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Indian Express
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Isha Ambani wears Roberto Cavalli gown ‘handmade over months using classic Bandhani'; netizens say ‘a true celebration of Indian artistry meeting Italian drama'
Isha Ambani's wardrobe is an eclectic mix of Indian and Western couture, paying homage to the rich heritage and talent of both sides of the world. Whether it's her family's wedding celebrations or the iconic steps of the Met Gala, Isha never misses a chance to shine a special spotlight on Indian artisans and craftsmanship. Last night, Anaita Shroff Adajania took to Instagram to share the stunning results of her latest collaboration with Italian couturier Roberto Cavalli — a custom pink Bandhani gown, inspired by a 2012 project. Sharing insights into this collaboration, the stylist wrote: 'A really special collaboration with Roberto Cavalli creating a couture gown for Isha that elegantly fused Indian craftsmanship with Italian couture. Handmade over months using classic Bandhani traditionally from Kutch, crafted by local artisans.' Designed by Fausto Puglisi, the look drew inspiration from Cavalli's 2012 collaboration with Vogue India for Project Renaissance – a 'very special' piece of work for Adajania. Inspired by the original design, which featured a halter-neck fishtail gown in maroon with golden brocade embroidery panels stitched along the expanse of the fabric, Isha's hot pink ensemble featured similar golden embroidery. For accessories, she chose pink and white diamond-shaped earrings, dainty finger rings, and a sleek wrist charm, and kept her hair loose and voluminous. A wash of soft pink on her lips and eyes, and rosy blush accentuated her look. 'Assigning Indian textiles to global fashion houses and asking them to reimagine tradition? Genius,' digital creator and fashion critic Diet Sabya wrote on their Instagram. 'When Anaita Shroff Adajania recreates one of those iconic looks today, it's not just a throwback but a love letter to a moment in time (pre-Instagram) when magazines and publishing reigned supreme and the fashion editorial was gospel. Before content became 'content,' before stylists had to chase engagement metrics, and before the AI-fication of design-at-large.' Netizens, too, were highly impressed with many of them responding with comments like: 'Stunning,' 'Epic,' 'What a spectacular fusion of heritage and haute couture. The Bandhani detailing adds such soul to the silhouette, a true celebration of Indian artistry meeting Italian drama. Loved seeing Cavalli's legacy reimagined with such depth and meaning. Bravo, @anaitashroffadajania ,' and 'Absolutely beautiful ❤️❤️.' Isha Ambani's love for Bandhani is nothing new, though. For her brother's wedding celebrations last year, she wore a custom Arpita Mehta tier ruffle Bandhani sari with signature mirror, thread, and cut danna hand embroidery to craft motifs. Kolkata-based Naina Jain, the creator of #EvergreenBandhanis, provided us with a glimpse into the traditional art of Bandhani, a piece of history, culture, and storytelling with deep roots in Rajasthan and Gujarat. 'Bandhani is the hand-tying process of fabric into a desired pattern, where each small portion is picked minutely and tied using cotton thread,' said Naina. These knots are the foundation of bandhani's intricate beauty, each symbolising life events like birth, marriage, and celebration. Artisans from remote Kutch villages are the true craft masters, tying each knot with precision to ensure uniformity and symmetry. This labour-intensive craft can take days, weeks, or even months to complete. Unlike mass-produced fabrics, true bandhani is all about the slight imperfections. 'In real bandhani, no two dots are exactly alike. That's the mark of a hand-crafted piece,' said Jain. The slight irregularities, the dots that don't quite align, and the patterns that seem to dance across the fabric are what give authentic bandhani its charm.
