THREE BEWITCHING SHOWS CAST THEIR SPELL IN THE FIRST THREE DAYS OF THE INDIA COUTURE WEEK 2019

We are three days into India Couture Week organised by FDCI in partnership with Hindustan Times at New Delhi and it’s apparent that the skilled couturiers and the artisans they work with have been able to crack the code for modernising Indian bridal wear yet again. All of the three shows since the launch have pushed the design envelope further by introducing a new spectrum of European influences onto the ramp. Yes, bridal with a European touch!

Photo credits: News18

The Day 2 of India Couture Week saw veteran designer Suneet Verma taking up the gauntlet of presenting traditional embroidery through European motifs. The offsite show ‘Amara’ took place at the luxurious DLF Emporio mall in New Delhi. He went the distance by ornamenting all 52 showcased pieces with 3D embellishments, silver appliques, and gold metallic foil. Among his signature corset blouses and chiffon sarees, what stood out the most was the muted petal skirts he included in the collection – they almost acted as a palette cleanser in the general milieu of heavily loaded ethnic wear. The styling of the show was kept simple with posies of baby’s breath and classic jewelry from Mehta & Sons.

Photo credits: Suneet Verma

Next ones in line to dazzle the Day 3 runway at the Taj Palace hotel, the designated venue for the event, was designer duo Pankaj & Nidhi. If you have ever been mesmerised by mosaic tiles of quaint basilicas or gardens then the debut couture collection ‘Mosaiq’ commands your undivided attention. Pankaj & Nidhi adorned the modern silhouettes of their collection with small pieces of glass, ceramics, wood, sequins, and much more. The results were some gorgeous indo-western pieces which shined gloriously as the models pranced down the runway. The show culminated with actress Aditi Rao Hayadri making a ravishing appearance as the showstopper in a lightweight pink off-shoulder outfit with an exaggerated sleeve teamed with a woven golden skirt, fit for the contemporary liberated bride. 

Photo credits: FDCI

Photo credits: FDCI

Photo credits: FDCI

Design maven Rahul Mishra concluded Day 3 of the couture week with his highly anticipated annual collection in collaboration with the Monaco Tourism Board. As you would have guessed by now, the collection was inspired by his recent trip to Monaco and it contributes to the confluence of two cultures massively. He even sprinkled some magic from his Autumn-Winter 2019 collection displayed earlier in the Paris Fashion Week. 

Photo credits: Rahul Mishra

The designer shared on Instagram that the vivid memories of his childhood house in Malhausi, Uttar Pradesh coalesced with his trip to Monaco and inspired the latest couture collection. The wildflowers, undergrowths, lush foliage, and even the stone streets of both landscapes fueled his imagination to create intricate embroidery patches to be sewn into modernized breezy silhouettes. The collection enthralled the viewers with the sheer brilliance of sustainable, handcrafted, and mindful fashion.

Photo credits: Rahul Mishra

India Couture Week has been a great ride so far and we are only halfway into this celebration of Indian design. Let’s wait and watch what designers Reynu Tandon, Falguni Shane Peacock, Gaurav Gupta, and Tarun Tahiliani have in store for us. It’s undoubtedly going to be a sweet surprise!