It is for the first time that two brilliant designers are showcasing their couture collections side by side with stalwarts like Christian Dior and Balenciaga at the Paris Couture Week, Fall/Winter 2021. Rahul Mishra, a regular at the Paris Couture Week showcased his collection digitally on the 7th of July and Vaishali Shadangule will make her debut on the 8th of July by physically showcasing her couture collection at a picturesque High School venue. Vaishali is the first women designer from India to be vetted and invited by Chambre’ Syndicale to participate in the coveted Paris Couture Week. Seems like an Indian Affair in Paris!
RAHUL MISHRA’S ‘SHAPE OF THE AIR’
Rahul Mishra is now a regular at the bi-annual Paris Couture Week. At the ongoing Fall/ Winter 2021 Couture Week, Rahul did a digital showcase that was themed on Santorini and the naive beauty of nature as seen by a child; in his case, by his 4-year-old daughter.
‘Shape of Air’ sounds bewildering to which Mishra states, “I am pursuing the impossible…I want to paint the air in which the bridge, the house and the boat are found – the beauty of the air around them…”, quoting Claude Monet.
Very dramatic! So was the collection- highly dramatised.
Rahul’s digital presentation at the Paris Couture Week was very much like a physical ramp show, except there was no audience and applause.
Explaining his Couture Fall/winter 2021 collection Rahul Mishra states, “This collection renders our artistic expression in couture. A recollection of the overall experience, of how a physical space is perceived by the eyes and felt by a soul. Five elements, all containing, form a physical space when combined together in right proportions—earth, water, fire, air and space. At our atelier, we have attempted to comprehend the city of Santorini through this point of view and translate those elements into clothing.” The collection was celebrating the five elements of earth through voluminous silhouettes that showcased the ‘Shape of the air’. Oversized puffed sleeves, three-dimensional embroidery that looked like bougainvilleas in bloom, hand-cut tassels sewn-in tactfully to give the impression of
a scaly and layered look, pinched and tucked folds of tulle that resembled birds’ nests and the hue of the Aegean sea dominated the collection.
Bright hues like Ombre and structural drapes that looked like bubbles were indeed eye-grabbing and a perfect showcase for a Couture collection. Rahul Mishra has enamoured us yet again by showcasing something very new and visually dramatic from his atelier.
Text by Jaydeep Ghosh
Image Courtesy: Rahul Mishra
Find more about Rahul Mishra and the designs:
https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2021-couture/rahul-mishra
https://www.instagram.com/rahulmishra_7/
https://www.instagram.com/parisfashionweek/
