New Delhi: Ace designer JJ Valaya’s latest collection ‘The Bolshoi Bazaar’, which showed a cultural mix of elements from Russia and India, left guests at the seventh edition of the BMW India Bridal Fashion Week here mesmerised.

“It’s an Indian collection with a kiss of Russia…clearly infusing two rich cultures and doing something together which speaks its own language,” Valaya said here after showcasing his creations on the ramp on Sunday.

The designer ensures that he matches Indian sensibilities with foreign influences.

“I always mix influences…the last time was Morocco in India, and the year before that was the Maharaja of Madrid. So, India remains constant, and every other part keeps moving,” he told of his inspirations.

Valaya’s line was created by using signature weaves, crepes, georgette and other fine fabrics with techniques like digital printing, applique and Valaya’s signature embroidery.

The ramp and ambience added drama too with an artificial snow-covered forest, where sound effects and a fogging machine gripped the audience further. The ensembles were shown against the digitally created clear sky atmosphere to a mild snowfall, followed by a blizzard and then back to a clear sky again.

As many as 45 ensembles, including saris, dresses, sherwani, jackets and anarkalis teamed with churidars and embellished belts, were part of the showcase. The colour pallete varied from antique, metallic and neutral tones with a dash of green, pink, blue and orange.

The male models looked suave, donning the ‘Ushanka’ or the traditional Russian ear hat teamed up with their sherwanis.

Another highlight was the use of headgear — designed under the label Valliyan by Nitya Bajaj Arora — on female models.

Talking about the headgears, Valaya said: “Headgears were worn by the Czarinas, the wives of Czars of Russia.”

Valaya’s show was attended by designers like Manish Malhotra, Rohit Bal and entrepreneur Suhel Seth, who took front row seats.

The five-day event, taking place at the DLF Emporio here, started on August 7, and will conclude on Tuesday.