Started by biotechnologist Bani Pasricha, her concept of fashion is always centered around strong and independent women. This time, she took it a notch higher when she happened to visit the middle-eastern country Egypt and was moved by the sovereignty of the women there. She found her popularity through her signature red gowns that are now worn by every A-lister in this country! Taking inspiration from all the vintage collections, her design collection ‘The Pharaohs’ truly is an epitome of elegance and royalty. We got in touch with Bani who tells us all about the collection, and more. Excerpts from the exclusive interview:
How did you put Egyptian touch into practice?
My latest collection ‘The Pharaohs’ portrays the grandeur of the Egyptian mythological and historical traditions. It was unveiled at the prestigious Paris Fashion Week! I am an avid traveler who travels extensively during my leisure hours. Travelling serves as an inspiration for most of my upcoming collections. And then, my visit to Egypt was a memorable one. Until then, I had known about Egypt only through history books.
Taking a trip helped me experience the richness of Egyptian culture in terms of art and craftsmanship. I also learned that ancient Egyptians worshipped goddesses and respected ancient women who played a crucial role in organising society.
Tell us a little about your latest collection.
Titled as ‘The Pharaohs,’ it portrays the grandeur of Egyptian mythological and historical traditions, especially Egyptian monarchs and their goddesses ‘Wadjet’ and ‘Nekhbet’. The collection uses Dutch satin, embellished with extensive embroidery in black and gold. These colours have been chosen to reaffirm the driving force of society. Black depicts the power of feminine energy, and gold symbolises the richness and wealth of capabilities of these women. It caters to the elite group of fashion aficionados too. The highlight of the collection was the showstopper outfit which took 172 hours to complete. Some pieces were hand-painted by me.
What trends, do you think, rule the fashion scene?
I believe fashion is about what makes you comfortable, it has the unique factor to make you stand out from others. Sustainability has redefined the fashion industry completely, it’s one of the most polluting industries worldwide. A UNEP report estimates that the fashion industry uses 93 billion cubic meters of water annually and accounts for 20% of wastewater. Fortunately, both designers and consumers have realised their responsibility of giving back to society through conscious design and consumption now. The use of eco-friendly fabrics and processes is gaining traction, and fast fashion is becoming a thing of the past.
I also foresee subtle embroideries and feminine silhouettes ruling the runways in the near future. Covid-19 has also accelerated digitisation, prompting fashion shows to go digital (phygital) during the lockdown. Emerging technologies such as AI, AR have played a key role in increasing efficiency and maximsing customer experience.
How did you mix modern sustainability with it? Why is it that an ancient civilization that intrigued you?
A salient feature of my collection is the fusion of ancient and contemporary design trends catering to new-age women. My collection has used organic fabric as much as possible. I come from a middle-class family and have always been close to my roots. Ancient civilizations have always intrigued me. Each of them exemplifies the superior art and craftsmanship of inhabitants. Be it Indian, Egyptian, Mesopotamian, or any other culture-each of them is unique. Moreover, contrary to popular perception, women played a key role in ancient societies. Most of these civilizations worshipped feminine energy and had a pantheon of gods and goddesses, so why not!
What was in the spice and silk routes that built that perennial love for them?
I believe that travelling as a hobby is an enriching experience. Not only it exposes you to varied cultures, languages, and traditions; it truly broadens your horizons to make you a multi-dimensional person. Fashion is not a new concept. As a matter of fact, most of my fashion ideas are derived from antiquity which is brought to life by fusing contemporary ideas to cater to modern customers. Travelling gives me an insight into the richness of ancient tradition in terms of art, literature and music. Every civilization has so much to learn from and get inspired. t has been meticulously planned and designed, with each creation taking days to complete. So far, the collection has received an overwhelming response. It has been featured in magazines such as Harpers’ Bazaar, etc.
