Latest news with #ThreadsofTime:Reimagined
Hans India
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Bollywood Divas Dazzle in Lehengas at India Couture Week 2025
India Couture Week 2025, held in association with Reliance Brands and presented by FDCI, was a star-studded affair where Bollywood's leading ladies graced the ramp as muses for some of India's most celebrated couturiers. From bridal grandeur to modern opulence, the runway came alive with lehengas that told tales of craftsmanship, nostalgia, and fantasy. Sara Ali Khan in Aisha Rao Sara Ali Khan concluded Aisha Rao's vibrant showcase in a voluminous lehenga that perfectly captured the spirit of a modern bride. The ensemble, rendered in a rich teakberry tone, featured Rao's signature applique work, refreshed with motifs of cacti, palm trees, and wild flora. She glided down the runway exuding grace and charm, as the collection celebrated the fusion of heritage craftsmanship with a spirited, untamed aesthetic. Janhvi Kapoor in Jayanti Reddy Janhvi Kapoor made a striking appearance in Jayanti Reddy's collection that explored timeless beauty through a modern lens. The ensemble was a meticulous blend of traditional embroidery and whimsical elements, embodying the idea of heritage redefined. The lehenga paid homage to legacy while embracing the boldness of a modern bridal silhouette, making it a true showstopper moment. Bhumi Pednekar in Ritu Kumar Bhumi Pednekar walked the ramp for Ritu Kumar in a look steeped in cultural memory. 'Threads of Time: Reimagined' drew from India's rich textile traditions and offered a renewed take on heirloom aesthetics. Bhumi's intricately embroidered lehenga reflected the warmth of personal nostalgia and the grandeur of India's design heritage, seamlessly merging past and present. Riddhima Kapoor Sahni in Suneet Varma Riddhima Kapoor Sahni appeared ethereal as the muse for Suneet Varma's dreamy line, Sehr. The collection found inspiration in the mystique of enchanted forests, brought to life through soft pastels, shimmering crystals, and intricate embroidery. With quiet elegance and glowing poise, Riddhima embodied the collection's romantic narrative on the runway. Tara Sutaria in RoseRoom by Isha Jajodia Tara Sutaria closed Isha Jajodia's RoseRoom show in a look that was part couture, part sculpture. Her off-white organza lehenga skirt was paired with a hand-crafted 18K gold-plated corset that took four months to create. Embellished with pearls and enamel floral details, the corset drew inspiration from French baroque architecture. This ensemble was an ode to couture as poetry, where each element celebrated craftsmanship and timeless storytelling. Tamannaah Bhatia in Rahul Mishra Opening the couture week with finesse, Tamannaah Bhatia stunned in Rahul Mishra's ivory lehenga from his 'Becoming Love' collection. The look, named 'Giverny,' was hand-embroidered over 2400 hours and featured a delicate interplay of sequins, beads, crystals, and threads. Paired with a halter bralette and dupatta, the ensemble blended feminine elegance with extraordinary artisanal detail. Khushi Kapoor in Rimzim Dadu Khushi Kapoor brought a dramatic close to Rimzim Dadu's presentation, channeling strength and sculptural elegance in a futuristic ensemble. Inspired by the delicate links of traditional payals, the look was equal parts art and engineered couture. Her halter top, created using Dadu's pre-oxidised metal technique, shimmered with molten fabric-like ripples. The long skirt featured a chainmail effect reminiscent of antique Banjara jewellery.
