Annaikka by Kanika Saluja is one label that is more in the couture league than Ready To Wear and her Spring Summer 2014 collection is a powerful, sassy take on a woman who is a Dare Devil yet fiercely disciplined .... Edgy yet unapologetically Woman ..... someone comfortable in the limelight yet centred in her own innate awareness !! .... It is really surprising that our Indian Fashionistas (mostly and visibly Bollywood) who wear such stupid fripperies time and again on the Red Carpets have overlooked the language of Kanika's clothes ..... If you gotta make a statement, try Annaikka my beauties !! .... When we saw the clothes for the first time during the fittings, we were bowled over by the attention to detail, the immaculateness of the finish and the strong engineering design construct .... No wonder since the petite Kanika Saluja is a graduate from the Philadelphia College of Textile Design and Engineering .... add to that a family legacy of her parents beading factories of highly skilled craftsmen that did intricate work for legends such as Oleg Cassini and Roberto Cavalli !! ..... With a background like that .... it is very easy to be who she is, in reality too ... An unapologetically confident designer who speaks intelligently about her collection and inspiration in post show Press Meets where most of the Fashion Press meekly listens to what she has to say with respect !!!! .... In fact that is the first thing i noticed about her ..... Such a tiny lady (very petite) but such a tall presence with her long mohawk hairstyle and Samurai self assuredness :D ..... I watch her at Press Meets and grin at the inane questions that come her way from the mostly perplexed uneducated-in-fashion newspeople that our TV and Content channels send to Fashion Week ..... "Is it wearable?" ..... "Is this a metallic trend?" ..... "Are you a feminist?" ...... Hahaha ..... Her frustration with the press is not easily noticeable, but its there :) ..... and she has the stubbornness of brilliance that do not allow her to give trite soundbites or charm the press into giving her glowing reviews ..... Therefore you will not find many write ups about her on the net, and neither does she seem to give a damn about it :D .... If you want Disney Princess prettiness, Annaikka is not for you ..... Annaikka the label is meant for a regal Queen, above comment and criticism ..... who will do as she pleases , no effs given whatsoever !!!!! ..... Presenting the dizzyingly glamorous and powerful "Shivoham" Spring Summer 2014 "!

Annaika by Kanika Saluja SS 14 Shivoham

Shivoham : Annaikka by Kanika Saluja Spring Summer 2014

Designer's Inspiration :

"Her equilibrium ... Her journey to shivoham is her quest to find her inner being .... She is sensitive of herself, her inner prism and the different dimensioned cosmos ..... here awareness becomes a consistent challenge to her existence ... Her consciousness takes her to awakening, causing turmoil, confusion and destruction to her soul but it is awakened and urges to reach nirvana ... With her outer illusions fading and inner universe rising, her thoughts shape her silhouettes, her drapes link to her dreams, and her inner light paints her attire, her canvas of expression ... And she’s enlightened to infinity ... Moksha, I am you." - Press Release

"Shivoham" translated means "I am Shiva" ( Shiv + Aham) 
"In the ignorant state (i.e. without Self-Realization), one considers oneself separate from Shiva and recites ‘Om Namah Shivay’ (I bow to Shiva), but after Self-Realization, one comes into a constant awareness of being the Soul, which is separate from the body. So instead of bowing to Lord Shiva, he experiences the state of, ‘Shivoham, Shivoham’ meaning, “I am Shiva, I am Shiva.” I am the Soul and not the body. There remains no distinction between Shiva and myself.  Shiva is my true Self and when I realize this, I become Shiva. So if you remain in this awareness of the separation of body and Soul, then only are you truly realized to Lord Shiva.  This means your state is that of ‘Shivoham…Shivoham.’" - Source

Kanika taking a bow

Close Up and Details :

The Hair do resembles Lord Shiva's matted hair bun

If you are a design student, we recommend that you check out Annaikka up close in the stores, it's truly a masterclass in fashion design .... Hope you liked our presentation .... Until next time :)


DSB