“We firmly believe that India is not a third world economy but a civilization of the first world. It is the place of birth of luxury. Together, we will create the first global luxury brand in India, ”explains Sabyasachi Mukherjee, 51 -year -old fashion designer, who celebrated 25 yearsth Anniversary of his label with a big show at the Jio World Center in Mumbai on January 25.
The show, which opened its doors with the Bollywood star Deepika Padukone and closed with the 90s super -model Christy Turlington, was observed by 600 guests, including initiates from the fashion industry such as Linda Fargo by Bergdorf Goodman and Roopal Patel of the Fifth Avenue de Saks Fifth Avenue.
The actors of Bollywood Alia Bhatt and Aditi Rao Hydari – who chose to wear Sabyasachi for their respective weddings – were also present, as well as Ananya Pandey and in New Delhi, the art collector and the star of reality TV Shalini Passi. Kumar Mangalam Birla, whose company Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd (ABFRL) bought a 51% stake in the Sabyasachi brand in 2021, attended the show with his daughter Ananya Birla. Although none of the young Ambani has appeared, their grandmother Kokilaben Ambani attended the show.
Mukherjee’s love for his hometown Calcutta (now Kolkata) is no secret. He has often credited the city of his creativity and his inspiration. This is also part of its brand, just as the Roma are part of BVLGARI. To celebrate the silver birthday of his label, Mukherjee transported his guests to the achievements of North Calcutta.
While the doors opened, the guests left their champagne glasses and their cheese and caviar plates, on one of the most extravagant grazing tables and entered an old part of Calcutta picturesque with windows ‘green shutter and iron railings. A colossal water fountain directly from the Victoria Memorial was seated in the center but instead of being surrounded by lions, he had tigers, representing the Mukherjee brand logo – the Royal Bengal Tiger.
As the lights were lowered, the guests were welcomed with Bengali music before Padukone made his big entry into white pants, a shirt and a trench with declaration jewelry. It was followed by a series of Indian and international models with 150 looks made in Western Bengal, but with fabrics from Mongolia in France. According to the bunk velvet sconces of faux fur, Japanese cotton juxtaposed of pashmina, recycled polyester, in pebble ostrich leather, the collection was diversified.
The different looks were filled with references from strong women who inspired Mukherjee – from the Banesaux de Frieda Kahlo to the Madonna’s Inspiration Crucifix to the pearls of Maharani Gayatri Devi. “My grandmothers were the two most important influences of my life – the United States taught me the power of minimalism, while the other taught me the exuberance of maximalism”, explains Mukherjee, and this show was an ode to both. Turlington closed the spectacle dressed in a black and white cashmere set, again associated with a lot of classic jewelry.
Mukherjee thinks that we are moving into a new generation of consumers, who will appreciate unique handmade products while assessing portability and long -term use. Today, the Sabyasachi brand is a synthesis of three verticals which continue to be developed: half-cut clothes, luxury accessories and high jewelry.
After starting with Rs 20,000 and three employees, the team has now become an army of 3,000 craftsmen and employees across India. Today, Mukherjee has flagship stores in Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and a 5,800 square foot store in New York. He also cemented retail partnerships with Bergdorf Goodman, Printemps Doha and Saks Fifth Avenue.
To be one of the first Indian creators to show Milan Fashion Week, to forge global collaborations with H&M, Christian Louboutin and Estée Lauder, among others, Mukherjee is established in the global fashion system. Earlier this month, he said the brand should generate RS 500 revenue is growing this year.
“Over the next 25 years, I intend to perfect my job by focusing on complex details reserved for the privacy of those who wear them – diamonds unlike a file, beautiful liners In hand and complex embroidery that imitates the complex tissue complex, ”explains Mukherjee.