An amalgamation of art and couture, Rahul Mishra’s finale “sculpt” collection for House of Lakme was a dazzling display of innovation and sophistication. Sculpt, the Fall/Winter 2024 collection from the designer’s worldwide premium ready-to-wear label AFEW, was the show-stopping finale of this magnificent fashion week. Influenced by Henri Rousseau’s whimsical portrayal of organic shapes and textures, the collection was achieved by combining various textures and colours to create a sculptural effect.
Born out of Rahul Mishra’a knack for imaginative ingenuity, “Sculpt” captivated audiences with its seamless blend of artistic expression and high-end fashion. The collection’s 3D-embroidered ‘Athenian Garden’ achromatic short-dress wowed the runway as Lakmē’s brand spokesperson, actress Ananya Pandey, graced the runway in it.
On top of the painstaking hand embroidery, the surface of the show stopping ensemble was adorned with designs that are cut and appliquéd by hand onto a silk basis. To complete the entire outfit, Ananya favoured a Lakmē beauty-look that was defined and sculpted, emphasising her under-brow, eyes, and cheekbones.
The collection is said to effectively support Lakmē’s ideology, which emphasises on the need of valuing and improving intrinsic beauty as a means of expressing one’s individuality. Rahul has always found inspiration in nature, and this show, held at Mumbai’s Jio World Convention Centre, paid tribute to that. At the crossroads of fashion and beauty, the House of Lakmē, renowned for its groundbreaking achievements, has kept the legacy alive by introducing AFEW Rahul Mishra to India for the first time.
Having begun his career at Lakmē Fashion Week, Mishra was one of the inaugural group of designers to present at GenNext in 2006.As stated by Mishra himself, showing his collection ‘Sculpt’ under his label AFEW – in India at Lakmē Fashion Week X FDCI on Sunday, makes it a full circle for him.
Natural beauty is unmatched, from towering mountains to perfectly symmetrical snowflakes, sweeping sand dunes to striking human faces. You can’t beat nature as a sculptor, and the show made a genuine attempt at offering a way to appreciate the beauty that highlights nature’s very own craftsmanship.
The fashion show began with designs that showcased a unique sense of restraint, focusing on simplicity in both colour and texture to convey a unified and coherent expression. AFEW’s sources of inspiration were depicted as if confined within solid three-dimensional stone blocks, and the show depicted their liberation from these constraints. The first outfit, worn by Ayesha Kanga, symbolised life breaking free from a solid stone block, adorned with sparkling white sequins and enhanced with natural, neutral forms.
In an attempt to involve and empower young individuals, the show’s set was inspired by a sculptor’s workshop and featured sculptures crafted by local student artists in Mumbai, drawing inspiration from famous abstract artworks. The muslin fabric used as a backdrop will be repurposed for creating test garments at the Rahul Mishra ateliers in the months to come.
Designer Rahul Mishra mentioned that presenting at Lakmē Fashion Week X FDCI had always felt like a homecoming, and this time around, it was nothing short of an honour to showcase their global easy-to-wear luxury brand ‘AFEW Rahul Mishra’ for the first time in India. He expressed that presenting ‘Sculpt,’ his Fall-Winter ’24 collection to the audiences, had been incredible. Mishra added that the collection drew its inspiration from the House of Lakmē’s MultiSlayer Sticks, and the beauty looks would define a new approach to beauty for the wearer, one that is more sculpted and personalised for everyone.
Lastly, He also mentioned that at AFEW Rahul Mishra, they had always celebrated their Indian heritage, blended with their international take on fashion, that would be heralded by Lakmē Grand Finale, with nature serving as the ultimate muse.
