Celebrating the 15th year milestone of the brand, merging indigenous Indian construction and embellishing techniques with his idea of the future, Gaurav Gupta emerges as a leading beacon of a dramatic, cultural shift in the way the modern Indian bride and groom wear couture.
With an obsessive attention to detail, Gaurav showcased his new couture collection ‘Undercurrent’ at FDCI India Couture Week, for which Gaurav has drawn inspiration from the fierce waves of the ocean that flow in a rhythmic, electric concentricity. The Undercurrent collection adds a renewed, avant-garde lens, defining sculpting as a science of new couture. The designer has created exaggerated waves and theatrical drapes in his garments bringing a paradigm shift in the way we view couture.
For the global bride, Gaurav imagined a charismatic, graceful yet playful and well-travelled intellectual who wants to have fun—waltzing in the prismatic corridors of the Hall of Mirrors in multi-layered and cascading bustles along with feathers and corsets, looking like an ethereal goddess.
Epitomising this vision, was a global influencer and founder of Post for Change, Diipa Khosla, who was seen in an unending ethereal lehenga layered in ombre hues of champagne. Handcrafted with 150 meters of organza and finely embroidered with pearls, this poufy skirt is Gaurav’s idea of the updated statement lehenga, paired with a body sculpted off-shoulder blouse. The perfect accent for this was a special Liberation necklace, designed in the shape of wings interwoven together, stylized to project the movement of a bird gracefully taking flight. Each piece of this necklace was set under a microscope, a delicate combination of rose-cut and full-cut diamonds- 8000 pieces in all, created over 8 months. The highlight of this Gaurav Gupta Occasions Fine Jewellery construction is that every feather is scooped from the backside to keep the necklace light on the wearer.
A vision in green-grey, actor Diana Penty concluded the show in the night’s highlight piece, a sculpted mermaid-Esque gown, fashioned in light organza, layered in the brand’s indigenous techniques. Strategically placed all over her look were Japanese iridescent bugle beads that lent an electric, yet feminine glitter to her look. This was accessorised with statement ear cuffs from Gaurav Gupta Occasions Fine Jewellery, sculpting the ear with three exquisitely woven and specially shaped diamonds.
The atelier’s gravity-defying-pattern making is engineered with the anatomical placement of glass embroidery – instilling a feeling of movement and depth of layers, fantasy and dimension. The outfits are perfectly moulded to flatter and fit the body well in degrade shades of violet, lava red. The collection also boasts of bold ivory whites and ecru which the modern bride embraces as she accents it with Gaurav Gupta Occasions Fine Jewellery.