Beyoncé’s recent Renaissance world tour was not only a musical spectacle but also a fashion extravaganza. Throughout her three-hour sets, she showcased numerous dazzling looks, and one of the standout ensembles was a flowing neon green sari, a traditional South Asian outfit. The design was the creation of Indian fashion designer Gaurav Gupta, who spent countless hours perfecting the piece.
Gaurav had the honor of designing three looks for Beyoncé’s world tour. In addition to the neon green sari, he also crafted a gem-encrusted gown and a crystal body suit. Both the sari and the gown were originally showcased during Gaurav’s runway shows at Paris Fashion Week and required meticulous attention to detail during the design and creation process. The sari alone took over 200 hours to create, with Gaurav and his team dedicating more than 700 hours to hand stitching 50,000 crystals, sequins, and beads into the gown. The crystal body suit, a unique design specifically made for Beyoncé, took over 500 hours to complete from start to finish.
Indian culture and saris hold a central place in Gaurav’s designs. Although he did not initially include saris in his collection after returning to Delhi from fashion school, he eventually reevaluated their significance. Gaurav believes that the sari is one of the most ancient costumes in the world and has a global appeal. He infuses his designs with Indian culture and myth, drawing inspiration from abstract concepts and elements found in nature, such as patterns in clouds, stars, and comets. Gaurav aims to combine traditional Indian ideas with a “sexier, younger, cooler” flair, a concept he refers to as “future primitive.”
Beyoncé is not the only A-list client that Gaurav has dressed in recent years. He has also created stunning looks for Megan Thee Stallion, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and Cardi B, among others. One of his most notable creations was the gown worn by Cardi B at the Grammys, which was widely regarded as one of the best looks of the night. Gaurav thrives under pressure, often having to create dresses in a matter of days. Despite the challenges, he finds the process exciting and sees his work as an opportunity to collaborate with like-minded individuals who are on a certain level in life.
Looking to the future, Gaurav has an extensive list of stars he hopes to collaborate with, including Harry Styles, Adele, Zendaya, Deepika Padukone, and Lady Gaga. He believes that there is a moment happening for India and Indians globally, and he feels fortunate to be a part of it. The past two years have been particularly magical for Gaurav, and he looks forward to continuing to bring Indian culture to an international stage.
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Original Story at www.bbc.com – 2023-12-05 16:50:07
