“The day is not far when you can see the dragonfly only in your mind’s eye.”
It is that time of the year when the bi-annual Haute Couture Week engages the lovers of fashion and the industry, specifically the connoisseurs of Haute Couture by showcasing the top couturiers’ collection on the ramp in Paris. The Paris Haute Couture Week, Spring 2024 kicked -off on the 22nd of January 2024. On the opening day, India’s top couturier, Rahul Mishra showcased his collection — ’Superheroes’.
Rahul Mishra’s ‘Superheroes’ are not the Marvel Comics superheroes but the beautiful insects and species of reptiles that share the ecosystem with us. Unfortunately, insects are being imperilled and biodiversity is continuously under threat. The varied species of Moths, Dragonflies, bees, domestic lizards, and snakes find pride in the ensembles crafted by Rahul Mishra for his Spring 2024 Couture Collection. Talking about the Insect Kingdom, Rahul Mishra said, “Before us, they were here. Beyond my comfort zone, I look back once more at those who’ve been here before me. I seek not just to appreciate the beauty or the vividness of the insect kingdom but also challenge our whole conditioning/education towards how we treat insects; feel the emotions coming from a primal notion of fear”.
The dragonfly in a Petri dish, ingeniously embroidered highlighting the beauty of its diaphanous wings and bulbous head, the labyrinth of snakes, and the beautiful black lizard dress with a floor-length cape were dazzlers on the ramp. Rahul draws inspiration from his surroundings, and ‘environment’ is one of the key factors that excites him. Rahul reminisces about how he delves into his memories when one could sleep in a room gazing at a lizard scurrying in and out of the jaalis in the courtyard. Of a time when one did not jump away startled in fear or suppress the instinct to kill a spider or a snake. The past few seasons, we saw Rahul put-forth the beautiful flora and fauna found in the Himalayan foothills in the form of intricate three-dimensional embroideries on beautiful garments. The tiger made a grand appearance on sensuous gowns last season and was splashed on the covers of many high-fashion glossies.
Rahul Mishra Couture, Paris Couture Week 2024
At Paris Haute Couture, Spring 2024, I found denim in Rahul’s Couture collection very interesting. The denim were decorated with beautiful motifs of lizards and colourful moths and were drenched in silver sequin work. The power jackets with latticed sleeves and latticed maxi skirts were as beautiful as the off-shoulder gowns and dresses bejeweled with beautiful embroidery using glass beads, Zari work and rhinestones. The ‘Moth’ short dress with thigh-high boots, the black ‘Cocoon’ dress with lizards scurrying around, the yellow-green gown with a thigh-high slit and 3-D dragonfly embroidery all over and a hooded indigo gown with surface texturization work were magnificent and showcased Rahul’s eye for detail and craftsmanship at its best.
Text By: Jaydeep Ghosh
Image Courtesy: Rahul Mishra
Find out more about Rahul Mishra: rahulmishra.i
