Have You Heard of Rahul Mishra?
Rahul Mishra, the first Indian designer to showcase at Paris Haute Couture Week, presented "Cosmos", his Spring 2023 Couture collection.
Have you heard of Rahul Mishra? Well, if not, it’s time to get to know the man and his craft.
Rahul Mishra’s designs will transport you into a mystical world of lost legends and infinite worlds. They will reawaken a sense of beauty, one that is only found in nature, and evoke a feeling of a time gone by … or a time to come. Each piece is a wondrous art in motion, bringing the crowd to their knees in awe and adoration. His profound use of nature-like motifs throughout his collections is inspired by his love for the Himalayas.
“I was obsessed with the thought of growing flowers and butterflies flitting in between them. That has seeped into my collections.”
Rahul Mishra, The Indian Express
On today’s series of designers that took unorthodox routes into the fashion world, Rahul Mishra is no exception. This Delhi-based Indian-born designer studied physics at formerly Kanpur Univeristy (now Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University) and then went on to study apparel design at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.
From science to fashion….I can’t say I’m really surprised. In looking at his latest collection, one can see he is intrigued by the concept of worlds within worlds.
January 23rd, 2023, the opening day of Paris Haute Couture Week, Rahul Mishra debuted his Spring 2023 Couture collection, ‘Cosmos’, making him the first Indian designer to showcase at PHCW.
Cosmos is a collection that challenges us to look within. When looking outwards we see a boundless limitless world full of nature and beauty and the ever-expanding galaxy. How do we as humans interact with the world that surrounds us? How does our human mind comprehend it?
There is an interstellar journey in this collection. It depicts a vision of our physical reality founded in the truth of our being. It shows viewers a world of fantasies steeped in reality. This profound collection is inspired by a Sanskrit mantra ‘Aham Brahmasmi’ which can translate to “I am the cosmos”. For one to understand this collection, one must push their intellect to the back and bring their imagination to the forefront…. because that’s just how deep the designer took it.
Cosmos | Couture Spring 2023
“Light years apart yet set on the same horizon, there are galaxies in the vacuum constantly originating and fading. Who is to say that they aren’t contained in a single water droplet, and who must deny that the droplet lies in an ocean. The piercing gaze of an eagle comprehends the world below it, in a manner that a ladybug cannot fathom. And this season, our ‘Cosmos’ expands from landscape into the beyond — the sunken city of Atlantis, gleaming in gold over a vivid coral reef as streams of salt water flow above the atmosphere curtailing celestial bodies, planets, and planetoids.”
Rahul Mishra
Rahul Mishra is no minimalist. This royal collection features extravagant pieces informed by nature and our natural ecosystems. Some designs include elegant dresses with arms that resemble a Phoenix, sequined gowns with translucent veils incorporating moving jellyfish, and frilly dresses and bustiers with blue sequins and marine life motifs, such as coral reefs and starfish, reflecting our deep blue oceans. Rahul portrays a fantasy in this collection, transporting us into a world unknown. We are left feeling expanded and craving for more.
In a world of increasingly fast fashion, Rahul’s approach is the complete opposite, encouraging the desire for something more refined and beautiful. Each design seems to say that he has given it his all; it is like finding true love. Even more endearing is his sustainable approach to design. He empowers the craft community from different regions in India by employing them to help create his designs. This slowed-down process of hand-weaving and hand embroidery contributes to building livelihoods for over 1000 artisans, Rahul tells Dhristi Magazine. Amazing.
Fabrics such as Indian hand-spun Banarasi silk, tie-and-dye cotton, Maheshwar cotton, and Bhagalpur silk are just some of the textiles used to create these extraordinary pieces.
Fun fact: Each design in Cosmos took over 3000 man-hours to complete!
All in all, this is a well-thought-out collection name because it reflects everything from the galaxies to the underwater world and even beyond.
Cosmos is a glorious celebration of India’s long and rich fashion history, bringing its superb design and craftmanship talent to the fore.
FASHION WEEK
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Incredible write-up! Thanks for taking us to the Rahul Mishra show.
Your connection to the work of Raul Mishra is no happenstance. The depth of your write-up proves this. Great job!