Rahul Mishra’s 2023 fall/winter collection debuts at Paris Couture Week

The Indian designer showcased his new collection We, the People this week, and hidden within its intricate details is a tribute to the diversity of his country and the craftspeople he works with

After his hugely successful Tree of Life and Cosmos collections, which were showcased at Paris Couture Week for 2022 fall/winter and 2023 spring/summer respectively, Rahul Mishra returned with his latest 2023 fall/winter collection: We, the People.

The collection celebrates and honours the artisans, tailors and craftsmen the Indian designer works with, and reflects the collective effort it takes to craft the intricately detailed and hand-embroidered pieces that Mishra has become known for. Reflecting this appreciative sentiment, Mishra flew his master craftsman Afzal Zariwala to Paris and invited them on the set of the show to demonstrate their artistic capabilities.

Rahul Mishra fashion show, Couture Couture Fall Winter 2023, Paris Fashion Week.Photo by Valerio Mezzanotti

Above Mishra fixing the “pallu” of the sari on the model (Photo: courtesy of Rahul Mishra)

Above Mishra’s master craftsman Afzal Zariwala on the set of Mishra’s 2023 fall/winter couture show Photo: courtesy of Rahul Mishra)

Above Models waiting backstage at Rahul Mishra’s 2023 fall/winter couture show in Paris (Photo: courtesy of Rahul Mishra)

The collection was also inspired by a milestone moment: when India overtook China to become the world’s most populous country.

“How do we represent India? It’s very challenging. I thought the cosmos was as large an entity as you can take on,” the designer says, speaking to Tatler in April, when he was still working on the theme for this latest show. “But to take on and represent India as a country—it seems even larger than the cosmos.”

Mishra presented the results of this herculean task at his Paris Couture show yesterday, where his surreal creations took centre stage at La Monnaie de Paris. Upon closer inspection, the detailed motifs depicted the artisans he works with, and honours the making of haute couture in general. Below are some of the highlights from We, the People.

Photo 1 of 10 Rahul Mishra’s 2023 fall/winter couture show (Photo: courtesy of Rahul Mishra)

Photo 2 of 10 Details from Mishra’s 2023 fall/winter couture collection (Photo: courtesy Rahul Mishra)

Photo 3 of 10 Look 8 from Mishra’s 2023 fall/winter couture collection (Photo: Valerio Mezzanotti)

Photo 4 of 10 Look 19 from Mishra’s 2023 fall/winter couture collection (Photo: Valerio Mezzanotti)

Photo 5 of 10 Details from Mishra’s 2023 fall/winter couture collection (Photo: courtesy Rahul Mishra)

Photo 6 of 10 Look 38 from Mishra’s 2023 fall/winter couture collection (Photo: Valerio Mezzanotti)

Photo 7 of 10 Mishra’s 2023 fall/winter couture collection (Photo by Valerio Mezzanotti)

Photo 8 of 10 Details from Mishra’s 2023 fall/winter couture collection (Photo: courtesy Rahul Mishra)

Photo 9 of 10 Mishra’s 2023 fall/winter couture collection (Photo: courtesy of Rahul Mishra)

Photo 10 of 10 Mishra’s 2023 fall/winter couture collection (Photo: courtesy of Rahul Mishra)

Topics

Rahul Mishra Paris Couture Week Fashion Indian designer Indian fashion designer

Tatler Asia

Rahul Mishra’s 2023 fall/winter collection debuts at Paris Couture Week