New Delhi:
Designer duo Ashima-Leena have designed about 3,000 outfits for the closing ceremony of the 19th Commonwealth Games promising to sweep spectators off their feet with the designs.
Giving details, Delhi based fashion designers duo said about 2,400 children from various schools in the national capital and neighbouring districts will participate in 'Vande Matram' to greet guests at the ceremony.
Also, 550 professionals, divided in nine groups, will perform different forms of martial arts -- Warriors of India.
"We have chosen the colour of fire to reflect in outfits designed for Martial Art performers. Whereas, for vande Matram, school children would wear colourful dresses.
Our work will surely surprise all spectators," Leena said.
The designers were roped in by the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee for the two sessions Vande Matram and another on the Martial Art.
"The performers for the Martial Art session will be coming from different states. Bringing in the essence of those areas together with the art form was the most challenging part," she said.
The designers duo had also made outfits for about 4,000 performers during the opening ceremony on October 3 at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium.
The designers, whose creation has also appeared in the 'International Herald Tribune', the global edition of The New York Times said about 500 skilled workers had spent almost five months to craft 4,000 dresses for the participants.
"Our design will depict tradition and culture of different States," Leena said, refusing to describe their work citing "secrecy clause" of their contract with the Organising Committee.
The OC had about eight months back roped in Ashima and Leena for the mega sporting event to give all participants a trendy and cultural look to reflect rich tradition of the country.
'Ashima-Leena', the brand that fuse periodic trends and modern style was set up by the two sister-in-laws in 1993.
Both of them have done about 290 ramp shows across the globe. Ashima, who hails from the first batch of NIFT, is the creative head whereas Leena, a lawyer by profession, is the marketing brain behind the brand.
"We are sure that our designs will be liked by all the international delegates and spectators coming to watch the grand ceremony," Leena said.
About 60,000 people attended the Opening Ceremony of the 19th Commonwealth Games, being hosted by the country for the first time.
Over 7,000 athletes from 71 nations are participating in the sporting extravaganza.