Renée Cascarina, Kerry Yates and Susan Roberts Cooper, cofounders of the colour collective.
Indian influences are creating a new emphasis on vivid fashion colors, especially those that emulate the bright, traditional clothing worn throughout India.
Pinpointing and experiencing trends firsthand is one of the most exciting aspects of managing the Colour Collective, our beauty brand and product development agency in NYC.
Every year, at least two of us can be found on any given continent, searching for infl uences that will soon become compelling trends or, at the very least, strong infatuations.
Because Indian designers are rapidly gaining worldwide fashion cred and Bollywood movie stars hold fashion and beauty sway over an international audience, we recently traveled to Mumbai—India’s industry, fashion and financial capital—during India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2013.
We not only wanted to see the progression of fashion trends that are already infl uencing Western clothing designers, but also their roots in Indian culture. Traditional beauty ingredients were also on our radar, especially those that haven’t been fully utilized in traditional Western beauty products. (Colour-Collective.com)
India, which has the largest population in the world next to China, is a crowded mash of people, colors, noise, and scents so strong that all five senses are on constant overload. Nestled next to the Arabian Sea, Mumbai—which has the largest population of any Indian city—is also a contrast of modern skyscrapers and ancient bazaars, breathtaking temples and squalid yet colorful slums.
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| Marchesa | Hindu temple |
Fashion week in Paris, London, Milan, and New York assaulted the senses as the intense color juxtapositions of India made an impact on clothing and jewelry with bright pinks and deep reds, brightly lit saffron, shimmering turmeric, and hot ochre shades.
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| Top salons in India offer the same services as their American counterparts, as well as henna art, sari draping and special wedding makeup, which often includes elaborate eye designs, bindi marks and jewels placed in various designs right above the eyebrows. |
Many haute designers ranging from Chanel and Christian Louboutin to Marchesa, have embraced an Indian muse.
Opulent silks, intricate embroidery and reflective surfaces contrast with matte textures to offer a wonderful reaction against the austerity of western economies.
Beauty Ingredients 2013
Traditional beauty ingredients, which have been used in India for thousands of years, are poised to enhance mainstream Western products.
By chatting with many Indian women in a variety of settings, we received a crash course in traditional beauty elixirs for hair, skin and nails.
Here are just two key elements of India’s beauty rituals that we believe could become the next generation of musthave ingredients for Western beauty products.
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Cosmetic Coconut Oil
Indians prefer coconut oil for moisturizing their hair, because it leaves strands in wonderful condition, produces a glistening reflect and excess residue evaporates within minutes.
They also rub coconut oil on the ends to create a healthy, uniform look from roots to tips and to eliminate frizziness and flyaways.
Coconut oil has tremendous potential in terms of haircare and even skincare formulations.
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Amla Oil
We’re extremely excited about amla oil, another traditional beauty essential in Indian culture. The oil is made from the fruit of the Indian gooseberry tree, which is dried and then immersed in coconut oil before being strained and purified.
In addition to being a super-rich, nutritious hair conditioner, Indians believe that amla oil can effectively treat everything from hair loss and prematurely graying hair, to scalp issues.
For Western formulations, amla oil—which is a relatively inexpensive product—has the potential to become the next argan oil.
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| Mehndi art most often involves intricate line designs. For special occasions, though, it’s sometimes embellished with sparkling gems. Shown: Western interpretation of bindi art that’s sure to ignite the passion of fashionistas this season. |
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| Indian dancers are draped in breathtaking colors that are now the focus of many spring fashions for 2013. |
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