Rhubarb, a new 1,100sqft fashion den at Chakraberia Road, is all about weaving tales of timeless elegance through its modern silhouettes and designs. Housing a wide range of occasionwear, fusion pret and party westerns, the brand caters to both men and women. Helmed by 30-year-old Aakriti Harlalka, a Pearl Academy design graduate and an alumnus of Domus Academy in Milan, Rhubarb’s USP lies in its affordability.
Aakriti, who always wanted to be a ‘durzi’ while growing up, said: “As a child, I used to see my grandmother design with the help of the sewing machine. I grew up in a house where our everyday clothes were stitched and mall clothes were used for wearing outside. I used to find it cool to select designs from magazines at the tailoring shop and wanted to be a durzi. Getting through design school made me both a durzi and a designer. I also got the bestselling collection award at my graduation from Manish Malhotra and Rahul Mishra.”
Having a creative mindset and taking inspiration from ‘emotions’ took her on the journey to start her own brand two months back. “Rhubarb stands for elegance, timelessness and subtle grandeur. Emotions play a certain role in evoking a certain sense of style. I love reading and it is also a major source of my inspiration. I get inspired by the Indian mythical or legendary characters. Reading about strong women evokes a certain sense of emotions and poems, too. Most of the collections that I did in college are also inspired by emotions. And this defines the brand’s design aesthetic. It is timeless elegance and cherished traditions reimagined with a modern flair,” said Aakriti.
An Anamika Khanna fan, Aakriti aspires to have a signature style for her brand going ahead in future. “I think I want to dress every woman, I hope every house has a Rhubarb in their wardrobe. That is what I aspire for. Our brand has something for everyone under the same roof. We are budget-friendly and do custom tailoring and upcycling of old heirlooms and saris. We offer after-sales services, too. Along with our design progress, I want the brand to be a commercial success, too,” said Aakriti.
Metallic and pastel nudes make this a subtle-glam frame exuding elegance. Tanisha De in a metallic salmon palazzo sari, contemporarily styled with an embellished corseted blouse; Sevina Kahlon in a pre-pleated draped sari and corseted blouse; Rangeet Raheel in a latte-coloured silk kurta embellished with mirror and threadwork.
(L-R) Sevina channelled a gorgeous look in this exquisite pleated silver foil lehnga paired with a bustier blouse, adorned with crystals, Swarovski and cutdanadetailing. The organza dupatta is worn wrapped around the blouse to complete the look.| Rangeet channelled a smart Indian ethnic look designed with contemporary cuts. The silk ombre set consists of a textured angrakha - styled draped kurta, paired with harem pants.
“A lion is a symbol of royalty and walks with a certain ‘adhab ’. That is Rhubarb the brand and our first collection Adhab. It is for both men and women who appreciate the blend of Indian culture. The collection offers versatile pieces that range from ethnic wear to fusion wear. It has earthy colours with modern silhouettes and modern colours with embroidery work and regal subdued elegance. My ensemble has a touch of the old motifs but the feel and vibrancy of contemporary times. In this collection, we have worked with modern silhouettes, modern cuts and sharply tailored jackets along with drapes, corseted bustiers and timeless anarkalis. In design detailing, we have used aari work, zardozi, crystal beading, Swarovski and glass beading as a part of the embroidery. Embroidery and cutwork are inspired by beehives. I was inspired by the way beehives are made. The silhouettes are easy-breezy kaftans, free-flowing capes and fitted jackets. I wanted to celebrate all body types. The mood is quite fun and has a modern Indian undertone. I felt inspired by the idea of an urban empowered woman who is confident as well as rooted in her culture,” said Aakriti about her new collection Adhab.