Nitin Bal Chauhan shows “Dementia” collection at LMIFW on World Mental Health Day

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Oct 11, 2019

Nitin Bal Chauhan showcased his spring/ summer 2020 collection “Dementia” at Lotus Makeup India Fashion Week on Thursday. The runway show fell on October 10, World Mental Health Day.

Chauhan aimed to highlight the effects of dementia through his spring/ summer 2020 womenswear collection, presented on day two of Lotus Makeup India Fashion Week. The designer used a mostly monochrome colour palette to create an eerie, nightmarish aesthetic. Models faces were painted half white and half black or blue which seemed to symbolise an encroaching darkness. Wire-like fascinators and face covers evoked constriction and horror.

Despite the highly conceptual nature of the runway show, the collection featured many highly wearable garments with separates, cocktail dresses, and even some athleisure pieces. Chauhan managed to balance making a strong statement about a challenging topic with staying true to his elegant use of textiles and modern, feminine aesthetic. Hand embroidery added a couture touch and slogans including “Death”, “Life”, and “Sway” added a graphic element. 

"I have tried to express dementia or Alzheimer's through the way of fashion,” Chauhan told the Press Trust of India after his show in Thursday. “The asymmetrical designs to paint a picture of what will life be after some time."

Nitin Bal Chauhan launched his eponymous brand in 2016 in New Delhi. The brand retails on a number of multi-brand fashion e-commerce sites such as Pernia’s Pop-Up Shop and in multi-brand boutiques in India.

Lotus Makeup India Fashion Week runs from October 9 to 13 at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium at India Gate in New Delhi. The fashion week runs twice a year and is organised by the Fashion Design Council of India. This season, the fashion week’s theme is “My Fashion My Tribe”.