Rahul Mishra gets the credit of being the country’s first designer to showcase his collection at the Paris Haute Couture Week with traditional Indian crafts. For the FDCI’s second digital edition of the India Couture Week, the multifaceted designer brings to you KamKhab, a collection of couture garments developed during the two subsequent lockdowns.
‘Kam’ translates to ‘less’ and ‘khaab’ refers to a ‘nap’—‘Kamkhab’ is a sequence of dreams woven together like a garland of artistic musing, of emotions and of instances that that we’ve subconsciously lived through, multiple times in our minds. Like an emotion of personalised artistry, it is the hand painting of frescos on the walls of a family home. The vision of its inhabitants, adorned on its lime plaster surfaces with vegetable and stone dyes, immortalised in craft and beauty. Similar to love poems, hand embroidered on a piece of clothing, delicately holding together dreams and reality.
Creating this collection has been like creating a bouquet of flowers—with the beauty of old love and the lightness of new beginnings. Filmed in a century old haveli that was opened after, over eight decades of being shut. Much like intricate adornments on the walls of these homes, the garments envisage the love one pours into building their home.
Talking about the collection, the ace designer Rahul Mishra says, “With ‘Kamkhab’ we question ourselves the value of beauty, art and poetry, without someone to appreciate them. And what is heritage, if not what has been endlessly loved once and passed on. Articulated with age-old techniques of hand embroidery, our couture is weightless, despite the intricacy of details—interpreted for the world of today. Realised in fabrics such as silk organza, georgette, crêpe and tissue along with Banarasi cutwork and Chanderi silk textiles, each piece holds values of love, craft, beauty, longevity and human touch. While enabling our community of craftsmen and weavers from across the country, Kamkhab represents luxury that is produced to address the demand, and not pursue consumption.”
Taking months and years to paint their stories and reside amidst them so as to never forget. Or perhaps leave one day, and move on—with a mere montage of memories—leaving behind the weight of heritage. Kamkhab borrows from the limitlessness of craft, the volume of skill that contributes to its immortality. And the strong passion that enables it to be brought to realisation.
Jewellery Partner and Designer, Archana Aggarwal from the Archana Aggarwal Jewellery is all praises for Rahul as she says, “Rahul Mishra is an internationally acclaimed designer and it is my pleasure to collaborate with him for the FDCI Couture Week this year. Each exquisite garment will be complimented by perfectly handcrafted jewellery from the new Ātman Collection. Each combination will go beyond the traditional Indian palette and yet retain an heirloom value.”
For more information and collections, check out https://rahulmishra.in/
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The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) in association with Hindustan Times has scheduled the second, digital edition of the India Couture Week 2021 from August 23-29, 2021. The 14th edition of the event is witnessing interesting themes by the country’s 19 couturiers – Amit Aggarwal, Amit GT, Anamika Khanna, Anju Modi, Ashima Leena, Dolly J, Falguni Shane Peacock, Gaurav Gupta, Kunal Rawal, Manish Malhotra, Pankaj & Nidhi, Rahul Mishra, Reynu Taandon, Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna, Shantanu & Nikhil, Siddartha Tytler, Suneet Varma, Tarun Tahiliani and Varun Bahl. The couturiers fashion films will be streamed on all the FDCI’s digital platforms —- Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and FDCI website.
FDCI Chairman Sunil Sethi says, “We have some of the finest names this year and they have come up with the most out-of-the-box narratives to create a visual treat for the audience. I wish them the best for this exciting journey ahead.”
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Pictures: FDCI, Rahul Mishra
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