According to B S Chandiramani, president, international division, Digjam, ``The designer line collection has been launched to provide the latest to Indian customers.''

The obvious international ingredient is current fashion in all its hues, bright and vivid. Blues, from the very light and transparent, to the very dark; classical weaves in black, white and ivory; varying shades of grey brown and cold sand; military greens and khakis-they are all there.

For fancy jackets, Ogliaro has developed a new material using thin and coarse yarns, saysChandiramani. The fabric costs between Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000 a metre.

Ogliaro, who has worked in tandem with the in-house designers of Digjam, believes that the coming season will see suits in a traditional, classical form. ``The fabric will either be solid with small designs, false plains or stripes generally in dark hues like melange grey, navy, French blue and cold brown,'' he says.

Stripes will continue to rule in 2000. Joining them are small checks for the bold and the avant garde.``Digjam's 2000 collection offers hundreds of fabric options with Ogliaro's unmistakable art and signature,'' says Chandiramani.

Digjam has been working on this exclusive collection for almost two years now, he says. The competition is very intense, but the Digjam collection has the advantage of being available this season at 4,000 outlets across the country.

Ogliaro's look for suitings and shirtings in 2000 will have quality, elegance and innovation within the framework of tradition. The fabrics will generally appearto be fine and flat, but will sometimes be crispy or crinkled. Chandiramani points out that in the traditional line, wool is a protagonist with very fine, soft microns and a very fine count. ``In the young line, on the other hand, the effect is very crispy, using bright wool or mohair. Mohair is and will be more in vogue for its bright, light and dry touch. New materials may be used for the trendy look,'' he feels.

New finishing techniques will result in special soft sheens like clear-cut, stone-wash, peach-skin and brushed.

For the young at heart, the new line includes Mouline wool and polyfill high twist. All these materials can be used alone or with natural fibres, claims Chandiramani.

The use of stretch lycra or elastomer, alone or mixed with other materials, is very important this season not only for fashion, but for the high level of comfort that it offers, he adds.

The palette for 2000 has bright and vivid colours, including shades of blue, from the very dark (navy, French, ink, indigo) to thevery bright (lapis lazuli) and the almost transparent (military avio, azure or water).

Classic colours like total black, white, ivory and greys will continue to be in demand. The young buyer will ask for military colors like khaki-beige and all kinds of green and light grey, especially in pearl tones.

There will be a prominence of jackets in the silhouette this season, but only if developed in a rich material or in new designs like Little Damier, Little Tartans, Glen Checks and Baroque Window-Panes.