DOCUMENTING DESIGN: RAHUL MISHRA ON THE FUTURE OF INDIAN FASHION

Acclaimed designer Rahul Mishra has emphasised the urgent need to archive the design histories of the Indian fashion industry, which is widely celebrated for its vibrant textiles and intricate craftsmanship.

Pic Credit Rahul Mishra Instagram

Rahul Mishra noted during a media interaction that “one of the most pressing challenges for the Indian fashion industry is the lack of formal infrastructure around how we document, preserve, and build upon our work. There is very little culture of archiving collections or systematically recording design histories, which makes the evolution of fashion here feel less structured than it actually is."

He further noted that this gap extends to areas such as intellectual property and conservation with the absence of proper documentation, designers often struggle to protect or contextualize their work effectively.

The designer goes on to explain that the Indian fashion industry is largely driven by cultural context and occasions, rather than the seasonal cycles typical of Western fashion.

“Much of fashion in India is also rooted in the idea of conservation of keeping traditions alive rather than individual authorship alone. I believe that building stronger systems of documentation, design thinking, and long-term value while remaining rooted in this unique context, can be truly transformative ," he says.

Pic Credit Rahul Mishra Instagram

The recently held Lakme Fashion Week 2026, from March 19 to 22, Rahul showcased his latest collection titled White Gold, in which he reimagined cotton fabric within the realm of high-fashion couture. “Our approach was not to transform cotton, but to present it with the sensitivity and context it deserves. The collection is a small expression of that ongoing exploration," he added.

The ace designer aims to reinterpret existing Indian textiles rather than working with entirely new materials. He works with fabrics such as Bandhani, wool tartans, Madras checks, Maheshwari silks, Chanderi, and Khadi in ways that feel both respectful and contemporary. He mentions, “these textiles carry their own history and context... For me, the excitement lies not in introducing something new, but in reinterpreting what already exists, and presenting it in a way that allows it to be seen with renewed relevance."