News18
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Isha Ambani Champions Indian Craftsmanship in a Stunning Bandhani Gown by Roberto Cavalli
Last Updated: Isha Ambani stuns in custom Roberto Cavalli Gown featuring handcrafted Bandhani Every time Indian craftsmanship intersects with international couture, the result is nothing short of magical—and Isha Ambani is the most dazzling example of this fusion. Known for her impeccable taste and sartorial flair, the business heiress never fails to impress with her style choices. Her latest appearance in a custom-made gown by Italian luxury fashion house Roberto Cavalli was a true celebration of cultural elegance and contemporary design. For those who may not know, Isha Ambani has long been a champion of Indian textiles and traditional artistry on the world stage. Her newest ensemble is a testament to that legacy. This unique creation, designed by Fausto Puglisi, Creative Director at Roberto Cavalli, was handcrafted over several months and featured the age-old Bandhani dyeing technique, which hails from the Kutch region of Gujarat. Crafted meticulously by skilled Indian artisans, the fabric brought an authentic, artisanal soul to the high-fashion silhouette—perfectly fusing heritage with high-end drama. According to celebrity stylist Anaita Shroff, the look also subtly referenced Cavalli's iconic 2012 collaboration with Vogue India for Project Renaissance, which spotlighted Indian crafts through a luxury lens. It's clear that this historic moment helped shape the creative direction of Isha's gown. Statement Jewels and Finishing Touches Of course, no Ambani ensemble is complete without head-turning jewellery. Isha paired her vibrant gown with a striking pair of earrings by Hanut Singh, adorned with Noblesse Pink Sapphires, Emeralds, Diamonds, and delicate Enamel work. A few elegantly chosen rings added just the right amount of sparkle, letting the vivid craftsmanship of the gown remain center stage. This appearance is yet another powerful example of Isha's evolving style—where global luxury meets the soul of India. Once again, she shows us how tradition and modernity don't just coexist—they can be absolutely iconic together. What did you think of this unforgettable blend of desi elegance and global couture? view comments First Published: July 22, 2025, 09:58 IST 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.
News18
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Vicky Kaushal Gets Cozy With Katrina Kaif, Kisses Her On Birthday: 'I Love You'
Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal tied the knot in December 2021. The two have always been vocal about their love for each other in public. Katrina Kaif is celebrating her 42nd birthday on Wednesday, July 16. On this special day, her actor husband, Vicky Kaushal, took to his Instagram handle and shared a few unseen pictures of themselves. In the first picture that Vicky dropped, Katrina was seen making a cute face. Another picture featured the couple getting cozy as Vicky also planted a kiss on Katrina's cheek. Vicky and Katrina were also seen spending quality time together in one of the photos, which looked like from one of their vacations. The last picture that Vicky dropped featured Katrina walking on a beach in a white oversized shirt. Along with the post, Vicky expressed his love for Katrina and wrote in the caption, 'Hello Birthday Girl! I ❤️ U." Check it out here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vicky Kaushal (@vickykaushal09) Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal tied the knot in December 2021. The two have always been vocal about their love for each other in public. Previously, in an interview with Vogue India, Katrina spoke about Vicky's unwavering love and appreciation. On being asked how important fitness is when it comes to self-care, she said, 'I feel better about myself physically and mentally when I'm fit. No one but I can make myself feel better, except for my husband sometimes. He gives me a lot of love and appreciation. I think that's an important aspect of learning—to accept or understand unconditional love." In December 2024, Katrina revealed how Vicky encourages her to take a break from work, saying, 'Even now my husband asks me to put down the phone, and I want to send just one more email." When asked her about being pitted against her husband, Vicky Kaushal, in an action film, Katrina excitedly said, 'It will be interesting to pair with him. I always say that it will be very exciting to do something with him on screen." First Published: July 16, 2025, 15:04 IST 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.
