What: Tomorrow Makers 2007, the annual graduating show of the iNIFD.

Where: The Tea Lawn, RCGC.

The occasion: Lessons in tucking and stitching over, it was time to put learning to test as more than 100 students of the fashion and textile designing departments of the Humayun Court institute presented their collections. While the fashion-design department showcased 17 collections, the textile designers put up four.

The picturesque Milan Cathedral for a backdrop, a packed ground with friends and folks cheering on, ramp biggies Anchal Kumar and Shahwar Ali setting the stage on fire — all this and more turned up the heat on the chilly evening. “Ninety-five per cent of the students have spun their own fabric. All the collections have been monitored and contoured,” said Susan Mantosh, chairman and director of the institute.

The collections: Inspirations ranged from the Second World War to coffee, Marilyn Monroe to shadow pupptery. Handloom fabrics, silk, cotton, lycra and linen were some of the fabrics used to craft the collections. The colour palette was a happy mix of sober shades and vibrant tones. Reversible jackets, plastic garments, skirts and jackets that can be carried as sling bags, strappy dresses, evening gowns, saris, the dhoti-clad Bangali babu look and ponchos with saris made their way to the ramp. Embroidery, piply work, applique, patchwork and screen prints were used as embellishments.

Interesting accessories included mafia caps, voluminous bags with frills and elaborate headgear.

The winners: While Life Goes On with its balloon hemlines and acid prints won the award for the Best Design, the colourful Soul Rejuvenating from the textile department bagged prizes for Best Fabric Development Collection and Most Commercially Viable Collection. Efflorescence, laced with a rustic flavour, won the trophy for the Most Commercially Viable Collection (fashion). The Director’s Award for Best Original Concept went to Immortal Beauty, a striking matador-like ensemble in green and red.

Saionee Chakraborty