DECEMBER’99 has witnessed an astounding number of exhibitions on fashion wear. Eld and the end or a millennium was spreading an almost contagious festive mood and giving the fashion lovers a chance to change their wardrobe to be prepared to welcome the next millennium. But how can another fashion house stand out in the midst of so many exhibitions?

Avalon, a booming boutique, organized their fourth exhibition in Alliance Francaise de Dhaka from December 23 to December 25. Their simple but sophisticated creative line surely stands out amidst a.bevy of exhibitions on fashion wears.

Dilshad Ahmed started Avalon In 1996. She did women's wear only but this year her sister Subarna Ahmed and Subarna's husband Fazle Karim Khan also teamed up with her. The husband- wife duo designed the panjabis7 for Avalon that was included in the show.

The designers put emphasis on comfort as well as the looks

and that's why they have used a lot of cotton but they did not forget the demand of the Eld shoppers. Their collection of chiffon and silk dresses were the main Attraction of the show.

This year mixed works are getting popular. Block, machine work, tie and dye. brush and hand print are used together to create the eye-catching dresses, each one of which can be compared to the work of an artist.

Dilshad's specialty lies in her eye for the details. Most of the designers Ignore the shalwar but for Dilshad shalwars are as important as the dresses. Her works reflect her sense of beauty that treats all the pieces with the same amount of importance to make it a creative whole. Dilshad adds a little bit of embroidery, works of Krush, or a touch of block or brush print in her shalwars to make them attractive. The main attraction of her coHectlon is no doubt the hand embroideries. The delicate patterns created on the clothes glimmer like an

artist's ravishing creation.

Colours dominated this year’s fashion world. Avalon’s collections are also created keeping the new trends In mind. Not only the dresses, the panjabis are also defined with eyecatching colours- blue, black, green and even fiery orange.

“Many would stop and think before creating such a panjabi in fiery orange but for me these eccentric colours bring in the bohemian feeling that is not afraid to go against the trend and I am satisfied with the responses I am getting." said Karim. For Panjabis they have used cotton, khadi. check and silk. Handprint, frolic and embroidery define their panjabis well.

The prices of their creative line are well within the reach of every one. The prices of the * dresses range between Tk 1000 and Tk 25Q0 and the panjabis are priced between 350Tk and 1300 Tk. Avalon’s simple but elegant designs will definitely add a chic touch to one’s wardrobe.