Indian Express
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Designer Rahul Mishra, artist Gustav Klimt, and a long tradition of art inspiring fashion
Over the last week, several posts featuring the works of Indian fashion designer Rahul Mishra at the Paris Haute Couture Week have amassed thousands of views and likes on social media. This has happened even as high fashion is not always considered accessible to wider audiences. It's not available to purchase on a mass scale, and the designs themselves are often more conceptual than practical. Once in a while, however, runway designs evoke popular interest and agreement on their quality and beauty. In Mishra's case, it was not only the glittery dresses in gold and yellow hues or the floral themes that stood out, but the inspiration he took from the paintings of celebrated 19th-century Austrian artist Gustav Klimt. The extraordinary PAINTINGS of Gustav Klimt referenced by ✨Rahul Mishra✨ in his Fall/Winter 2025 Couture collection.🪡 — La Mode Unknown (@LaModeUnknown) July 7, 2025 Fashion has long taken inspiration from the world of art, and there are reasons why the collaborations work, even as they generate debates and disagreements about the nature of art itself. At a surface level, there are obvious similarities in the realms of art and fashion. Designers begin their work by drawing sketches as the prototype for clothes, and depictions of fashion and clothing are often central to paintings. American fashion historian Valerie Steele wrote in the anthology book Fashion and Art (2012), 'Both fashion and art are aspects of visual culture, involving form, color, and texture… Like art, fashion can be technically and conceptually rich.' Mishra also noted this commonality, telling Vogue India in an interview, 'I kept coming back to this quote by Monet. He said, 'Everyone's trying to paint a bridge, a flower, a tree, a river, but I'm trying to paint the air—the space where the boat, the hut, the bridge and the woman exist.' And I felt like that's what I was doing, creating air, because how do you turn an emotion into something real? Into fabric, into form, into something wearable? The task was to capture emotion'. In discussions on these connections, mentions of the iconic French designer Yves Saint Laurent frequently appear. He once called himself a 'failed painter', having often taken inspiration from his favourite works of art. The most well-known of these was the Mondrian dress, featuring blocks of white, red, yellow and blue, almost lifting artist Piet Mondrian's abstract paintings from the canvas and directly placing them on cloth. An article on the website of New York's Met Museum says, 'The purity of Mondrian's simple lines and color blocks resonated deeply with Saint Laurent, inspiring him to create a collection of twenty-six designs… With strategic darts and seams, he transformed abstract paintings into three-dimensional cocktail dresses that maintained geometric alignment on the body.' The article argued that not only did it popularise Mondrian's works within the cultural elite, but the designer's ready-to-wear line made the artist more accessible to a wider clientele. It also birthed inexpensive copies. 'Whether or not it was his intention, Saint Laurent expanded the reach of artworks beyond the confines of museum walls and into human lives. At the very least, he challenged perceptions by demonstrating that women, irrespective of their race or class, deserved to wear works of art,' it said. Saint Laurent also based shirts and jackets on the works of Vincent Van Gogh and Pablo Picasso. In Mishra's case, using Klimt as a source is, in a way, coming full circle. The Austrian painter is renowned for his detailed paintings that often captured women, with some featuring and inspired by his long-time partner, designer Emilie Floge. Portrait of Emilie Flöge (1902) shows her in a dark, loose blue dress. This was inspired by Floge's designs, which rejected the tight corsets of that era. Where the two diverge Not everyone agreed that the two worlds should be equated. 'A dress is neither a tragedy, nor a painting,' said French designer Coco Chanel, 'It is a charming and ephemeral creation, not an everlasting work of art. Fashion should die and die quickly, in order that commerce may survive'. Chanel was known for her infusion of practicality into luxurious clothing, such as suits for women. On the other hand, her contemporary, Italian designer Elsa Schiaparelli, was known for incorporating unusual motifs and styles. She was friends with surrealist artists such as Salvador Dali, even collaborating with him. Chanel once called her 'that Italian artist who makes clothes'. Steele also noted some 'undeniable differences' in the two fields, such as that fashion has an 'obvious utility' which paintings do not. When it comes to high-end artists, a work of art may still be many times more expensive than a luxury handbag or a pair of shoes. 