SANYFW Proudly Declared That Our Time In Fashion Is Now!
As top designers from around the world floored runways with their spring/ summer collections, 2022 was a thrill for all of us. You ask why? Simply because this year the first-ever South Asian New York Fashion Week (SANYFW) shook the global lifestyle scene. It became the latest change that came out of the New York Fashion Week.
Initiated and developed by fashion entrepreneur Shipra Sharma in partnership with Hetal Patel, the show aimed to celebrate and uplift fabric and designs that were inspired by both traditional and modern South Asian culture.
So, what was all the buzz around SANYFW?
Well, a lot! From streetwear, and sustainability to menswear, traditional and indo-western styles, the fashion week featured designers across the South Asian diaspora. “Lehengas turned into co-ord sets. Sarees turned into gowns with drapes. Palazzo pants became wide-legged pants. We want to reclaim that narrative and introduce the world to the origins of these silhouettes and designs,” Founder and CEO Sharma was quoted saying during the kick-off event.
“At SANYFW, we intend to highlight and share the history of our fashion and culture, while celebrating the fashion pioneers who have been trailblazers for our community universally,” added Sharma, and truly, from September eighth till the 14th we were all in ‘wow’ mode.
Day 1 of the show saw Mayyur Girotra headlining the runway with his couture ‘Zamani’ featuring monochrome lehengas and sarees with elegant embroidery, that spoke of the power of feminity. It was a day of opulence with elegant models walking at the iconic 48 Wall Street, and matching Ralph Lauren’s show step for step.
Day 2 gave the ‘Runway Experience’ a new meaning as South Asian designers and labels like Bedi NYC, Recover Season, RKJ Designs, What is Moire, Pali Menswear, Aks Mathur, Kalamandir Royale, AARIAH by Sabbineni x Avigna Fine Jewels, Tai by Studio 9696, Rivesse, JinaShili, Margi, and Aara by Sana presented their breathtaking creations to the New York audience at the Chelsea Factory.
Reena Mathur, founder of ReeMat Designs showcased some of her latest pieces on the SANYFW runway. “I draw endless inspiration from the female strength and beauty around me. Our collections are designed for the fashion-forward woman who wants to make a statement that uniquely defines her style,” said the eminent designer.
Day 3 saw established Pakistani designer Nomi Ansari headline the show at the rooftop of 620 Loft & Garden. His trademark designs, specially curated for the New York audience, included color contrast, delicate zardozi, and crystal embellishment across the lehengas. The menswear included suave suits featuring intricate designs.
The grand finale at High Line Nine Gallery made a statement to the world and showed the path to the future of South Asian fashion. With Aks Mathur, Aara by Sana, Nomi Ansari, Naseer Khan’s Aazadi, and Untitled by Nikita acing every moment.
What we saw on the stage was made possible only by the sheer dedication of a crew behind the scenes. From makeup artists to DJs, show-runners, and models, everybody put their best foot forward to make SANYFW a success.
With this, we can only hope that the diversity continues to grow every season. While New York fulfilled its promise, the ball should now roll to Paris, Milan, and London fashion weeks, with more sensational South Asian designers showing off their aesthetic prowess.
