Italian fashion house Tod’s collaborates with Indian designer Rahul Mishra for a capsule collection, offering a reinterpretation of three iconic pieces.
The Tod’s x Rahul Mishra collaboration gave rise to an exclusive cocktail party on September 13 at the Tod’s flagship store on Old Bond Street, at the height of London Fashion Week.
The event, which Luxus Plus was able to attend, showcased the meeting of two artisanal cultures. Invited as part of the Tod’s Factory project – a creative laboratory where established and emerging designers revisit the House’s codes – the Indian designer brings his artistic vision and 17-year career in couture to the Italian House with the famous Gommino moccasin.
With this capsule, Mishra fuses the ancestral Indian know-how of embroidery with Tod’s made-in-Italy leatherwork, offering a unique capsule a few months after the $600 million wedding of the century of Anant, son of Indian retail magnate Mukesh Ambani (Reliance Industries).
The Tod’s collection by Rahul Mishra
Rahul Mishra, Indian designer and master of the art of hand embroidery, focused on four Tod’s signature pieces: the Gommino loafer and its mule version, the Di Bag and the T Timeless accessories. Each piece has been revisited in a refined style.
The Gommino moccasins and mules feature intricate hand-embroidered motifs, such as trees of life in silk thread, bringing a touch of spirituality to this timeless model. These floral embroideries are created on nappa leather, metallic nappa or black or gold velvet.
The Di Bag, meanwhile, is adorned with pearls, rhinestones and crystals inspired by golden saris, and is a perfect marriage of Indian tradition and European elegance.
T Timeless accessories (belts and wallets), for men and women, come in revisited versions with influences straight from Rajasthan. These creations bring a fresh perspective to Tod’s DNA.
“ We were inspired by nature, my constant muse, creating classic internal patterns and distinctive foliage, synonymous with my designs. To have had the opportunity to work on this project was a great honor for me.
a great honor. This collaboration is special. For me, this partnership expresses craftsmanship, Italian elegance and our intricate Indian craftsmanship,” says Rahul Mishra.
Rahul Mishra: a master of Indian craftsmanship
Rahul Mishra has established himself as a key figure in Indian fashion, yet nothing predestined him for such a career. Born in the village of Mahausi, in the northern Indian state ofUttar Pradesh, he should have pursued a career in engineering, according to the wishes of his father, a doctor. But his mother’s admiration for hand-weaving was not to be. He thus entered the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad, before graduating with a master’s degree in fashion design for women’s collections from Istituto Marangoni in 2007.
In 2008, he launched his eponymous fashion label, promoting ethical sustainability infused with Gandhian thought that every individual should put their success at the service of the weakest and poorest. His fashion house currently employs 1,500 people and hopes to help a million more in the coming years. Indeed, like the Italian Brunello Cucinelli with regard to his village, Rahul Mishra is directly involved in supporting the artisanal community in rural India.
In 2014, he became the first Indian designer to win the prestigious Woolmark International Prize in Milan. The same year, he was invited to show at the Paris ready-to-wear week. Since 2021, he has reached a new milestone, becoming the first Indian designer to be invited to Haute Couture Week.
Through collaborations with celebrities such as Cate Blanchett, Michelle Yeo and most recently Selena Gomez and Zendaya, he is bringing Indian craftsmanship to the world stage. The star of Dune wore the designer’s star-spangled sari, embellished with a gold brassiere top, to the Nikita Muskesh Ambani Cultural Centre gala in 2023.
Embroidery, a central element of his work, is revisited with remarkable precision. Her creations highlight ancestral techniques, often handcrafted by Indian artisans known as Kaarigars, while incorporating modern motifs and concepts.
This innovative approach, celebrating his country’s artisan traditions while adapting them to contemporary aesthetics, makes Rahul Mishra a true ambassador of Indian fashion on the international stage.
The use of Indian embroiderers is reminiscent of Dior’s Fall-Winter 2023 ready-to-wear show in front of the India Gate in Mumbai (formerly Bombay). At that time, the artistic director called on the artisans of the Chanakya school.
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Read also > [Luxus+ Magazine] Dior fashion show in India: know-how, traditions and a pinch of poetry
Featured Photo: © Rahul Mishra x Tod’s
