Azure brings to life the color spectrum of the ocean and the skies
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The metaphorical iterations of the color blue could have attributed to its aesthetic worth. No surprise, it has been the muse of many style designers — from Charles Lewis Tiffany’s trademark Tiffany blue and Yuima Nakazato’s 2022 assortment Blue Season to Stella McCartney and Fendi taking to its pale shade in the course of the spring/summer season ’24 runway reveals. Closer dwelling, couturier Anita Dongre is romancing the hue’s affiliation with Nature. Its outstanding proportions in her newly launched assortment, titled Azure, are coupled with eco-conscious craftsmanship. “True to the inspiration, Azure brings to life the colour spectrum of the ocean and the skies,” says Anita, who sourced Bemberg yarn completely from Asahi Kasei, a multinational Japanese chemical firm that specialises in chemical substances and supplies science, for the gathering.
The range includes a range of kaftans, clothes, saris and skirt units
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A fantastical begin
The range, which includes a range of kaftans, clothes, saris and skirt units, was born from a dream. “I woke up one morning, buzzing to come to work and sit with my team because I had this vivid dream involving the sounds, textures and movement of waterscapes, which really inspired me. I wanted to encapsulate the flow and fluidity of water with a quiet feminine sensuality,” says the designer. She began engaged on the capsule round mid-August final 12 months and states that the Mumbai monsoon added a stunning atmosphere whereas designing the gathering. “It took us about six months [to curate the edit] because we were quite particular about getting the right fabric that captured the flow I imagined,” she provides. The motifs within the assortment, she says, had been designed with a watercolour aesthetic and translated on the garment utilizing digital printing.
Fashion designer Anita Dongre
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Beaming with Bemberg
Bemberg is a model of cupro, which is regenerated cellulose fibre. Made from 100% cotton linter that may be a pre-consumer materials, Bemberg is a sustainable materials that’s biodegradable and compostable. “The breeziness of the fabric was a perfect match. For this capsule, while we were working on the moodboard, they [Asahi Kasei] shared their latest development of soil and marine biodegradable yarn and everything just clicked,” says Anita.
The Azure assortment is made solely out of Bemberg yarn — sustainable, biodegradable and compostable materials
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She shares that her model began working with Bemberg about 5 years in the past. “It seemed like a natural partnership since it represents our brand mission of being environmentally conscious. Over the years, we have consistently used Bemberg yarn for many of our designs and we love how invested they are in creating sustainable fibres. The Azure collection is made entirely out of Bemberg yarn,” she says.
Bemberg is uniquely fitted to the tropical Indian local weather, providing breathability and consolation
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Anita believes that Bemberg is uniquely fitted to the tropical Indian local weather, providing breathability and consolation within the sweltering warmth, making it ideally suited for hovering temperatures and seashore weddings. “Its soft, smooth texture adds a touch of luxury, appealing to brides or bridesmaids seeking elegant yet practical attire for destination weddings and fashion enthusiasts who appreciate high-quality fabrics with a touch of luxury,” she provides.
The motifs within the assortment are designed with a watercolour aesthetic
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Special association
The limited-edition, ready-to-wear capsule, envisioned for summer season soirees, ranges between ₹23,000 and ₹65,000 and is obtainable throughout all of the designer’s shops in India in addition to on-line.
Anita Dongre’s second version of vegan accessories is made with Mirum — the world’s first plastic-free various to leather-based
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Bag a vegan pichhwai
Besides the clothing line, Anita Dongre has prolonged her dedication to moral style with her new assortment of vegan accessories. These accessories are made with Mirum — the world’s first plastic-free various to leather-based — a low-carbon, bio-based, tunable and responsibly sourced materials. Each accent options hand-painted motifs.
“We’re one of the first Indian brands to incorporate Mirum. This is our second drop of vegan accessories; the first edit was launched in January last year. This time around we’ve also incorporated hand-painted pichhwai on a vegan fabric base. We worked on it for over two years to understand the materials and incorporate it in our design language. The aim is to continue utilising it in our future collections too, since it aligns perfectly with our commitment to leather-free fashion,” says Anita.
Inspired by 400-year-old legacy of pichhwai work and heritage craft zardosi, the accessories characteristic hand-painted motifs. “We have also added a line of pichhwai bags hand-painted by our master artisans in Rajasthan. We work with artisan clusters across the country and strive to showcase our exquisite crafts. In the latest capsule we have also used our signature gota-patti embroidery as well as metal-engraved artwork,” provides Anita.
A bag within the assortment showcases hand-painted pichhwai on a vegan material base
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Special association