Manish Arora Fall 2013: Celebrating the independent woman

A trip to Nevada sparked the inspiration for Indian designer Manish Arora’s Fall 2013 collection – more specifically, the Burning Man event and its philosophy that free expression will lead to the fulfillment of any dream.  It is a belief that Arora reinforced in the five-minute short film that preceded his Bangkok International Fashion Week show, just days after Diwali.  In it, radiant Indian women of all shapes and sizes clad in colorful traditional costume celebrated the Holi festival in the streets.  The reenacted scenes were heavy with significance, with 2013 being the first year that widows (traditionally shunned in Indian society) were allowed to celebrate the coming of spring in the town of Vrindavan.

With multiple undertones for the type of strong, independent woman that Arora has in mind for his fashion, it’s no wonder that artists such as Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Rihanna, are fans of his work.  Arora’s show in Bangkok exhibited this same spirit, with a kaleidoscope of tradition colliding with a glamorous masquerade ball.  Preferring not to shy away from color despite the intended season, Arora’s neon tones of orange, yellow and pink, contrasting with shades of green and blue, incorporated all sorts of materials ranging from faux fur to neoprene.  Pieces included sequined floral prints, long-sleeved mini-dresses, and matching embellished iPad cases and clutches.  Arora also included knitwear for the first time, in addition to a lingerie collaboration with Insensee and a jewelry collaboration with Amrapali.

Video: Manish Arora Fall 2013 – Bangkok International Fashion Week
video by Yuan-Kwan Chan / Meniscus Magazine