His humble and affable demeanour belie the talent house and creative genius he is renowned for; meet Rahul Mishra, designer of the moment.
There can be no such thing as too many accolades and yet Rahul Mishra wears his success with humility. He is the first Indian designer to win the prestigious International Woolmark Prize, and his list of achievements includes a Paris Fashion Week show, Business of Fashion top 500 global influencers list in 2014, winner of the Condé Nast Traveller Excellence Awards for placing the spotlight on India and 50 most influential Young Indians by GQ India. He makes his much awaited couture week debut with the Tree of Life collection at AICW.
- Ingenious Rahul Mishra has taken less than a decade in the making. How tough has it been and can you share with us the highlights of your career
It’s been almost a decade since I finished my education in Milan and came back to launch my brand in 2008. Although I did my first show in 2006, I was still studying till 2009. I have always believed in creating fashion which is production friendly and at the same time wearer friendly. The highlights of my career are the prestigious international Woolmark Prize for 2014, showcase in Paris Fashion Week and retailing across top Luxury Stores in the world. Seven years into the business the label has been amongst the fastest selling brands at stores like Colette (Paris), Harvey Nichols (London) and David Jones (Australia).
- After your presentation at Paris Fashion Week last season, how does it feel to be the youngest global face of Indian fashion?
After winning the International Woolmark Prize there was tremendous international pressure and expectations were high. Both shows in Paris and one at Milan Fashion week have got great feedback and recognition. I am very satisfied with the result and appreciate how people loved and received our collection. It was a high to be showcased amongst the best brands and in the best stores in world. But with all this going on, unfortunately I have been missing from the India fashion scene. There is a great buzz back home and a great deal of excitement here which I love; meeting friends and family, hearing their views makes it all worth it.
- Tell us a little bit about your couture collection and what are the key elements and motifs you have introduced
The Tree of life collections is rich with motifs inspired by trees- a life giving force, that takes center stage in my collection. The motifs of birds and flowers also act as inspiration. This collection depends heavily on traditional textiles like Maheshwari and Benarasi fabrics. There is also silk organza, new age knit textiles and a bit of felt fabric, to create a new look. This mix of textiles with a strong influence of hand embroidery, comes from a programme started by us to encourage and support the reverse migration of craftsman from the slums of Mumbai back to their hometown and villages. Today they do some great embroidery for us which has been showcased at Paris and has helped me win the Woolmark Prize. The collection is a result of this, as I believe quality craftsmanship can only be achieved if the artisan lives a happy life in his hometown with his family.
- So far you have been a ready to wear expert, how different is the creative process for a couture show.
I really feel that the lines between couture and ready-to-wear kind of blur, depending on the way we work. If you see my Paris Fashion Week collection it has a lot of handmade and hand work; the quality even in terms of handloom fabric qualifies to couture standards, so I see no difference in the process. In terms of my design philosophy I didnt have to change a lot or do a great deal of translation.
- Your quintessential style seamlessly blends Indian fabrics with modern technique and Western sensibility. Creating an ensemble keeping the three in mind is no easy affair?
The collection is a lot more evolved and as a designer I grow with my work every day. The silhouettes are studied and have reached the level where they are now very global and Indian at the same time. A great reflection of my outings at PFW is visible in this collection and the process of making this line has been a very exciting one.
- How do you feel about your debut at the Amazon India Couture Week and your first couture show?
Being a part of India couture week is very exciting, at least we are now officially part of the calendar. There is no other platform bigger or better than Amazon India Couture week and I hope we can live up to the expectations. Essentially the future of fashion in terms retail, user experience and how fashion will be consumed is reflected in Amazon coming together with India Couture Week. This is a milestone in Indian fashion because something that is considered to be fast fashion, when that partners with couture, it turns the industry around. Even luxury consumption has great potential, and I feel this collaboration is way ahead of its time
