Wedding Wow

He already holds the distinction of having designed bridal finery for Bhutanese royal couple Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Jetsun Pema. And now,Delhi couturier Manav Gangwani has added another feather to his cap by creating bespoke ensembles for the nuptials of American model Kendra Spears with Prince Rahim Aga Khan,eldest son of Prince Karim Aga Khan (IV). At the marriage ceremony held at Chateau de Bellerive,on the shores of Lake Geneva,Switzerland,on August 31,the prince and Spears (now rechristened Princess Salwa Aga Khan) were quite the picture of wedded bliss,dressed in an ivory sherwani and an embroidered ivory sari,respectively.

“They both have dynamic personalities and make a magnificent couple together. It was a challenge to design wedding outfits to match their magnetic dispositions. The couple wanted the ensembles to be traditional with a perfect balance of elegance and panache,” says Gangwani. While the prince wore a sherwani in 100 per cent pure woven Tanchoi silk with ivory trousers and matching jootis,Spears donned a “custom-made pre-constructed sari paired with a traditional blouse,in intricate jamawar hand-embroidered work,along with decadent antique gold-silver glass beads and a touch of Swarovski crystals”.

For those wondering how Gangwani came to design for a royal wedding taking place in Switzerland,he owes this opportunity to another of his high-profile connections — supermodel Naomi Campbell. “It gives me great pleasure to call Naomi a dear friend. I can never thank her enough for introducing me to the royal couple,” he says.

mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com