In a recent interview withManifest,designer Rahul Mishrasaid his then-upcomingHyundai India Couture Weekcollection will be all about embroidery techniques. “You’ll witness a lot of embroidery in a hyper-realistic manner. The details are as intricate as what you see in jewellery. This collection aims to take our embroidery to the next level,” he had said and, boy, did he deliver!
The designer’s ICW presentation was titled ‘Nargis’ and focussed on taking forward the designer’s fascination with all things nature through exciting embroidery techniques and classic silhouettes.
Actress and model Lisa Ray opened the highly-anticipated show in an ivory and gold ensemble with a bold red gajra adorning her hair.
While the largely pastel colour palette of the showcase was a departure from the drama of Mishra’s recent Paris Couture Week collection ‘Aura’, there were still hints of blacks and whites in ‘Nargis’. “It’s like you have eaten so much sugar and you crave for salt, I have just come a month back from Paris where the collection was majorly black and white, so it reflected in my festive couture,” the designer clarified in a quick post-show conversation withManifest.
In true Rahul Mishra fashion, the collection made the craftsmanship the hero. After working with over 1,200 embroidery artisans from villages all across the country for eight months, the designer updated hundreds of ancient embroidery techniques into something fresh and modern.
The showcase was bursting with vibrant details, featuring everything from aari thread work and bugle beads to kundan, rhinestones, glass beads, freshwater pearls, sequins, and nakshi pita work.
So the cottage-core leaning brides, this one seems to be right up your alley!
Inputs by: Vaishnavi Gaharwar