How does the idea of yesteryear Bollywood beauties like Zeenat Aman, Rakhee and Parveen Babi leaping out of a shirt sound?

Mug shots of Hindi film heroines printed in sepia hues on the full-length, bell sleeves of fitted blouses adorn the fashion week collection of funky designer Manish Arora.

This is a man who used puppets as props on the runway couple of years ago, and has dressed, among others, Bianca Jagger.

Most of the images are covers of the film magazine Cine Blitz from the 1970s. This is the latest fetish of Arora, who has 'Ladies Tailor' tattooed on his left arm and has experimented with animation and kitsch street imagery in the past.

"There is no single inspiration behind my collection. If anything, I have been inspired by the spirit of India," tells Arora.

The collection has detailed ornamentation and embellishment on fabrics such as silks, raw silks, georgettes, Thai hand-woven silks, satins, knits and faux fur.

The use of colour is true to Manish Arora's vibrant, some say bizarre, style and is available in a kaleidoscopic range of shades - from fluorescent pinks and neon greens to off-whites and pastel blues.

There are also digital prints from wild horses running under the image of zigzagging thunderbolts, to rabbits, a brood of chickens, insects, and a school of fish.

The collection also uses Indian paintings from the 1920s to the 1940s, and embroidery, unlike previous collections from Arora.

Traditional handblock prints, various forms of conventional embroidery used with modern patchwork techniques and crochet work add detail to the clothes. Swarovski crystal beads and mirror-work add to the party.

There are a total of 42 skirts, each vastly different from the other. There is extensive use of embellishment of various kinds - lace, chiffon, gota and brocade borders.

Skirts have been teamed with variations of the peasant top with belle-sleeves and midriff-revealing tops. The overall effect is brash with lots of drama.

Arora, who was handpicked by France's famous Maria Luisa boutiques in 2003, has one of the most vibrantly individual voices in Indian fashion. He recently won the best Women's Prêt Designer award at the first ever Indian Fashion Awards held in Mumbai.

His labels Manish Arora and Fish Fry appeal to a wide cross-section of individuals. Among them are urban women, professionals, young party-people, socialites, movie stars and celebrities not just in India but worldwide. Anoushka Shankar wore a specially designed Manish Arora dress at the Grammy Awards 2003.

Currently Arora is retailing domestically at Elan in Ahmedabad, Eloluzione in Chennai, Zenon and Kali in Kolkata, Kimaya and Sagar in Mumbai, Carma in New Delhi and his Manish Arora, Fish Fry lines at flagship stores in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. He is also retailing through Be: in 13 Indian cities.

Internationally he retails in countries like France, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Monaco, Russia, Spain, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).