Masterpieces

For the next three days,the especially dull Coomaraswamy Hall is draped dreamily in white and resembles a mannequin stockroom. Except the statues wear a range of clothes—saris,lehengas,skirt-saris,sherwanis and the like—that are worthy of a museum of their own. One lehenga has 14 different base colours on its panels,which are then appliquéd and then embroidered. It has two dupattas,one to be worn with the ensemble and the other as a veil,the motifs in this are soldered on,so there’s no need for underlying threadwork. It is a masterpiece and costs Rs 14 lakh.

That is the magic of Indian couture,says Tahiliani. A lehenga such as this on a ready-to-wear rack would probably cost Rs 10 lakh,what with the work it involves. So customising in India is both ubiquitous and a rare gift at the same time. “Couture is often under question as there’s such fantastic ready-to-wear available. Before Yves Saint Laurent introduced his RTW Rive Gauche line in the early Seventies,the only off-the-rack clothes came from Marks & Spencer. Then came the advent of the Italians. But except for the fittings,ready-to-wear is as remarkably made as couture is. And in India,the prices aren’t that far apart,” Tahiliani avers.

The proof of the pudding is in one glimpse of the super-chic brides-to-be with their sophisti-cat mothers buzzing around the order tables.

(The exposition is on until Monday,7 pm)