Hans India
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Aaquib Wani on Designing Ritu Kumar's Couture Set: A Sacred World Between Memory and Imagination
Celebrating five decades of Ritu Kumar's legacy, Day 5 of Hyundai India Couture Week saw a showcase like no other. The designer's 'Threads of Time: Reimagined' collection came alive against an evocative and immersive backdrop envisioned by art director Aaquib Wani. Known for designing the Indian Cricket Team's jerseys, Wani collaborated closely with Amrish Kumar, Ritu Kumar's son and Managing Director of the brand, to create a space that was both deeply rooted and surreal. The result was a world that felt 'suspended between history and imagination,' Wani told. With towering Ayyanar terracotta horses and an enigmatic red neon script dubbed the RKumara Script, the set was a poetic contrast of cultural legacy and futuristic design. 'The vision was to create a space that felt like walking into a forgotten memory, part mythology and part invention,' said Wani. He described the concept as intentionally abstract, designed not to tell a literal story but to evoke timeless emotion. 'We weren't interested in a literal narrative. The idea was to evoke something timeless, something that felt sacred but also surreal.' Two main elements dominated the minimalist set—sculpted terracotta horses and a glowing red neon script that framed the stage. 'The horses were large, sculpted pieces inspired by Ayyanar traditions... made in a way that felt true to the craft but scaled up for the space,' Wani explained. Meanwhile, the R Kumara Script—built entirely in-house—served as an ethereal bridge between language and feeling. 'It doesn't ask to be read, it asks to be felt.' The fictional script, designed to be a fully functional digital typeface, added a speculative dimension to the stage. Wani emphasized, 'We weren't trying to communicate information, we were creating a feeling.' Creating this dreamlike visual world took nearly a month. The typeface required full character design and spatial adaptability, while the horses demanded the skills of seasoned artisans to retain a handmade authenticity despite their grand scale. Speaking on set decor's role in fashion showcases, Wani noted, 'It should support the story being told... a good set is one that expands the world the designer is creating. It's not background, it's context.' The partnership with Amrish Kumar made the process seamless and focused. 'There was a lot of clarity in what we were trying to say,' Wani said, highlighting the simplicity and strength behind the concept. The audience response was telling—visitors eagerly captured photos with the sculptural horses and script wall. 'When people want to hold on to a piece of the set, you know it is connected,' he added. With just two well-thought-out elements, Aaquib Wani succeeded in building a space that visually and emotionally echoed Ritu Kumar's quiet yet powerful couture narrative.
News18
30-07-2025
- Automotive
- News18
Aaquib Wani: A Good Set Is One That Expands The World The Designer Is Creating
Terracotta Horses, Red Neon Script: Aaquib Wani Tells The Story Behind Ritu Kumar's Set Design at Hyundai India Couture Week Ritu Kumar closed Day 5 of Hyundai India Couture Week, honouring five decades of the brand's legacy. Joining in the celebrations was art director Aaquib Wani, who worked closely with Ritu Kumar's son Amrish Kumar, to create a world surrounded by culture and imagination. The larger-than-life set design for the showcase played the perfect canvas for Ritu Kumar's Threads of Time: Reimagined collection. Aaquib Wani, the artist behind the iconic Indian Cricket Team jerseys, shares with News18 the vision for Ritu Kumar's set design, the story behind the Ayyanar terracotta horses and the fictional neon script on the backdrop and the importance of a good set that helps expand the world the fashion designer is creating. What was the vision for the set design for Ritu Kumar's showcase? The vision was to create a space that felt like walking into a forgotten memory, part mythology and part invention. We weren't interested in a literal narrative. The idea was to evoke something timeless, something that felt sacred but also surreal. The Ayyanar terracotta horses gave us that rooted cultural energy. To balance that, we created a fictional neon script that felt like a language from another time. We built the entire typeface in-house and called it the RKumara Script. We even turned it into a functional font that could be typed with, built to work like any other digital typeface once installed. Together, these elements helped us build a world that felt suspended between history and imagination. We used just two elements for the entire setup, the terracotta horses and the red neon script. The horses were large, sculpted pieces inspired by Ayyanar traditions, placed across the runway to create presence without blocking movement. They were made in a way that felt true to the craft but scaled up for the space. The backdrop was a long stretch of glowing red script we designed in-house. It ran clean across the background and framed the show without distracting from the clothes. The idea was to keep the setup minimal but strong enough to hold the energy of the collection. How long did it take to create the backdrop and the horses? Close to a month. Designing the typeface took time because it wasn't just calligraphy, it had to function as a full character set. The layout and scale had to work across the space while still feeling immersive and poetic. The horses took their own time. Sculpting at that size while still keeping the handmade