It is fitting that Indian designer Rahul Mishra's latest Paris haute couture collection attempts to encapsulate the entire universe for a man with seemingly infinite creative ambitions. The debut of "Cosmos" at Fashion Week on Monday became the latest showcase for one of Asia's leading stylists, whose works have been worn by Michelle Yeoh, Viola Davis, and other top film stars.
The series was a fantastical depiction of an underwater kingdom that explored the concept of our place in the universe.
Mishra returned to Paris Haute Couture Week on Monday with a glitteringly surreal womenswear collection, which the designer detailed on Instagram. Mishra told APF news agency ahead of the show that the collection explored the concept of the cosmos and humanity's place within it. Mishra imagined an underwater city, complete with 3D embellished fish attached to gowns and swirling galaxies constructed from delicate beadwork, by ruminating on how a drop of water can encapsulate the entire cosmos.
The collection featured a lot of beadwork, such as dramatic beaded fringing, glittering panels, and ornate renderings of flora and fauna. Floor-length gowns used wing-style shoulder pads and scale-like leaves to play with proportions. The collection's overall aesthetic was ethereal and fantasy-filled.
The runway show was by invitation only, but it was livestreamed on the website of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode. Paris Haute Couture Week occurs twice a year and features a roster of exhibiting designers as well as inviting various designers from around the world to showcase as guests each season.
"Obviously, the cosmos is very, very vast, and the first thing that came to mind was going interstellar," Mishra explained to Vogue about the collection's inspiration. "But what I really wanted to do was look down below at the seas."
The theme is ideal for a designer who combines as many materials, textures, and patterns as the laws of physics allow.
Mishra's preoccupation with the natural world is reflected in the collection's more extravagant pieces, which include a sequined gown with translucent veils inspired by the pulsing movements of a jellyfish.
Other striking pieces include elegant embroidery of pink-tinged leaves, golden ladybird brooches, and frilly bustiers with blue sequins and marine life motifs to evoke the depths of the ocean.
(With Inputs From Agencies)