Exclusive: Manish Malhotra On Breaking Fashion Rules, Lakmé Grand Finale, Supporting Karigars And More
The glimmer, the glam!
Closing the season for Lakmé Fashion Week X FDCI, designer Manish Malhotra brought the biggest surprise to the runway. From over a hundred models walking past the audiences in electric prints and his showstoppers, the celebrated designer introduced the world to his new collection of Diffuse. Youthful and infused with his signature glamour, the collection was filled with bold prints, unconventional bags, and bulky jackets. What caught the audiences’ attention, were actors Ananya Panday and Aditya Roy Kapoor, who made an adorable pair to close the showcase. In conversation with me, the ace designer decoded his new creations, season-less designs and more.
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Q: The rules of fashion are being redefined; it’s time to re-tag. What is the new era of beauty and fashion in the country?
Manish Malhotra: In recent years, there has been a significant shift in the beauty and fashion industry towards inclusivity, diversity, and sustainability. This new era of beauty and fashion focuses on empowering people to embrace their unique identities and individuality rather than conforming to traditional beauty and fashion standards and labels. Our Diffuse 2023 collection, highlights gaming-inspired prints that aim to retag the ancient labels of derogatory to daring.
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Q: Tell us something about your collection, the highlights and what can we expect.
Manish Malhotra: It’s been one fabulous year of Diffuse and we thought it would be great to celebrate this momentous occasion at the grand finale of Lakmé Fashion Week. Lakmé approached us with the idea of retag. As a revived metaphor, I incorporated some hard-to-digest words and created a playful line of gaming-inspired designed and stylised silhouettes which proudly and loudly retag those societal tags to ‘someone who has a thirst for success and can undeniably embrace the labels’.
Q: This new collection includes game-inspired prints representing individuality, non-binary, fluidity and androgynous styles. What made you switch gears from your signature glamorous designs to prints this season?
Manish Malhotra: Glamour is intrinsically set in the details, style and designs of the brand. It’s gone nowhere and makes its presence quite evident.
Q: The Manish Malhotra brand has always been about carving trends that the masses follow. How do you break that notion to make fashion a very personal journey for your buyers rather than influencing them with a particular print design, colour or cut? How challenging is it to bring the idea of self-expression then?
Manish Malhotra: Breaking away from the notion of trend-based fashion can be challenging, especially in an industry that places a lot of emphasis on new trends and styles. Diffuse has a range of styles, all-season wearable options, androgynous variations, and fluid designs, and we always strive to make fashion a more personal journey for our buyers.
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Q: How is Diffuse carving a new set audience for you and what is that satisfaction as a designer that Diffuse is offering you, which was missing in the original Manish Malhotra aesthetic?
Manish Malhotra: We’re expanding the brand reach by reaching a broader range of consumers while maintaining staying true to the brand. Diffuse features wearable designs, androgynous styles and conscious price points make them more accessible to a broader audience.
Q: While there is so much that the Indian fashion industry is welcoming with open arms, the idea of putting the karigars on the map is still a slow process. We know so less of these makers behind some of the best designs. Is more recognition for karigars something that you aim at and how?
Manish Malhotra: Our constant quest to promote the artisans of India through every possible business I venture into whether it’s couture, jewellery, or movies. We tied up with the Mijwan Welfare Society 10 years ago for the women of the region to find a sense of purpose, a reason to wake up every day and have a stable employment opportunity that pays far more than minimum wage. Over the years, the number multiplied, and the community grew. The vigour, drive, and enthusiasm these artisans bring to the centre daily is a testament to the fact that women in India and anywhere only need a small window of opportunity to show the world the magic they can create. These artisans are the breadwinners of their families now while they fulfilled wishes of their own all through their art of chikankari.
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Also Read: Exclusive: Actress Kalki On Walking For Esha Amin At Lakmé Fashion Week X FDCI, Women Who Inspire Her Style And More
Q: Your collaboration with Lakmé and FDCI has been long-lived and loved. Does doing the finale showcase still make you nervous after all this time?
Manish Malhotra: I’ve had a long-standing association with Lakmé and when we work together, it’s always to make a difference for all the good reasons. Manish Malhotra Diffuse X Lakmé UnapologeticallyMÉ is about reaching out to those who have been tagged in the wrong light to achieve success at their own terms and conditions and tell them to own the tags. We created a playful and gaming-inspired line that retags those phrases and gives them a wittier meaning.
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What do you think about the collection?
Image Credits: Instagram
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