quality intact meant we had to get the right artisans involved. What's the story behind the script and what do the words mean? The RKumara script didn't mean anything in a conventional sense. That was the point. We weren't trying to communicate information, we were creating a feeling. The script was designed to sit somewhere between memory and myth. It hints at language, at history, but it stays open-ended. It doesn't ask to be read, it asks to be felt. It became this silent thread connecting the past to a speculative future. Should the set decor stand out or blend in at a fashion showcase? It should support the story being told. Sometimes that means being bold, sometimes that means disappearing. But either way, it has to feel intentional. For me, a good set is one that expands the world the designer is creating. It's not background, it's context. In this case, the clothes had a quiet strength, and the set needed to hold that without overpowering it. So we created something that could exist in parallel, visually strong, but in sync. How was the experience working with Ritu Kumar for this showcase? We worked with Amrish Kumar, who is Ritu Kumar's son and now the Managing Director of the brand Ritu Kumar on this, and the collaboration was sharp and focused. He had the initial concept, and we built the visual world around it. There was a lot of clarity in what we were trying to say, no over-explaining, no dressing things up. The response was instant. After the show, people were taking photos with the horses and the glowing script wall. That kind of post-show engagement is rare and says a lot. When people want to hold on to a piece of the set, you know it is connected. About the Author Akshata Shetty Completing almost two decades in journalism, Akshata Shetty's journey from print to online journalism is a celebration of fashion, art and music. Akshata's fashion stories are about the people who celebrate More The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health, fashion, travel, food, and culture — with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Ritu Kumar: Couture celebrates Calcutta's charm
Fashion speaks the loudest when it becomes a bridge between the past and the present. At Hyundai India Couture Week 2025, in association with Reliance Brands, an initiative of FDCI, designer Ritu Kumar did exactly that. The collection felt close to Ritu Kumar's roots, inspired by her own memories and her love for Indian craft.(Raajessh Kashyap/HT) Her show, Threads of Time: Reimagined, opened to soft Bengali music and the set by design studio Aaquib Wani, evoking the nostalgic charm of a bygone Kolkata home. The background featured the Bengali alphabet in the shade of red and terracotta horses. The mood was gentle, nostalgic, and emotionally charged, merging seamlessly with the collection. The showcase drew from the designer's personal memories, her rich archive of prints, and an exploration of Indian craft. Traditional patterns were reimagined into sheer layers, velvet wraps, corseted blouses, crystal bodysuits, and sharply tailored jackets. Details like voluminous Barbie ponytails, muted makeup, and embroidered stockings added a dose of vintage glamour. A standout moment came when a model glided down the ramp with a dupatta draped as a handbag, blurring the line between accessory and garment. Each look felt deeply rooted in craft, yet shaped by a distinctly modern sensibility. The silhouettes were romantic yet assertive; the embellishments rich, but never overpowering. This was bridal and festive wear for women who look for meaning in what they wear, not just beauty. Also, actor Bhumi Pednekar walked as the showstopper for the showcase, wearing an ivory lehenga with a sheer corset blouse and a long veil.
New Indian Express
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Bhumi Pednekar turns showstopper for veteran fashion designer Ritu Kumar at India Couture Week
NEW DELHI: Veteran designer Ritu Kumar showcased her latest collection, Threads of Time: Reimagined, at the ongoing India Couture Week, with actor Bhumi Pednekar gracing the ramp as her showstopper. At 80, Kumar remains a formidable force in Indian fashion, known for championing traditional Indian craftsmanship through her signature designs. Speaking at a post-show press conference, she remarked, 'Today, we are a really strong contender for the world of fashion and crafts. In most other countries, this is limited to a museum; here we are celebrating the living craftsmanship.' Threads of Time: Reimagined blended bridal and Indian wear with fusion silhouettes, showcasing a balance between timeless tradition and modern versatility. The collection stood out for its intricate gold embroidery, a hallmark of Kumar's aesthetic, adorning a range of garments — from contemporary cuts to loose, comfortable silhouettes. A rich palette dominated the runway, led by bridal reds, and expanded into hues commonly found in Indian wardrobes such as fuchsia, baby blue, yellow, and mauve. Accessories were kept minimal, allowing the garments and embroidery to speak for themselves. The musical curation matched the theme of heritage meets modernity. From the soul-stirring Aik Alif by Saeen Zahoor to upbeat tracks like Beat Goes On and Christine, the soundtrack created a striking contrast that reflected the spirit of the collection. Pednekar made a statement as she walked the ramp to the haunting sufi classic Chhap Tilak Sab Chhini Re, dressed in a gold embroidered lehenga. Styled with emerald studs, bold lipstick, and a trailing cape in place of a traditional dupatta, the look offered a fresh take on the modern Indian bride.
