In Flashback Mode: The people, events and design alliances that made 2014 fashionable

Wendell Rodricks was conferred the Padma Shri by President Pranab Mukherjee,

Prime Position

The short-sleeved Modi kurta has become synonymous with our Prime Minister, but the dapper dresser chose to call on Mumbai-based menswear specialist Troy Costa to furnish his wardrobe for his most high-profile international jaunt yet, his visit to the US. While the reticent designer is unwilling to furnish details, Costa is rumoured to have created stylish bandhgalas, trim vests, even hand-stitched shoes for Narendra Modi. Power dressing at its best.

Twin Success
When it came to collaborations, 2014 saw quite a few interesting ones — between designers and web portals (Rohit Bal for Jabong), designers and labels (Anupamaa for Ekaya), filmmakers and high-street brands (Karan Johar for Vero Moda) and even between two artistic forces. For his Spring-Summer 2015 collection, Tarun Tahiliani drew inspiration, quite literally, from the works of the Singh Twins, London-based artist siblings Amrit and Rabindra, renowned for reviving the art of miniature painting and juxtaposing it with modern iconography. Tahiliani, who’s always been partial to prints, translated their detailed artworks into digital prints that adorned stylish separates for both women and men. The colours were bright, the print placements were precise and the collaboration between fashion and art was a runway success.

When it came to collaborations, 2014 saw quite a few interesting ones

French Kiss

He is a Paris Fashion Week regular now and even owns an apartment in the city of lights, having lived there since his stint as creative director at Paco Rabanne. So it was only fitting that Manish Arora opened a flagship store in the French capital (pictured). Located between the Jardin des Tuileries and Rue Saint-Honore, the psychedelic style haven is an embodiment of Arora’s zany fashion and will further consolidate his position as a global designer par excellence.

Exhibit G
A decade into design, Gaurav Gupta is not only a force to reckon with in Indian fashion, but also an emerging global presence. This year saw him dress fashionistas on international red carpets, roll out an affordable collection for Jabong, launch a flagship store in Mumbai and celebrate his 10th year in fashion with a unique art show. “Paradigm Shift”, a medley of fashion and art, co-curated by Gupta and Delhi Art Gallery’s Kishore Singh, documented the designer’s journey so far. Installations, wall text, interactive screens, video projections and iconic pieces from Gupta’s various collections gave viewers a peek into the story behind the man and his brand.

A decade into design, Gaurav Gupta is not only a force to reckon with in Indian fashion, but also an emerging global presence.

Show Stopper

He has floored the most cynical of fashion watchers in the past, with his timeless couture and consummate flair. Rohit Bal proved yet again why he is Indian fashion’s showman par excellence by putting up a finale to end all finales at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week’s Spring-Summer 2015 edition. Set against the backdrop of the Quli Khan Tomb in Delhi, Bal presented ‘Gulbagh’, a show steeped in romance and poetry, as models walked a lantern-lit runway wearing clothes embroidered with flowers galore. If we felt breathless it was possibly thanks to the couture on display, the magical ambience and Shubha Mudgal’s mellifluous voice, which provided the surreal soundtrack. Having set the bar as high as the Qutub Minar, which gleamed in the background, can’t wait to see what Bal comes up with next.

Wool Worth
Looking beyond the red and fuchsia colour spectrum, Rahul Mishra created an innovative collection of six garments in a Merino wool and silk blend, with MC Escher-inspired progressive hand-embroidery in Merino wool yarn, blowing the socks off a jury comprising Franca Sozzani (editor-in-chief, Vogue Italia), Tim Blanks (Style.com) and Frida Giannini (Gucci), at the International Woolmark Prize (IWP) contest. Now, the first Indian to win the IWP not only retails at Harvey Nichols, Saks Fifth Avenue and Colette Paris, the 34-year-old even showcased his collection “A Ferry Man’s Tale” at Palais de Tokyo in October. On the anvil is a collaboration with Myntra.com.

Looking beyond the red and fuchsia colour spectrum, Rahul Mishra created an innovative collection of six garments in a Merino wool and silk blend

kimi.dangor@expressindia.com