Odia Designer Creates History through the IPLF Show
With all the national and international brands coming in and fashion designers exploring the latest trends while also keeping in mind the state’s aesthetics, Bhubaneswar has truly been emerging as a fashion capital. Designers from the state are now globe-trotting and presenting the best of the state’s artistic designs before the world by the sheer dint of their hard work.
Designer Dr Kumar Guru Mishra, who recently launched his label, Brand ‘G’ in the capital city, showcased his new collection ‘REVIVAL’ at the Season 2 of the India Pakistan London Fashion Show (IPLF Show) which was organised in London on September 30 at Café-de-Paris. He not only stole the whole show with his collection, but also became the first Odia designer to represent India on this platform at London. Bringing forth the exceptional and artistic beauty of Odisha through the designs on his garments, he is leaving no stone unturned to popularise and uplift the state at various fashion shows and exhibitions.
The collection of REVIVAL has been an attempt to revive the traditional Ikat, an age old art-form of India, and provide it a contemporary look in order to showcase its diversity, ability to gel in varied couture and inherent sophistication. Woven in mulberry silk over months to get the perfect weave, the collection portrays the art emanating from remote villages of Odisha in a unique light and aims to help the weavers get their much-deserved recognition.
The whole concept of the collection was brought to life in a remote village, Nuapatna in Cuttack District of Odisha over a period of 15 months with 10 weavers.
Talking about the collection and the fashion show, Dr Kumar exclusive told MyCityLinks, “The concept of India and Pakistan coming together under one roof for displaying their art excited me to participate in this show. As my previous designs have reflected, here also I tried to imbibe the culture and art-form Ikat of Odisha in an indigenous way. Starting from the very process of weaving, I went about the village Nuapatana and recruited weavers to work exclusively on designs created by me for the show. I tried to maintain a perfect balance of Indian and western to earn the appreciation and acceptance at a global platform.”
“Promoting Odisha has always been one of my main mottos to delve into the world of fashion. There are so many art forms in Odisha; I think it will take me my whole life to cover each and every one of it. When your motherland has so many things, you don’t need inspiration from anywhere else. Post my work on Pattachitra and Ikat, I am currently working on other art forms like Tussar silk, Bomkai, Berhampuri Patto and the list is endless. Each of these will be highlighted in national and international platforms,” Dr Kumar further added.
Expressing his views about the brand and the fashion show, Pankaj Kumar Sahu Founder, Odstin Creations said, “Brand G by Dr. Kumar Guru Mishra has always focussed on promoting Odisha at national platform and i am really happy that we got this amazing international platform to showcase it. People have loved the concept here and Dr. Kumar stole the show with his uniqueness and creativity in the Ikat designs. As I say, there can be no state more fashionable than Odisha because we have the most fashionable Lord Jagannath and a son of this holy land is destined to create huge name in the world of designing. I thank the faculty of AIIMS where Dr. Kumar is currently pursuing his MD for their whole hearted support in this endeavour of his.”
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With all the creativity he brings in, Dr. Mishra’s designs have been getting a lot of attention in the recent past. During the fashion show, emerging Bollywood actor Eshan Shanker endorsed his collections in a huge way, and walked the ramp for him as the showstopper. He wore an achkan crafted especially for him at the IPLF Show.
Talking about his experience at the fashion show, Eshan Shanker said, “Kumar never fails to amaze me. I was awestruck by his recent collection at the Bangalore Fashion Week and now I have no words to express, rather I am speechless for the amount of effort he is putting into his collections. This collection ‘REVIVAL’ is mesmerizing and I love his attention to detail. No wonder he will soon become one of the top-notch designers of India as well as the world. I love his passion for work. I am quite excited to work with Kumar and hope many such endeavours will crop up in the future where we can collaborate with each other.”
In July this year, Dr. Mishra had created a buzz in the city when he unveiled his Brand ‘G’. The event brought together all the Odisha-based models under one roof for the first time who were more than happy to be associated with the brand which gave them an opportunity to showcase the tradition of Odisha through couture. The models were also felicitated on the occasion. Mishra is also the first Odia designer to organise a premium solo show at Bangalore Fashion Week and the first Odia to present his couture at India Runway Week, New Delhi.