3 Indian Couturiers Who Made A Splash At Paris Haute Couture Week 2024

By Suhani Lotlikar

Fashion enthusiasts, get yourselves a drink and settle in as we’re about to dive deep into Paris Haute Couture Week 2024. The exclusive by-invite-only event featuring handpicked designers chosen by Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, consisted of not one, not two but three Indian designers this year. The designers showcasing alongside international luxury houses like Chanel, Dior, Valentino are no newcomers to the game. In 2020, Rahul Mishra became the first Indian designer to showcase at this prestigious event followed by Vaishali S in 2021. The following year, designer Gaurav Gupta joined the line-up with the growing attention that came with dressing international celebrities.

Here’s everything you need to know about the couturiers’ 2024 collections.

Rahul Mishra

This year, Rahul Mishra’s couture Fall 2024 collection – AURA left viewers in awe of the craftsmanship. “A ‘jiva’ living being is a combination of three factors—body, mind and soul and all that together amounts to aura. The collection becomes an attempt to articulate through couture clothing, how the said omnipresent aura may interact with a living body. And how the living body becomes a vessel for a part of this energy, and draws its greatness from it” shared the designer when talking about the collection.

Bollywood actor Janhvi Kapoor played showstopper for Mishra donning an embellished black bustier paired with a long skirt channelling the silhouette of a modern-cut lehenga. The designer’s efforts to continuously pay homage to Indian craftsmanship were evident in each of the looks that walked the runway.

Gaurav Gupta

Titled ‘Jyotirgamaya – unveiling the colors from darkness to light’, designer Gaurav Gupta’s latest Paris showcase was a perfect amalgamation of Indian craftsmanship and European aesthetics. The looks that walked the runway were equal parts minimal due to their monochromatic nature and over-the-top with their avant-garde silhouettes and structures.

The designer’s expertise of achieving gorgeous structures was a visual treat, while the handcrafted details exceeded the couture buyer’s expectations. Gupta’s approach for this season marked a significant evolution, as he sought to create experimental yet beautiful cuts and extrinsic yet mesmerising silhouettes.

Vaishali S

Designer Vaishali Shadangule’s eponymous label, Vaishali S, showcased a stunning collection titled Satori exploring the transforming potentials of her signature handwoven cord-detailed fabric. The collection featured modern interpretations of the ever-loved saree, art-like dresses with direct references to forms of nature. The designer chose Bollywood actor Radhika Apte to close the show in an extravagant blue-green gown.

“‘Satori’ comes from Zen Buddhism philosophy, which involves a profound realisation of reality’s true nature, marking a crucial step in mindfulness and conscious living, leading to a state of clarity and peace. With Satori, Vaishali S once again demonstrates her deep love and passion for classic Indian hand weaves. She takes her guests on a journey through India’s rich sartorial heritage, breathing new life into traditional textiles” shared the designer’s team.