French footwear designer Christian Louboutin’s red soles added high-end spunk to Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee’s opening-night show at Amazon India Fashion Week 2015 in New Delhi on Wednesday, July 30.
“This is the first time that I am at any couture show in India and if this is what it is, then it is absolutely perfect. It is extremely civilised,” Louboutin told reporters after the show. “Believe me, it’s not exactly the same what is in my country.”
Louboutin said he was in awe of Mukherjee’s presentation.
“I know his work, but I have never attended his show. His latest collection is simply fantastic. To me, it was a great experience because I have barely attended any show in India. It was absolutely worth it to be here and see such magnificence,” said the 52-year-old, who was spotted in the front row alongside Indian celebrities.
Louboutin, whose clients include Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Sarah Jessica Parker, said he always works with people with whom he connects really well.
“He was in my Mumbai store and then we started talking about Kolkata. From there on, we became friends and that’s how our collaboration happened. I can only work with people with whom I can have a personal bond, and he is one of them,” said the designer, adding that he is open to future collaborations.
“We have already started to talk. He said that lot of things are possible in India and I will try to be at his level to make things possible and work accordingly,” said Louboutin.
Bater by Mukherjee
Titled Bater, an Indian bird of prey, Mukherjee’s collection was gothic, from the colours to the cuts, and was shown against the dramatic backdrop of an abandoned mansion in a forest, complete with a nature soundtrack and fireflies.
“Though it is a common bird, it has a lot of resilience and I wanted to bring out a collection which is inspired by hunting birds and prey. I wanted to keep it dark, gothic and sexual but with very fine and intricate embroidery,” said Mukherjee.
The collection was staggering in its range: female models walked out in saris draped over jackets, short dresses, skirts and capes, while the men showed off bandhgalas teamed with shawls, sherwanis and Nehru jackets. Nearly every outfit featured traditional Indian embroidery.
“We used a lot of hand embroideries from different parts [of India]. There was zardozi, badla ka kaam, fine resham ka kaam, Parsi, interpreted through symmetry and geometry. From us, it was a kind of new expression,” the designer added.
• Amazon India Couture Week runs until Sunday, August 2
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