easy knowing that Manjit Deu is now the rightful owner of this crown.
Showing last (number 19) in the LCF MA show was a huge responsibility, but as Manjit's pieces began to grace the runway everyone realised this was something special.
The collection started with tame pieces, cropped white jackets, mini dresses with draped sleeves. I'd heard rumbles in the fashion camp that there were sequins on the way, but even I couldn't have predicted the beauty that became Manjit's winning collection.
There were full-length dresses, covered in giant sequins, fifties-esque skirts, asymmetrically draped to perfection with sparkles that looked a million dollars worth. From ice blue to winter whites, this was truly magic unfolding before our eyes.
There were more punky pieces too, that were full on glam, mini dresses in various shades, including pink with a matching pink, excellently tailored trench, with an oversized draped cape, covered in sparkles (I want one!).
It was such a beautiful collection that I have no recollection of any music I just saw clothes, beautiful clothes.
Of course Manjit was not satisfied with just beautifying women, he was the only MA student to work with menswear too, adorning them in well tailored trousers and shirting that were given the same sparkled treatment.
But what really floored the fashion crowd and for me, showed that we were watching the winner, was the finale piece…
A dress so beautiful that if I saw it on the red carpet, it would put the other dresses to shame. This floor-length, sweeping, draped white dress, with structured shoulders, embroidered to perfection with giant sequins, was like the dress I had been waiting to see my whole life. So much beauty in one dress, was unimaginable! There was not a sequin too many, and you could hear the gasps as it sashayed down the catwalk.
We chatted to Manjit after his big win (who was so amazingly shell shocked, it was as if he hadn't seen his own collection!). He told me he was ‘on top of the world' and in fact now had ‘world domination' as his next move.
Once it had truly sunk in (though I reckon that won't happen for a while) Manjit chatted about his inspiration, telling us that ‘sequins have always been within me' and that the collection was inspired by a mixture of ‘drapery experimentation, Miami South Beach and Art Deco'. The collection had its sequins hand sewn in Bombay by the embroiderer that looks after McQueen, Gucci and Dior (so perhaps this was already a hint to future success) and somewhat surprisingly to me, Manjit's favourite piece in his collection is his short pink dress and not the finale piece!
Personally I'm torn between the trench and the finale dress, but what I'm not torn over is how fabulous this guy is!
A name to watch out for … Manjit Deu you heard it here first!
Words Rivkie Baum
