Mumbai: Giant letters of the English and Hindi alphabet emerged from among the audience and the stage was set for a study in fashion from Narendra Kumar as he blended education with style for his Freedom from Illiteracy collection for Spring/Summer 2008 at Lakme Fashion Week.

The lessons were carefully delivered in shades of pastel yellow, pink, green and ecru with touches of the 70s styling for the voluminous high waist trousers teamed with trapeze shapes for blouses and fun kaftans and trendy shorts minis skirts and tunics.

The fabrics matched the heat of summer with light airy organza, georgette, cotton and linen. The embellishments were obviously literacy based as letters of the English and vernacular alphabets were embroidered, created in cutwork, printed or appliquéd cleverly without being too obvious.

The ruffled Hindi alphabets were the only embellishment for the opening silver mini while other Indian languages embellished the ecru collection. The flame of education embellished shoulders and necklines of dresses, while kiddy prints livened up the jersey summer dressers.

The prints and designs specially developed by Narendra had an image of the education institutes – the university -on cotton which was used for a variety of outfits, while intricate fabric folds embellished the hemlines, necks or shoulders.

The finale was reserved for Bollywood diva Bipasha Basu who walked the ramp in a sun yellow net "ball" gown worn over a crinoline with giant 3D alphabets on the skirt and the "institute" print corset.

Here is one summer collection which earned designer Narendra Kumar full marks in creativity from his admiring students!