Filmed in a century-old haveli manor house, Rahul Mishra’s “Kamkhab” couture collection emphasised lightness, albeit one adorned with significant embellishment, crafted from silk organza, georgette, crêpe and tissue along with Banarasi cutwork and Chanderi silk textiles.

The collection was revealed Sunday night as the closing presentation on the schedule of India Couture Week, which began on August 23 and featured the works of 19 couture and bridal designers.

Manish Malhotra opened proceedings with his “Nooraniyat” collection, dominated by customary bridal red lehengas in a film, featuring Bollywood star Kriti Sanon, that reflected on the experience of brides throughout the ages.

Other highlights included Tarun Tahiliani’s “Artisinal Couture” collection, which actually consisted of six seperate capsule collections, each of which featured Tahiliani’s signature combination of traditional embroideries and modern silhouettes, and a characteristic colour palette that leaned heavily on pastels and beige tones.

According to Sunil Sethi, chairman of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), though the pandemic has changed and postponed the nature of many weddings in India over the past 18 months, it has done nothing to dent the appeal of India’s finest designers among the country’s brides.

“When it comes to couture and bridal wear, Indian designers are the first choice for brides,” Sethi said. “Even during the pandemic when retail outlets were shut, designers were getting requests from clients to meet (by appointment) at their studios and homes. This shows that the demand for couture will always be there.”

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