Bollywood actress and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan returned to the ramp after five years with friend Manish Malhotra’s collection The Empress Story, showcased at the closing of the Amazon India Couture Week 2015 in New Delhi.
With the collection, Malhotra celebrated 25 years in the industry and 10 years of his label. The Empress Story was also a preview to the Manish Malhotra London label, his newly launched limited edition pieces, and a men’s wear capsule, and announced the opening of two signature stores in Dubai and in London.
The collection, a tribute to a self-confident and spirited woman, saw models dressed in western gowns with voluminous skirts, yet with an Indian touch in their gold embellishments. Malhotra accessorised each garment with chunky gold jewellery by Dedhia Jewellers and golden masks. Mostly in silk and velvet, the colours ranged from silver and gold to deep burgundy and delicate mauve in raw silk to grey and coffee brown, which showstopper Rai Bachchan walked the ramp in, despite running a high fever.
Keeping her makeup and style simple, the former Miss World allowed the garment to take centre stage, despite the fact that she was returning to the world of fashion after five years.
“It’s always a pleasure to wear [Manish’s] clothes but his visual presentation is a treat. His success story is a statement itself. You can imagine 25 years today and 10 years to his label. People across borders have enjoyed his work. They’ve touched our culture through our cinema,” said Rai Bachchan. “I had to be here. Manish is a very, very special person. As a professional I’m sure you all know him but to me it’s more personal. I’ve known Manish right from the beginning, since 1993. We started out there and he pursued his passion for movies — he’s an encyclopaedia — but that apart his absolute passion for giving direction to his creativity, he has this wonderful vision”.
Three-dimensional embroidery in the shape of huge flowers and bird motifs in delicate threadwork covered the dresses. For men, the embroidery and gold sequin work continued in the structured jackets and trousers in midnight blue and black. The gold embroidered matching shoes marked Malhotra’s entry into accessories.
“2015 marks an important milestone as the Manish Malhotra label celebrates 10 years and 25 years a costume director,” the designer said in a post-event written statement, preferring to give the stage to Rai Bachchan after the show. “The Empress Story is a special collection as it not only ends the beautiful decade that was, but also represents the beginning of a new phase for the brand. It captures the excitement and thrill of taking the next step, while taking pride in its foundations. With it I return to my love for timeless aesthetics and structure along with fine craftsmanship that has taken months to translate onto fabric. All the elements in the collection do speak a common, universal language of elegance and elan. Much like the power of femininity, these will never go out of style.”
The closing event of the Amazon India Couture Week at The Leela Palace Hotel was well attended, including Rai Bachchan’s mother-in-law, veteran actress Jaya Bachchan, Shabana Azmi. Heropanti actress and Monisha Jaising’s showstopper Kriti Sanon too was in the front row with actress Aditi Rao Hydari and Sophie Choudhary.
