Bombay to Paris- India Inspires International Fashion

On 29th March, New Delhi welcomed delegates from around the world as India hosted the second BRICS summit. As leaders of the emerging markets discuss greater collaboration on political and economic initiatives, India is also busy with another export…culture. On 3rd April, American pop sensation, Katy Perry performed at the opening ceremony of the IPL, India’s latest cultural export. Earlier this year, Oprah Winfrey travelled to India to attend the Jaipur Literary Festival, where she proclaimed that India was her “greatest life experience”. But perhaps India’s most visible cultural export is Bollywood. Whilst Hindi movies have always had a following “abroad” they are now enjoying a surge in popularity, with releases at the Cannes Film Festival and international premiers complete with star studded red carpets.
 
Most recently attention has turned to Indian fashion. As India has opened its gates to international brands the international fashion community is reciprocating by celebrating Indian clothing, once considered too garish and difficult to wear. Drawing inspiration from classic garments such as sherwanis, kurtas, and saris, fashion heavyweights have been paying tribute to Indian clothes. Christian Louboutin recently released a collection of shoes inspired by Bollywood featuring Rajasthani needlework. Marc Jacobs, for Louis Vuitton, released a limited edition collection of dresses made using vintage saris. In his Pre-Fall 2012 collection for Chanel, appropriately titled ‘Paris-Bombay’, Lagerfeld littered the catwalk with lustrous silks, gilded laces, and clotted silver embroideries, reminiscent of a historic, royal-Rajasthani parade. Whether a nod or a hats-off, International fashion is turning its head toward the East and setting its sights on the rich, colourful heritage of Indian fashion.

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