Australia’s rich floral bouquet of Banksias, Gumnuts, Oriental Poppies, Tamarillos, persimmons, and Madonna lilies were seen in the still life work of the Melbourne born artist Criss Cannings and was the unconventional inspiration for Aisha Rao’s “Pastiche” showcase at Lakmé Fashion Week 2020 Digital First Season Fluid Edition.

The collection with motifs of lost flora and fauna was the grand offering for the upcycled luxury occasion wear that could fit very seamlessly in the festive wardrobes for the coming season. Cleverly creating tailoring waste into exclusive ensembles, Aisha added India’s rich traditional crafts and techniques but ensured that the carbon footprint was at all times quite absent.

The amazing use of sock waste – bands that are discarded in the production of socks – was incorporated into surface embroidery with appliqués. For Aisha, her “Pastiche” collection was her ‘Ikigai’ that showcased luxury fashion along with sustainable directions that were seamlessly merged with handcrafted techniques that made a timeless fashion offering.

The kaleidoscope of colours present in each outfit of the collection was a perfect fit for the theme of the show. There was just the right mix of western and Indian silhouettes with a few exotic saris added in. The collection consisted of sleek tunics, narrow pants, cropped blouses, one-shoulder gowns, and long-sleeved cholis featuring a wide décolletage had great multi-colored print stories.

Check out these beautiful images!

The great attention to detail and overall finish of each piece is well thought out. For occasionwear, the bright red sharara with short kurti and scarf as well as shocking pink kurta and palazzos will fit the requirements of the millennial dresser. When it came to the bridal events, Aisha presented colourful embroidered lehenga, choli, dupatta, trios in post box red, Gulabi, or deep purple. The saris were in solid tones with intricate embellishments or edged with large, printed ruffles to showcase an edgy look.

The showstopper piece was worn by Athiya Shetty who looked mesmerizing in a heavily embellished long-sleeved choli teamed with a high-waisted lehenga and a soft glam makeup look. The outfit was complete with a pair of silver and blue statement earrings to match.

The gorgeous colours and cuts of the material combined with the use of sustainable fabric make the “Pastiche” collection very unique. For lovers of formal occasion wear who long for memorable additions to their wardrobes, the collection by Aisha Rao is the right option.