The Yves Saint Laurent display in the Mumbai exhibition. Courtesy- Mitsun Soni “India in Fashion: The Impact of Indian Dress and Textiles on the Fashionable Imagination,” a new exhibition of costumes in Mumbai, displays three centuries of international inspiration from Indian textiles and fabrics. The exhibition, which is divided into ten zones and has 140 different exhibits, showcases royal clothing from throughout the globe as well as outfits by Chanel, Alexander McQueen, Christian Dior, and Schiaparelli. The exhibit also honours the chintz, muslin, and sari, which make up the largest part with 26 displays, as
well as other textiles that have influenced the world. The show is the first to be held in Mumbai’s Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC), and it is organised by British fashion journalist and editor Hamish Bowles.
Using Indian linens and fabrics, this one-of-a-kind costume display in Mumbai presents three centuries of worldwide design inspiration. Visitors can experience the influence of Indian apparel and textiles on the world of fashion for as little as 199 rupees, or roughly $2.50.
The exhibition is being displayed at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC), a multimodal art facility featuring galleries and a theatre. The 50,000 square foot show combines sensual combination of colours and texture play on the walls and floors with spatial design, and the experience is enhanced by lights and music.
The show, which Hamish Bowles, a British fashion writer and editor, curated, is organised according to the chapters of his book of the exact same name rather than by time or place. The costumes, which were acquired from the Royal Ontario Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and numerous private collections, are shown in 140 unique exhibits divided into 10 categories.
Ensembles by Zandra Rhodes (left and center) and Jean Paul Gaultier (right) in the Hippie Trail section of the exhibition As you enter the first area, “Fascination and Invention,” you see the first item by Alexander McQueen: a dress, leggings, and the renowned Armadillo boots that were part of the late
British designer’s spring 2010 Plato’s Atlantis collection, which is also famous for the Lady Gaga music video.
The show features more than just textiles, clothing, or fabric. It incorporates geographical and historical elements while showing the diversity of fashions inspired by Indian textiles. Celebrities from all around the world have visited the show, including Priyanka Chopra, Nick Jonas, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Deepika Padukone, and Gigi Hadid.
The show honours India’s rich heritage of culture and contributions to world fashion. While encouraging new kinds of creativity and expression, it emphasises the value of preserving old textiles and processes. Anyone who appreciates fashion, history, or culture must see the exhibition.
