R|Elan collaborated with Nachiket Barve to unveil “R|Elanâ„¢ Millennial Maharanis†collection at India’s premier fashion extravaganza – Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2018. Barve took inspiration from the globetrotting Indian royalty of the 20’s and 30’s; looking at the lifestyle of the jet-setting millennial bride squads, for weddings sprawled across the globe. This concept of marrying the traditional with modern milieu necessitated rich, premium, yet lightweight and fluid outfits. R|Elan is the next generation of fabric, specially engineered to provide the dual benefits of high fashion and enhanced comfort.
The wardrobes of the Royalty of yore, amalgamated the Indian and European styles of dressing; as traditional lehengas and saris nestled next to jackets and gowns with the finest of craftsmanship. The Maharani of Cooch Behar, Kapurthala and Jaipur were renowned beauties and fashionistas! Their extraordinary jewels and the beautifully manicured palace gardens with budding blossoms and ripe pomegranates captured for posterity in commissioned portraits by famed artists and by legendary photographers such as Horst and Beaton have inspired the embroidery and surface development techniques of the collection.
While commenting on the making of the ‘Millennial Maharanis’ collection, Barve said “The collection used a wide range of techniques that reinvent age-old craft traditions with a modernist’s point of view. The R|Elan fabrics were wonderful to embellish and do a range of techniques like beading, appliqué, resham embroidery and to just use for colour blocking. The intricate handwork and the subtle yet striking surfaces come alive on the fabric and are perfect for the destination wedding!â€Â
The new royals are not dynastic necessarily, but the well-heeled and well-travelled Millennials who aspire for the best of everything, ‘La Dolce Vita’ on speed-dial! Bachelorettes in Nice, Sangeet in the exotic Middle East, Proposals on private islands and a gazillion occasions to wear extraordinary clothes across the world! The R|Elan FreeFlow collection fused the sensibility of these girls that’s a new mix of East and West, Tradition with a twist and sensible glamour that is versatile; after all, even the Maharanis have to mix and match their clothes for different girlfriends’ weddings!