The fashion show that marked the launch of Bihu collection, 2004 in the city. Picture by Biju Boro

Feb. 10: There were no professional models on the ramp, no waif-like beauties in gossamer clothes or brawny hunks with bulging pectorals.

At the Crest Club in Shopper’s Point last night, it was a fashion show with a novelty as “commoners” displayed some “common clothes” by the local apparel company, San Martin.

Dubbed the Bihu Collection 2004, the outfits consisted of formal shirts, trousers and blazers for men and salwar suits for women. True, the models weren’t anybody famous but they weren’t just whippersnappers either. All 14 participants were either employees of San Martin or one of its associates.

Hiten Patel, CEO of the company and a model, said: “Professional models look good in anything. We wanted to know how common people would look in our clothes. After all it is the person on the streets who is going to wear them.”

Choreographed by Gladrags model Panchali Gupta, the show was backed by pulsating music.

Dull and sober colours are out this year. The year 2004 demands bold, bright and fluorescent hues.

While bold stripes and solids are in vogue for men, georgette, synthetic and the ubiquitous cottons in party and everydaywear hit it off with the women. The Rajasthani patterns were especially eye-catching.

The blazers and jackets for men came in different designs — with plain fronts or double-breasted.

A woman watching the show said, “It was a relief to see the clothes on women like me and not on a pencil-thin body. Otherwise, I would have hardly known what the dress would have looked on me.”

Emphasising that the new range is immensely affordable, Patel said, “We aim at decent prices. Our prices range from Rs 395 to around Rs 795.”

The brand, already three years old and is one of the popular ones in the region, has 250 retail outlets in the Northeast. The brand basically caters to the middle segment of society with its punchline, “Global fashions, Indian prices”.