BACKSTAGE OF RAHUL MISHRA CAPTURED BY MAËVA DRUART

This collection was a testament to many things: our planet, humanity, environmental concerns, but most importantly, to Rahul Mishra as an artist and designer. It merged themes of grief and despair with a hopeful vision for our future and planet. The Pale Blue Dot was inspired by Carl Sagan and deeply influenced by environmental issues as well as the illness and recent passing of the designer’s father.

The runway was a beautiful homage, and Mishra pushed his couture craftsmanship to new heights. Dystopian cityscapes draped over the gowns, and 3D ravens hovered around them. A variety of veils added depth to the narrative and the silhouettes brought the drama. Besides gowns, the runway showed elegant tight body-suits, short dresses and capes with a focus on dimension and shoulder accentuation. We watched intricate hand-embroidery, the use of glass and metal, and stunning 3D elements walk down the runway. This visual poem evolved from beautiful yet dystopian black gowns to shimmering, radiant gold designs. This collection was a stunning gradual journey toward hope.