Lakme Fashion Week 2018: Rajkummar Rao Turns Showstopper For Rajesh Pratap Singh

Collaborating for the second season with Rajesh Pratap Singh debuted his Indian, ethnic, style collection 'Welcome to the Jungle' at the Lakme Fashion Week 2018. The collection combined the ecological Tencel with Indian crafts such as Chanderi, Banarasi, Jamdaani, hand block prints and more. The collection revealed a contemporary twist to the Indian interpretation for Tencel weaves. The result was a rare sustainable fashion collection that presented innovations on a global level with green fibres and artisanal textiles.

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The setting of the show was just perfect as the venue was transformed into a jungle with a backdrop of wild foliage and animals. The ramp was divided with a partition and the show opened with strains of music by Hari and Sukhmani who perfectly complemented the collection with their modern folk style of music. With creative animated visuals playing on the central spine and backdrop, the show was a veritable feast for the senses. Opening the display was one of Bollywood’s finest actors, Rajkummar Rao in a stately, off-white, trendy modern take on the sherwani, kurta, and churidar.

The segment with animal prints were interpretations of various artworks and designs by the iconic William Morris. Rajesh developed the fibres with low-tech hand spinning as well as hi-tech mills and spun it in different ways by weaving it in various parts of the country. It was a great merger of traditional crafts and weaves with Tencel. Inspired by Indian silhouettes like the Poshak from Rajasthan and the Angarkha as well as new variations of traditional Indian dancers’ costumes, the collection was a perfect blend of whites; with pastel blue, pink, accents of gold and silver culminating in rich brocades woven in jewel tones. Rajesh unveiled a collection that was off the beaten path and aimed at the global dresser.

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Inspired by William Morris’s design interpretations, nature and animal motifs were cleverly woven into the fabric, while blends of silk, cotton, and wool gave Tencel an innovative approach. Rajesh opened the show with a softly hued off-white pure Tencel look and then built the momentum gradually with colours to finally end in a crescendo of festive hues.

The off-white layers for jackets, sharply constructed tunics, micro buttoned coats and hooded belted maxis were scene stealers for women. Chanderi blouses, dhotis, Raja coats, tie-up jumpsuits played with transparency and opacity, fluidity and structure. This contrast became the focal point for most of the collection. Kimono style pleated kurtas and the signature micro pintuck dress were pure Rajesh Pratap Singh sensations.

The appearance of animal prints on long coats signaled the start of the gold and white handloom segment of dhoti pants, one-shoulder jumpsuits and the gorgeous saris with bird motifs. The panelled maxi teamed with a sheer bolero and the sherwani style coat with full flared skirt were Red Carpet visions. The two final red and gold creations - a maxi hoody and the luxurious lehenga, waistcoat, and kurta were stunning.