DAY 4: RUMI, ROYALTY AND A RIOT OF HUES
The champion of slow fashion and mistress of costume drama, Rahul Mishra and Anju Modi, presented their respective collections on Day 4 of the ongoing India Couture Week at Taj Palace late Wednesday evening. Mishra, who is known for marrying his skill and science with his vision and poetic sensibilities, introduced Parizaad, an ode to Rumi. Known as one of the flag-bearers of the handloom brigade among the younger lot, Mishra garments depicted a confluence of yarn, colours, textile, ornamentally hand worked motifs. “Shades of Persian, Roman, Byzantine architecture from centuries ago made its inroads into my thought process when I thought of this line,” said Mishra after the event.
“Studying the highly intricate use of geometric patterns, girikh, or haft rangi, etc. to create uninterrupted patterns led to this new narrative,” he added.
The feather-light collection comprised an eclectic mix of beautifully handcrafted lehengas, kalidars and silhouettes inspired from traditional Indian ensembles. Anju Modi’s designs, on the other hand, were mostly inspired by the Kishangarh School of Art that Princess Vaishnavi Kumari of Kishangarh personally introduced to her once.
And many of Vaishnavi’s art found resonance in Anju’s collection. Deer and peacocks, silver brocades and royal velvets, paintings of doe-eyed gopis, cows, and soulful flute brought out the Kishangarh style of miniature art form alive. With a mix of bright pastel and contrasting darker hues, the collection titled Sunehri Kothi (Golden Chalet) consisted of several traditional Rajasthani bridal wear. The runway was turned into the grasslands of Vrindavan and actress Dia Mirza channelised a Radha avatar for the designer. Donning a fullsleeved embroidered maroon velvet blouse and multicoloured lehenga with sheer off-white dupatta, the actress-producer walked down the runway to the tunes of flute, sarangi and live singing.
Anju Modi’s designs were inspired by the Kishangarh School of Art