‘Ruhaaniyat' at India Couture Week

2020
Ace Celebrity Fashion Designer Manish Malhotra's latest couture collection is a sartorial story
weaved with Mughal and Persian inspirations.

Read this piece to dive into his ensemble details.

Manish Malhotra’s couture collection marked the grand finale of a six day show that celebrated
creativity and couture and weaved the gold and silver linings into a majestic virtual event.

Marrying heritage craftsmanship with cinematic glamour, Manish writes a sartorial story adorned by
the vibrancy of Punjab and dressed with the nazaakat of Awadh. As his fashion film begins, the
audience take a walk through the cultural corridors of their heritage. The prayer of Zulfiqar adds a
rhythm and a story to the film with the music and heartfelt and melodious voice of Abi Sampa and
Rushil Ranjan.

The Fall Bridal 2020 Couture Collection comprised of heavy shawls and angrakha for men in pure and
cotton muslins, velvets, mashru, and silks. It consisted of izar salwars, ghararas, khada dupattas,
kalidar kurtas for jama and women.

Ruhaaniyat gets a vintage look due to the use of rare archival fabrics of the Mughal Period by the
designer.

Malhotra’s Ruhaaniyat also consisted of prominent zari-woven borders in original gold and silver. For
aesthetic continuity and royalty, the fabrics are hand quilted and hand basted.

The color palette for Ruhaaniyat included maroon, grey, dusky pink, pistachio green, and teal to
match the hues of natural dyeing. Intricate layering, embroidery, and silhouettes provided a perfect
sense of Mughal style to the ensembles.

Manish's bridal line revives the purist workmanship of indigenous artisans and craftsmen, breaking
away from the aesthetics of fast-fashion couture. It draws inspiration from the most enduring facets
of Mughal living and beckons the intrinsic beauty of old-age techniques and crafts. It manifests art
on art, with Mughal architecture and art- vintage costumes, museums, jewellery, paintings, palaces,
and gardens as the first line of inspiration for the couture collection.

Takeaway Tip- 2020 also marks Malhotra’s 30th year in the celebrity costume designing and
unrivalled celebrity patronage.

Janhvi Kapoor was Manish's muse this season of ICW who dons a voluminous train lehenga with a
sheer veil and intricate embroidery.