The Indian fashion industry is a treasure trove of creativity. As we celebrate 75 glorious years of India’s independence, today it is a proud moment to see the fashion fraternity flourish and freedom of expression with compassion.
From breaking gender stereotypes to reviving age-old crafts with contemporary styles, fashion designers like Sabyasachi, Manish Malhotra, Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, Sanjay Garg, Anita Dongre, Amit Agarwal and Rahul Mishra are among the few fashion designers who who have celebrated this festival. different colors of India through his craft.
On India’s 75th Independence Day, News18 takes a look at how the fashion fraternity honors India in its designs.
Revitalizing and Empowering Craft
Centuries-old crafts weave creative stories into contemporary silhouettes. Manish Malhotra and a decade long consortium of Mijwan Welfare Society have placed the craft of Chikankari in the global context of textiles, conscience and culture.
The aim of Mijwan Welfare Society, an NGO founded by Late Kaifi Azmi, led by Shabana Azmi and Namrata Goyal and supported by Manish Malhotra, is to empower women while preserving the ancient art form of Chikankari and To educate the girl child in the rural areas of India. ,
“It is clear that strong women foster other talented women and empower communities at large. Mijwan artisans provide further evidence of this spirit of brotherhood, and I love that we are creating a traditional art form in the process. With constant efforts to develop, encourage and empower, says Manish Malhotra.
Similarly, renowned fashion designer duo Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, who are celebrating 36 years in the fashion industry and 30 years of a perfect romance with Chikankari, dedicate their creative journey to their eternal collection – India.
Taking to Instagram, the designer duo posted a heartfelt message, which read: “As we enter our anniversary weekend, we pay tribute to India, our eternal museum and its unique craft heritage. We celebrate the wealth of creativity and excellence of our artisans, whose remarkable craftsmanship is at the core of our design expression. Let us always imagine the impossibly beautiful and dedicate ourselves to bring it to life.
On recreating the age-old craft, the duo further wrote: Chikankari embroidery is absolutely unique, a thing of ancient and ethereal beauty. In 1992, we saw the potential for unsurpassed refinement and impossible elegance in chikankari. It ignited our imaginations, and we decided to make it the climax of our creative expression. Our 30 years of romance with chicken will be a lifetime obsession and we are proud to say that it is one of the hallmarks of AJK. Something that we have literally tried and put on the high fashion map, reinventing it in the form of couture and bridal wear. (sic).”
breaking stereotypes
The clothes for Amit Agarwal have already started and will continue to be so. Breaking stereotypes with his design sensibility, Amit expresses freedom through his gender-neutral designs. “At a time when masculinity can no longer be confined to gender, gender boxes, how can fashion not reflect these changing patterns?” Amit Agarwal expressed on his Instagram post. From kimonos that experiment with form, tuxedos that redefine flexibility to jackets that celebrate grit, each design creates a diverse palette.
It’s all about the freedom to express and be you. Celebrating New India with designs that blend tradition and modern aesthetics, Anita Dongre’s tribute is the epitome of individuality. Inspired by traditional art and architecture and designed to be a museum that defies pressure to conform or be free from societal expectations, the collection is an epitome of a rich architectural history that is at once shape-shifting and inclusive.
Indian roots respect
This year India has been at the forefront of many fashion events organized across the world. Couturier Rahul Mishra showcased his Fall 2022 collection at Paris Haute Couture Week. The collection The Tree of Life stems from memories of his grandmother worshiping the banyan tree. “Growing up in India, we see many examples of worshiping trees. This inherent part of our culture is manifested in different ways during the harvest festivals spread across regions of our subcontinent. My grandmother used to tie hand spun cotton thread around a banyan tree not far from our house. The memory of this routine, the worship of the tree by the women of the house to bless their families, is a priceless one,” says Rahul Mishra.
He further adds, “The Bug tree is a god-like presence throughout our lives, witnessing our journey from childhood to adulthood, as happened with the generations of our ancestors. This is the view of the same tree – where many of the Earth’s seasons have passed – that flashed before my eyes every time I sat down to sketch this collection. A contemporary application using several traditional surface ornamentation techniques from the Indian subcontinent, this collection is an expression of artistic memory.
For Sabyasachi, the saree is a truly unique and versatile garment that holds its own even while crossing borders and geographical boundaries. And that’s exactly what she expressed through the iconic saree she made for philanthropist Natasha Poonawalla at the MET GALA 2022. Sabyasachi contributed to Natasha’s vision by embellishing Indian craftsmanship in a gold handcrafted printed tulle sari and silk floss thread embroidered and embellished with beveled beads, semi-precious stones, crystals, sequins, and applique printed velvet.
Be it clothing, memory or motif, India resides in all of these. In celebration of New India, don’t forget to cherish the old. The fashion industry has found ways to express its love for freedom and India through its designs. Now, it’s your turn to share it with the world.
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