Abhishek Dutta celebrated his two decades in fashion designing on February 17 with the launch of his Spring/Summer ’24 collection called ‘Metamorphosis of a Butterfly’, in association with Annapurna Swadisht. The show was indeed aptly named, showcasing a butterfly’s rites of passage from a caterpillar to a butterfly through textures and colours, signifying the designer’s eponymous label’s journey through such transformative cycles into something notable two decades later.
The show location? The Eiffel Tower replica in New Town. Abhishek again aptly chose the location to add meaning to the showcase. A monument which is historically symbolic of one of the fashion capitals of the world — Paris. The 55-metre tower in Eco Park, glistening with lights, was a sight to behold, setting the ambience for the grand show aptly enough to transport the audience, even if for a split second, to the real location in Paris through its look and feel!
Ankita Singh in a leather laser-cut bralette featuring EL lights, paired with a custom-printed pleated asymmetrical sheer skirt
The ramp was set on the ground in a semi-circular manner on one side of the tower and the spectators’ seating arrangement was lined along it.
The show began with heartfelt gratitude to all who supported the designer in his journey and a look back at the highlight moments of his journey through AV presentations. A spotlight following the lift descending inside the tower captured the audience’s attention, and the models walked out of it for the walk on the ramp. Spectacular and innovative shows are Abhishek’s signature, and for his milestone show, he uncompromisingly defined it better and bolder stating clearly that when it comes to a show in his city and the place where it all started for his label, he is indeed hard to beat in this aspect.
“The event was more than just a celebration; it was also about my unwavering passion and dedication to this craft. It symbolised the fusion of art, fashion and dreams, and a promise of even greater achievements in the years to come. With the generous support of the Government of West Bengal, we held the event for the first time ever at this stunning location,” said Abhishek.
Archer Deepika Kumari, an Olympian and Arjuna Awardee, graced the ramp in a cocoon-inspired hand-embroidered lapel jacket detailed with sheer panels. It was teamed with a leather corset and a pleated sheer skirt
On the ramp, segregated into three sequences, the cycle of life of this beautiful creature was depicted in design through a colour story, woven in which was the designer’s exploration and experimentation with textiles and textures. The collection being a spring/summer range, the colour story was meaningfully yet strategically chosen for the seasons, too. Starting with a beige, green, grey and mauve palette representing the caterpillar stage, the palette changed to the trending peaches and oranges; and finally blue, highlighted with vibrant summer hues. “The Spring/Summer ’24 collection draws inspiration from the enchanting metamorphosis of butterflies, skilfully translating their graceful evolution into a mesmerising sequence of garments. It is a couture and diffusion collection where each piece tells a compelling story of transformation, with the initial stages portrayed through subtle and muted tones. As the narrative progresses, the collection bursts into life with a vibrant array of colours progressing from peaches to orange and blue, symbolising the metamorphosis from caterpillar to the emergence of a beautiful butterfly,” said Abhishek.
The range of silhouettes was a play between structured, drapes and flows. Detail-oriented, the emphasis on craftsmanship in this collection stood out with laser-cutting, leather accents, applique, prints, embroideries and embellishments. From power suits with trendy elevated shoulders to futuristic 3D designs, texturing with leather and an array of drapes and cuts, the show was spectacular not only for the creative set-up but also in terms of the collection that Abhishek showed.
Kutubuddin Sheikh in a smart, bright blue zipper shirt kurta designed with butterfly applique and leather shoulder detailing. It was paired with slim pants
“The collection boasts of silhouettes with exaggerated sleeves, shoulders and high necks. Signature jackets embellished with sequins, French knots and leather accents, and sheer and flowy fabrics are artfully juxtaposed with leather to symbolise the transformation from cocoon to butterfly. The meticulous attention to detail is evident in the craftsmanship, showcased through delicate French knots, intricate machine embroidery, digital printing, precise laser-cutting and more,” added Abhishek talking about the collection.
Abhishek and the team walked together at the end to a round of applause from the audience, who was noticeably mesmerised and delighted with the presentation.