Mishra creates opportunities for India’s wool weavers

Rahul Mishra, winner of the coveted International Woolmark Prize

(IWP) in Milan, was honoured at the recent Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) Autumn/Winter 2014 for his achievement. He also presented exclusive designs from his A/W ‘14-15 collection on the second day of the fashion extravaganza. Titled ‘The Lotus Effect’, his range was inspired by the eight petal white lotus. According to Lord Buddha, the eight petal white lotus is found at the heart of Garbhadhatu Mandala (womb) of the world. Taking inspiration from Buddha's philosophy that lotus is found in womb of the world, Mishra portrayed the journey of human race and the process of metamorphosis that earth has undergone in the last century.

On the first floor of luxury emporium Harvey Nichols, a collection of Rahul Mishra, made from 80 percent merino wool is stocked. His designs are inspired by the Dutch artist M C Escher and Indian lotus flower, feature hexagon shapes all stitched onto flattering and unusual cocktail-style dresses.

What’s unique about his designs, apart from them being made of merino wool is that the designs are hand-made by the workers at his factory in India. His aim is to create opportunities for talented peoples from the country, for which he has decided to slow down the process of making a garment so that he can employ more people. As of now, his business supports 500 families across India, who weave his designs, which are then assembled and tailored at a single factory unit.