Ashima-Leenas ICW line Nazm-e-Mahal brings back glamour of the palaces of Rajasthan with stunning pieces from Archana Aggarwal jewellery
By Asmita Aggarwal
What is the story behind the ICW 2021 collection?
The story behind ICW 2021 is about a day in Maharani’s palace life, hence the title of the film Nazm-e-Mahal. I thought in this direction as AL is a classic brand and has been working with artisans and weavers for the last three decades. It has been crafting its couture collection season-after-season, reflecting the heritage of India in the purest form of fashion. AL has a rich legacy of design derived from the royalty of the palaces, therefore this direction comes naturally to our brand.
Where was the film shot?
We shot the film at Bikaner house, New Delhi. This place was perfect for the script which I curated, and yes, there were many challenges which I faced as it is a property of the Rajasthan government, but honestly it was a great pleasure working with the management and the shoot went off smoothly. At my end, I organized everything with immaculate detailing so the outcome of the challenges I met turned out great.
How have you adapted to the digital medium?
It is really not tough to narrate your story in a five-minute film, it requires authenticity and focus from the brand. It needs your own thought process you want to convey to your clients.
What makes this a special ICW line?
The most interesting part of the story is the collection of antique brocade saris procured from the wardrobes of Maharanis from the palaces of Rajasthan and then restored by my weavers with the warp and weft in real gold and silver. The magic created by restoration techniques is truly amazing.
The colours of these saris are subdued pastels in light turquoise, peach and pink with one bright sari in purple thrown in for creating that magical effect. The collection is royal and rich with emphasis mainly on textiles and on the art of textile crafting, which is a signature style of AL.
