Gaurav Gupta Studio proudly opened the first-ever-digital show in India in association with FDCI’s ICW 2020 (India Couture Week) on 18th September at 8 pm. The pandemic and the lockdown; that followed shortly after, gave us a moment to hit pause on our lives. It was a moment to reflect on our actions, relationships, beliefs, the power of art, fashion and creativity. Gaurav Gupta couture discovered a narrative that stirs the existing dialogue, with love where boundaries are patched. Where narrow corridors of division, cults and definitions are pushed far and wide to make space for love—the only name that matters. The story is not shy, it’s not angry. It aims to rise above the storm and focus all its light on love.
About Gaurav Gupta Couture
Love: love for self, love for all genders, love for all body shapes, love for all ethnicities, love for all sexualities. Love for inclusivity. There is a new wave of social change in India which has been exposed only in pockets but hasn’t received a mainstream platform—the campaign is meticulously curated in order to uphold authenticity and capture a true sense of rawness which is vulnerable yet utterly endearing at the same time. While we were casting, we discovered beautiful stories were differences and sexualities were not just accepted but celebrated. We were enamoured by these individuals’ sheer optimism; their experiences felt familiar yet bold and their stories needed to be heard.
At Gaurav Gupta, the team is honoured to represent their courage, their candour, their honesty and their interpretation of love in its most real form. From Anjali Lama: a trans-female supermodel, Tarun: a non-binary model taking a forefront in International campaigns and owning his feminine and masculine side gracefully in front of the camera, Nitya: a body-positive woman, Vee: a trans-male model effortlessly showcasing his true self, two boys in love with each other-Rudra and Anurag to two girls in love with each other-Manauti and Anjali, happily living-in with their parents. They’re celebrating all kinds of love, indeed a revolutionary and emotional moment to be seen and celebrated. In this process, they also discovered models from Jharkhand, Haryana and Assam who are oozing the potential and confidence to take over the International runway very soon.
Navkirat Sodhi, the magical poetess has written and recited ‘Name Is Love’, our original soundtrack for the show with original music composition by Sahil Vasudeva—the track is available across platforms like Soundcloud and Spotify.
Suneet Varma Couture 2020
The collection is a modern and Theatrical representation of the modern Indian woman who lives in the “today” – yet embraces the romance of traditional Indian couture – which is like a sixth sense of seduction. It has its own vocabulary and language, like an elaborate braid entwined with history, myth and tradition. It may be modern, Whimsical or demure- but always magnificent and carefully crafted. The Mix of Traditional Motifs with Abstract artworks enhanced by the age-old Crafts of India makes for a Perfect – Feminine, Romantic and Modern Woman.
Says Suneet ” I believe Fashion is the politest way of speaking about sex- But I like the subtle unspoken word, left to the imagination of the wearer. The glamour and sensuality in this collection come through the use of sheer and lucid fabrics, the delicate placement of embellishments, the drapes and the unexpected details- and what they reveal or conceal.”
