Manish Arora is an Indian designer known for his exquisite color palettes and his undeniable sensibility and mastership when it comes to mixing traditional Indian embroideries and beading with western silhouettes. He has been called “The John Galliano of India”, and his work as Artistic Director of Paco Rabanne back in 2011-2012 was especially well received among celebrities like Lady Gaga and JLo.
Since 1997 he has been building a wonderful brand under his own name, and this month he presented his Fall 2015 collection at Paris Fashion Week, inspired by the celebrated TV series by HBO, “Game of Thrones”.
If you have followed Arora’s collections through the years then you know there are some key elements like extravagant colours – flashy reds, bright pinks, blues, greens, gold!- and rich textiles – velvet, brocades, faux-leather, glitter everywhere! – that are usually the highlights of his shows, accompanied by his love for out-there accessories, from masks to shoes.
For Fall 2015 he has not disappointed his loyal clientele and fashionable fans with his Bollywood take on the famous American show, taking the audience of his fabulous show on a futuristic journey alongside the avant-garde heroines walking the catwalk. As a true maximalist, Arora presented a show that consisted mostly on dresses and top-skirts combos, full of intricate details mixing digital printing and his characteristic textures and textile treatments. In terms of silhouettes, he played with asymmetrical cuts, voluminous sleeves, A-line skirts and his fresh use of negative space. In total, there were 45 intricate looks walking down the runway, accessorized to perfection with fluffy backpacks, skull-shaped minaudières, masks, helmets, bold jewelry, and boots, ready to take on any battle!
To round it up, Manish Arora’s Fall 2015 collection – and his fashion aesthetic in general – truly showcases a perfect balance of traditional elements from India with urban western styles and silhouettes. This is quite a vivid example of how fashion is basically used as an excuse to build bridges between such different cultures, reminding us all about the spectacular result that comes out of tolerance, respect and admiration for the way other people see the world.
