Ethnic pride

His excitement is contagious. “I won the International Woolmark Award, last month in Delhi and will show at Milan in February 2014 as a part of the prize,” gushes Rahul Mishra who began his eponymous label in 2008. Mishra is known amongst his peers for his staunch belief in the richness of Indian crafts and integrating them into contemporary fashion. “I include art and craft in my clothes to bring out the best of both,” says the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad graduate. At the recently concluded Lakme Fashion Week, Mishra debuted Sunehri, he returned to an Indian collection of saris, lehengas, churidar and kurtas in chanderi, silk and cotton. “Earlier brides wore beautiful heirloom pieces and now I am trying to revive that charm,” he says. The women he designs for, says Mishra, are evolved and comfortable wearing those outfits whether in Milan, Mumbai or Nagpur. MEMORY PROJECT Mishra’s first show was a classroom project showcased at the Bombay Fashion Week, 2006. “My collection revolved around Kerala fabrics and I got a standing ovation. Publications wrote about me saying ‘ a star is born’, recalls Mishra. He went on to become the first non- European to get a scholarship to Milan’s Instituto Maragoni in 2007. STYLE ICONS I love Rohit Bal for the sheer grandeur he creates on the ramp. Then there’s Rajesh Pratap Singh and Abraham Thakore. Internationally it would be Geoffry Beene and Riccardo Tisci. STORE Retails at multi- designer stores such as Aza, Ensemble and White and abroad.

“Rahul is an emerging designer who’s doing very well in the current fashion scene”

JJ VALAYA