Manish Arora fuk@lfw s/s 06

As the special guest of the British Fashion Council, Delhi-based designer Manish Arora was undoubtedly under some pressure to make his mark on London Fashion Week. Although on of India's best loved designers - his shows are nigh impossible to squeeze into - over here he's the new boy and performing to an audience which is undoubtedly harder to please.

He seemed to pull it off. Although more costume than fashion, he gave us a spectacle that won't be easy to forget. Models, who looked like they'd spent too much time at the village fete face-painting stall, came out in frou frou skirts buoyed by layers of coloured netting. Indian motifs and imagers covered the surface of bright fabrics, vying for position with gold embroidery, tassles and metallic discs. Skirts were mostly of the circular variety the Rajasthani styles being the most eyecatching and jackets slimly cut with the maharajah variety especially cutting a dash.

Backstage, Telegraph fashion editor Hilary Alexander hugged the designer telling him "you've made my week". In fact, so enamoured was she of his clothes that she wore them for a live broadcast on GMTV. Looks like Arora's found himself a number one fan.

Words: Maia Adams. Photos: David Jones.