The first all physical India Couture Week under the aegis of Fashion Design Council Of India (FDCI) began with designer Tarun Tahiliani showcasing his annual couture and bespoke collection, The Painterly Dream. Incidentally, this 2022 edition marks 15 years of FDCI’s India Couture Week.
Through this collection, the doyen of Indian couture paid a tribute to the incredible legacy of Indian craft heritage. The collection, dipped in hues of pastels is a coming together of age-old patterns coupled with an artistic vision of the designer to form modern silhouettes. The models sashayed in ethereal gowns and embellished outfits in complex earthy tones complete with rare, bespoke and completely stunning emeralds and diamond jewellery.
Tarun Tahiliani explains, “Ironically as it sounds, the stillness of the pandemic gave me the studio time to revisit what we do, and think about how to technically, movement wise and flow wise, make it experiential rather than just dazzling discomfort, as many evening and bridal Indian brands have reached.”
One couldn’t help but notice the spectacular hand painted artwork printed on the fabric adorning the walkway. The print was layered with washes which created a hue like in a painterly dream – inspired by the works of Badshah Nama and the Daniel Brothers who documented India of the 1800s.
Playful multicoloured lehengas, long jackets over lehengas and red sindoori sarees dominated the runway. Well-tailored men’s wear with the traditional magic of drapes, this collection speaks the vocabulary of the studio’s artistry and reams of artistic and fantastical fashion.
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Chikankari, pichwai, kashida embroidery techniques weaved magic on the circular runway with opulence and elegance forming the strong craft pillars of this collection. The constellation drapes and the tailored zardozi reminisce the confluence of east and west.
Targeted at global Indians who care for the comfort, fit, motion and ease of the garments, this collection is Tahiliani’s expression of creating something that’s timeless in sensibility, global in appeal, and rooted in craft.
“We are also of the firm belief that a thing of beauty is a joy forever, and creating exquisite clothes that feel like skin are part of sustainable fashion because then one will wear them again and again, value them, and pass them on,” chips in Tahiliani.
#15YearsofICW #ICW2022 #FDCI
