Much after you had left Mumbai’s Jio World Convention Centre last Thursday, The Bombay Choir’s rendition of Dum dara mast, Main tenu samjhawan, Nahin saamne tu and Gerua remained with you, the lilting melodies almost like a comforting lullaby. And, the perfect complement for Manish Malhotra’s almost meditative Bridal Couture Show, partnered by CenturyLaminates. A collection packed with the most tranquil whites and dynamic blacks. The all-white looks on him and her had a dream-like translucent beauty. So bold yet so demure.
There was the glimmer of gold and the shine of silver, but the MM bride on Thursday was radiantly understated in her offbeat bridal hues, fuss-free pristineness, dewy makeup and statement jewellery. Manish packed in sensuality in the veils, in the trails and in the drapes. There was drama on the sleeves and accessories.
The striking modernity of Manish’s muses was oh-so-haute. The many different cholis spelt oomph and spoke of Manish’s constant passion to reinvent, his penchant for the contemporary-classic.
His grooms were smart in their sherwanis and achkans. In prints and embroidery. A turban flowing into a dramatic trail was a standout as was an all-white look that was decadently simple.
The models emerged from behind a life-size glistening MM logo that formed the backdrop and perhaps a reminder of the journey Manish has had. Eighteen long years of his eponymous label. A significant chapter in his over three decades of mastery as a champion costume designer whose attention to detail was evident in the glittering gloves and finger embellishments.
The range showcased a huge variety, befitting the diverse tastes that’s India, drawing from many sensibilities, but underlined by a certain rootedness. The universal Indian bride would be home in a cutout bodysuit paired with a flowy number as in a lehnga. Or, in her little white dress, draped in a billowy veil.
Pure romance.
Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani costars Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh paired up for a show-stopping moment. The The Telegraph lens caught them at their candid best. In the audience was Alia’s mother Soni Razdan, and Ranveer’s wife, actress Deepika Padukone.
The curtains had just come down on the show and backstage was a flurry of activities. The showstoppers — Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh — were getting photographed. Manish Malhotra joined in. The Telegraph managed to speak to Manish briefly amidst the hullabaloo, the magical chaos of a fashion show.
The collection was beautiful...
It was a bridal collection. I wanted to do something different in terms of colour tones. Everything was muted. There was ivory, cream, gold, oyster grey....
Very glamorous...
Glamour is what I know and work with. We worked on the collection for three months... our artisans in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai (worked on the collection). So, giving that twist because now if you see on social media, there are so many weddings and clothes, but how do you do that one thing that stands out? It is important to blend craft and timelessness to modernity and glamour.
CenturyLaminates by Manish Malhotra (CenturyLaminates tied up with Manish recently and launched ‘fashion for your furniture range’. They were also the co-sponsors for his Bridal Couture Show) look great. How was it to collaborate with the Kolkata-based company?
It was great collaborating with Keshav [Bhajanka, executive director, Century Plyboards (India) Limited] and CenturyLaminates because both of us are keen to do innovative, younger and newer work. We are conscious that we are known for our quality and work but there is always that extra step that you need to take with the changing trends and time and what I found in Keshav is that he is very keen to do that, to move with time and keep reinventing. That's something I want to do and keep doing constantly. If you see what we have done together and the way the ad has been shot, it's very today. A lot of people will identify with the product or what we are trying to say. Even in the pricing, I think they are brilliant. They want to reach a lot more people and that is also something that I wanted to do. There is no point in designing or collaborating when only a few people will acquire it. It is important to reach out to a lot more people. That is their ambition and that is my goal too.
You have done homes before. How was this different?
This was different because I wasn't decorating a house but we were taking from our work and designing walls and laminates for people's homes. So, a part of me will be in their homes and that makes you feel special. Whether it's a collaboration with make-up or jewellery, the whole idea is to reach out via different platforms.
The designs look like art...
We went down our archives and saw some of the last shows and then along with my graphic team, chose the motifs. There had to be a strong identification. For the younger generation, we have a Diffuse collection, so we have Diffuse laminates.
You are house-proud yourself. How are homes changing?
Homes are changing.... people are liking their spaces and making it their own. The personalities of people are coming into their homes and CenturyLaminates is helping them do that.
The brand is getting younger by the day...
The brand or me? (Laughs)
Both!
The whole idea is to keep reinventing and connecting to a wider audience and I have never been this person that 'I know it all'. You have to keep learning and that's life.
What's your tip to great work-life balance?
I just try to do the best for every moment! My day begins at 5.30-6am. I am an early riser....
The Telegraph caught up with Keshav Bhajanka, executive director, Century Plyboards (India) Limited, in Mumbai ahead of Manish Malhotra’s The Bridal Couture Show at Lotus Ballroom, Jio World Convention Centre, on July 20, to chat about CenturyLaminates by Manish Malhotra and collaborating with the designer.
How did the collaboration come about?
This is majorly due to my wife (Sanjana Bhajanka). She said we needed to do something different and why don’t we look at bringing fashion to furniture. That got me thinking. Once a laminate is put, no one knows what laminate it is because then it could be any brand. How do we bring something that the customer recognises? We decided to create branded designer laminates. Towards that end, we decided to tie up someone who has redefined fashion. Then Manishji becomes the obvious choice... the way he has taken cinema by storm and then moved into the fashion world. This range of laminates will be unlike anything this industry has seen.
How long did it take to execute the project?
I think we conceptualised the idea about two years ago and were finally able to connect with him a year ago. Even after the tie-up, we were working on the manufacturing processes. Once all of that happened, we connected and it took us three-four months to decide how to work together and then within a year we were able to do this.
How many designs do you have?
We have 35 designs available in two finishes — gloss and matte.
What was the process like?
My brief to him was to be Manish Malhotra! Just do something which is radically different and let’s have some fun. He said we’ll come up with something that will change the way people perceive laminates. The idea was to also showcase how it integrates into a household. He said he would create a range that would be all-encompassing, with all colour palettes, with fusion, elegance, and monograms. All of these have been made in Kolkata. When the first look and feel came up, we were shocked because we had no idea that a laminate could look like this. The concept is novel.
What was the most fulfilling part of working with Manish?
The attention to detail that he has... every single piece is an expression of that.
What has changed in the homespace?
The one change after Covid is that people want to go for branded products. Prior to Covid, a lot of people would come home to just sleep. Now (with more and more people working from home), they want it to be as warm and fancy as possible. I think whoever can afford a larger space will move. People are going to become much more expressive with their personal styles. They want a reflection of their personality in their homes. I think access to information and variety has changed the game. People are looking to get functionality with aesthetics. They are looking at taller ceiling heights and with all the fancy hardware, you can take advantage of a 10ft cabinet. Earlier the last two feet were there for the heck of it. People are also preferring modular furniture a little bit more. For an urban working couple, they don’t want to spend too much time with a carpenter inside the house, which means they’d also need to stay home.
Pictures: Sandip Das
