When you say couture, what comes to your mind? High fashion, new conceptualisation, new ideas, a restoration and evolution of Fashion in the most primal pedestrian form of creation. In this case, we are witnessing life itself, growing inwards towards outwards to a memory within.
Amit Aggarwal’s latest couture collection was nothing short of a surprise and anticipation. With the eccentric amalgamation of shapes, lines and a reimagination of transformation. Amit Aggarwal has redefined couture in the Indian Fashion Industry.
Amit Aggarwal, an Indian couturier who can never be constrained to the conventional Indian fashion parameters. In India, for many years, designers have chosen textile surface embellishment ornamentation as the main inspiring driving force, continuing the traditional legacy, which is undoubtedly our strength, but happens when the creators restrict themselves to certain categories of ensemble with little to no experiments or innovations.
Amit Aggarwal, for one, does not stand in the line; his work and collection demand attention. His work flourishes, bringing his futuristic metaphysical, spiritual and scientific aesthetic in his collection.
In his latest couture collection, Arcanum Aggrawal decoded the 5 stages of Genes. Origin, Bloom, Pulse, Mutation and Memory. The show commenced with an early ensemble appearing as if bound in the mother womb, like a cocoon, such as a planted seedling ready to evolve. It involved curves and lines like structures growing inwards, telling the story of the human genealogy through the centuries.
Then the cocoon grows from a baby seedling to voluminous ensembles, extending and elongating in fluid-like silhouettes in nylon and shiny polymer material. Here, the gene is strengthening and enlarging in various shapes, taking form in mysterious silhouettes.
On the third stage, silhouettes blossom. A shift giving way to crystal, shiny pleats and sculpted figures. Its breathing tale opens into a galaxy atmosphere, giving a robotic Sci-fi effect.
From there, it transcends to running veins and pumping pulses, bringing it alive with every motion, a spectacular experience. Then at last it takes the form of memory into this traditional craft called ikat, an age-old dyeing technique involving dyeing the yarn before weaving.
In his own words, Aggarwal stated, “Cultural memory, for me, is the soul of modern couture. In the final act of ARCANUM, memory, Ikat becomes a vessel for that idea. Ikat is not just a textile,”
Arcanum spoke the language of human emotions and legacy with every look, coming to fruition, transforming as a living, breathing entity. It was neither a memory nor a future; it conveyed and delivered a story of human existence. That is transformation, change, and growth. Reset is the only constant. Aggarwal describes Ikat not as a memory but a legacy which lives on and evolves with time.
Fashion demands change, innovation, and a sense of shock. And few designers are daring enough to open that realm for the world to see. Other Indian designers must take notes. I don’t need these designers to create collections that we have already seen on the runway before. When I say I want to see more innovations, I mean experimental surface ornamentation silhouettes and discovering new textural nuances. I want to be shocked and in awe of your creativity.
Amit Aggarwal undeniably raised the bar for other Indian designers and couture. Others are still following the same hackneyed concepts of Indian couture. Aggarwal gifted us with an uncustomary decadence of a show. His collection was an eye-opener, speaking for his visions and aspirations for the collection, who didn’t need a “Bollywood Celebrity” who could have disrupted his show with their awkward walks and bizarre expressions.
Amit Aggarwal has opened the door for many young aspiring designers who will look up to him and not shy away from the self-image and pushing boundaries in the Fashion world, that’s what the industry is all about.
What are your thoughts about Amit Aggarwal’s latest Couture collection? Do you think Indian designers should push themself more from the standard Indian design Parameters? What changes do you want to see in the Indian Fashion Industry?
Please let me know your opinions in the comments section below!