In sync with free spirit nature

If bright colours and combinations of vivid hues excite you, then check out designer Deepika Govind’s pre-fall/winter 2011 collection ‘Nature’s Symphony,’ which is a splash of vibrant colours. The designer has picked up various elements from nature and chose tropical birds as her inspiration for this collection.

Each garment in her collection has a unusual colour combination, which is accentuated by fine Ikat designs and patterns. The most striking thing about Deepika’s collection is the colour palette, which has a mix of postbox red, jade, hues of indigo, tangerine, russet brown, azure to ink blue, emerald green and fiery yellow. Deepika says, “While choosing colours for this collection, I picked up shades that you’ll find on birds like toucans, kingfishers, cardinals, warbler and other exotic birds. The design patterns on these birds were interesting and elaborate, which I used on the outfits. Later, the clothes were replete with surface detailing and techniques that resemble the bird’s body and the textural patterns of its feathers.

S.L.A.R.F! - ReZ !t Toucan

–        The avatar comes with a variety of skins, varying from PG male and female to muscular male, and varying levels of ‘adult’ for the females. The styles of the skins are vivid, with the Keel-Billed and Toco decorated in a way that is accurately studied and sympathetically mirrored to the real-life species. Shading is careful and gentle, there is no over-emphasis on any particular body part, and is smooth throughout. Prims are blended to the same good standard and transition nicely with the rest of the avatar’s body.

Click here to view the mature skins. Warning for nudity.

–        The avatar’s attachments are comprised entirely of sculpts – All of which demonstrate a good quality, with no noticeable wrinkling or over-stretching of vectors. The prims fit together well, and overall the build is symmetrical. The avatar’s appearance is highly resolved and made with a rather smooth and rounded style.

–        Starting with the feet, we are greeted with a fairly accurate rendition of toucan feet, with two toes splayed at the front and back of the foot. Overall the build is simple, yet well-done. Following this, we have the legs, which follow the popular digitigrade style. The leg is all one sculpt, and because of this, there is no tactile, or sculpted differentiation between the feathers and exposed tarsometatarsus (i.e. ‘scaled’ lower legs and feet). This is instead represented with some simple textured ‘fluff’ on the prim to separate the two parts within the leg.  Whilst this method produces a positive aesthetic, the lack of differentiation in thickness between these two parts appears to be slightly off for a bird species, but this likely comes down to personal taste, as the overall result is not unpleasant and is rather fitting with the friendly, toonish style.

–        The toucan comes with a feathery tail, entirely sculpted and very much in keeping with the style of the avatar. The feathers are thick and short, but given a lightweight feel with the carefully placed textures.

–        The arms are textured simply and gently, with a small trace of light that blends easily with the arm of the avatar. There is some sculpted feather-fluff at the wrist, which makes for a more comfortable blend to the firmer nature of the hands. These, in turn are clawed, and much more humanoid in contrast to the feet. There are also optional wrists that include feathers to offer a pair of simplified arm-wings. The feathers are sculpted to a good standard, and are small enough to not interfere too much with the overall style of the avatar with any clipping or bulkiness.

Contemporary designers

Contemporary designers

Scientific American, Supplement

Contemporary fashion

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