'Moreover, whereas the price of a work of art can escalate dramatically over time, the value of fashion almost always declines after it ceases to be new and only sometimes regains value as collectable vintage,' Steele wrote. That is not to say that fashion doesn't occasionally aspire for longevity beyond mass consumption. The introduction of the book Fashion and Art says, 'Couture, which began in 1850s with (designer) Charles Frederick Worth is a key place to start speculating on the art-fashion nexus. It is when garments start to assume the status of substantive, sculptural objects, which just happen to have the human support to activate them.' Couture began in France at a time when luxury was seeing a revival, and when the royals gave their patronage for the production of goods created by hand, for an exclusive clientele. Mishra's collection was also part of haute couture. Scope for harmony Steeler wrote that today, collaborations between the two forms' artists can 'legitimate the fashion companies' cultural credentials, while also creating buzz and sales. They are undoubtedly useful for the artist also, but primarily in financial terms.' Which raises the question of whether fashion belongs in the rarefied and exalted world of 'art', and if it can be deemed as such. The debate about what comprises art is an old one, and is often seen as being exclusive of newer, more accessible forms of culture. On the other hand, calling everything equally significant can seem ultimately devaluing all forms of art. Saint Laurent was clear about his position. The Met's article says, 'He never likened himself to Van Gogh or Picasso through his interpretation of their works. He was a student of culture and an avid art collector… He emphasized that his homages were the result of a profound admiration of the art form: 'I didn't copy them—who would venture to do that? I wanted to weave connections between the painting and the clothing.'' Rishika Singh is a Senior sub-editor at the Explained Desk of The Indian Express. She enjoys writing on issues related to international relations, and in particular, likes to follow analyses of news from China. Additionally, she writes on developments related to politics and culture in India. ... Read More
India Today
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Rahul Mishra blends sufism, art and Indian heritage for Paris couture show
The show opened with a model strutting down the ramp in a gleaming golden heart-shaped dress, a gilded and flamboyant creation adorned with 3D accents. More than 30 looks later, another model closed the show in a similarly styled heart-shaped dress, this time in a striking along with the 30-plus looks in between, marked Indian fashion designer Rahul Mishra's couture interpretation of the seven stages of love as he showcased the collection at Paris Haute Couture Week on July 7. Rahul Mishra 'Becoming Love' showcase started with this golden heart dress. (Photo: Instagram/RahulMishra_7) advertisementThe master couturier, now a global fashion sensation, brought to life the Sufi concept of the seven stages of love: attraction, infatuation, surrender, reverence, devotion, obsession and finally, death, through his dreamy sartorial creations. At the heart of his fourth collection showcase at Paris Haute Couture Week was the celebrated work of artist Gustav Klimt. Mishra has always been moved by the late legendary Austrian painter's work – the way he painted women, the tenderness and the mishra fw25 couture inspired by gustav klimt's paintings (@badestoutfit) July 9, 2025'What struck me most was how rarely his subjects looked directly out of the canvas. Their eyes were often closed or averted, as if they were lost in another world. I've admired Klimt for years, but interestingly, I'd never consciously translated his influence into any of my work until now,' Mishra told Vogue India ahead of the designer rendered signature motifs from Klimt's works on several outfits using traditional techniques such as zardozi, threadwork, and dabka. It took over 2,000 artisans to work on the opening look, a golden heart dress, represented the attraction emotion with evocative details like prominent veins shining through – a reflection of how the heart starts beating faster when someone feels attracted to someone. A heavily sequinned corset with sculptural 3D red roses bursting out of it was also part of the emotion up, Mishra showed infatuation, the second stage of love, using dresses featuring a burst of flowers juxtaposed in a random form. Rapper Cardi B dressed in a Rahul Mishra creation for the show. Surrender, the third stage of love, turned the palette minimal yet deeply emotional. In this stage of love, 'one is both exposed and protected,' says Mishra in an Instagram video. He conveyed this message using the transparency of organza festooned with pearls, and white and golden sequin. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rahul Mishra (@rahulmishra_7)Mishra's take on reverence drew heavy inspiration from Gustav Klimt, putting forth dramatic and heavily glitzy pieces in black. Next up, devotion took centre stage through ivory and golden ensembles, with the lotus used as the symbol of the emotion. From Rahul Mishra's Paris Haute Couture Week show. The show came full circle with black pieces – some of them boasting the same silhouettes that featured in shades of red at the beginning of the of love aside, Mishra's variety of silhouettes was also noteworthy. From elaborate red carpet gowns to high-fashion yet practical numbers such as corsets, pants, blazers and slip dresses – the Becoming Love collection featured it also stole the show was the headgear, dramatically complementing Rahul Mishra's art-like sartorial creations. The equally dreamy headgear was courtesy of legendary milliner Stephen Jones. Mishra collaborated with him for the first time. Jones was Princess Diana's milliner and has also designed headgear for couture brands such as Thom Browne and Dior.- EndsTrending Reel
