“Earth may be alive: not as the ancients saw her-a sentient Goddess with a purpose and foresight-but alive like a tree. A tree that quietly exists, never moving except to sway in the wind, yet endlessly conversing with the sunlight and the soil. Using sunlight and water and nutrient minerals to grow and change. But all done so imperceptibly, that to me the old oak tree on the green is the same as it was when I was a child.”—James Lovelock
These words by James Lovelock become richer with meaning as we find ourselves in the middle of the pandemic. The conversation between the tree and its surroundings found greater intimacy in the past months, as human intervention reduced.
An old fort on the suburbs of Delhi, designer Rahul Mishra’s collection at the Indian Couture Week 2020 was symbolized of his deep affection for nature.
The collection named, “Lotus Pond”, was an ode to the evolving ecosystem of aquatic plants, fishes, planktons, dragonflies and butterflies – all brought together by the sublime lotus. Garments symbolise hope and optimism for a better future, splashed with twisted flora and fauna embroidery, jaali-work, mirror-work, motifs and hand-cut appliques in the design and formation of flowers and butterflies.
The virginal lotus ponds with life sprouting in diverse forms, the psychedelia of the underwater-scape, replete with striking hues and textures, and the symphony of birds and butterflies inspire the craft behind “Lotus Pond”.
This collection is one of the most significant collections, an organic extension of Paris Haute Couture collection, ‘Butterfly People’.
Through this collection as a creative expression, we are served a reminder of the quote by Hans Christian Anderson, that indeed “Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower.”
The Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity exhausts the nature’s budget for the given year. This year it arrived on August 22, twenty-one days later than the previous year, keep growing sustainably and empowering our communities.
