Rahul Mishra awarded French honour of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres: 5 standout collections by the fashion designer

French Ambassador to India, Emmanuel Lenain, presenting the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) honour on Rahul Mishra on September 12 (Photo: Courtesy of the Embassy of France)

The first Indian designer to participate in the Paris Haute Couture Week in 2020, Rahul Mishra received the French government's Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) honour on September 12, an award previously won by his compatriots Ritu Kumar, Ritu Beri, Wendell Rodricks and Manish Arora.

Chintz, Rahul Mishra's collection in the India in Fashion exhibition at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, Mumbai this year (Photo: Courtesy of Rahul Mishra design house)

A staunch advocate of ethical and sustainable fashion, Mishra's works that highlight the highest standards and craft of local artisans in India, have been shown at prestigious fashion weeks in Paris, Milan and Mumbai. His creations, which reflect the country's remarkable traditions in hand-woven textile and embroidery, have been worn by celebrities like actors Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Zendaya and Viola Davis. The New Delhi-based designer, who has flagship stores in Mumbai and Delhi, leads his design house on the philosophy of environment, employment and empowerment.

Another feather in his cap

Fashion designer Rahul Mishra received the French government's top award for outstanding achievement in the field of arts and promoting Indian crafts and know-how internationally (Photo: Courtesy of the Embassy of France)

Before this year's Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters), awarded by the government of France, Mishra was awarded the Rarete Award (Rare Talent of the Year) in Paris in 2019,   the International Fashion Award for Sustainable and Ethical Brand, Chambre Monégasque de la Mode in Monte Carlo in 2018, the International Woolmark Prize in Milan in 2015, among others. In India, he's received the National Award for Special Achievement in Fashion in 2019 and the Best Green Initiative by a Designer at the Consortium of Green Fashion Awards in 2013.

Here's a look at some of his iconic works:

Cosmos, Paris Haute Couture Week, Spring, 2023

Cosmos, fashion designer Rahul Mishra's collection at the Paris Haute Couture Week, Spring, 2023 mixed fantasy and existentialism in his spectacular design of hand embroidery (Photo: Courtesy of Rahul Mishra design house)

Inspired by an ancient Sanskrit verse, Yat pinde tat brahmande (What is outside lies within you), the Cosmos collection points to the emotions stirred by the many elements of the universe in human beings. Special characters from nature like birds and migratory cranes are symbolically used to explore the world through traditional stitching techniques.

We, The People, Paris Haute Couture Week, Fall/Winter, 2023

We, The People collection at the Paris Haute Couture Week, Fall/Winter 2023, was Rahul Mishra's tribute to local artisans (Photo: Courtesy of Rahul Mishra design house)

Lavender-coloured sari and bralette in silver, skirt and blouse in net fabric and gown and leggings in georgette and shimmer net comprise the collection that celebrates the craft of the artisans across the country. The works reflect the philosophy of presenting fashion as a tool to create participation and empower the local craft community of the country.

The Tree of Life, Paris Haute Couture Week, Fall, 2022

Rahul Mishra reminisces about his childhood environment in his The Tree of Life collection at the Paris Haute Couture Week, Fall 2022 (Photo: Courtesy of Rahul Mishra design house)

The sunken city of Atlantis is imagined in this collection as gleaming in gold over a vivid coral reef. Looking beyond the designer's Cosmos collection, The Tree of Life stresses on the small things, like a drop of water, that forms the universe. The collection relates to the slowed-down process of hand-weaving and hand embroidery that allows to build sustainable livelihoods for more than 1,000 artisans.

Architecture, Paris Haute Couture Week, Fall, 2021

Rahul Mishra's Architecture collection, Paris Haute Couture Week, Fall, 2021

The cubiform houses in the Aegean Sea island of Santorini form the basis for the Architecture collection in the fourth outing of the designer at the Paris Haute Couture Week. Rahul Mishra dug deep into architecture and its accompanying aesthetics during the pandemic and the lockdown to gather ideas for the design and style.

Van Gogh, Paris Fashion Week, 2017

Rahul Mishra's Van Gogh collection, Paris Fashion Week, 2017

Post-impressionist Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers inspired Rahul Mishra to unleash 3D embroidery for his new collection. Mishra also brought French neo-impressionist master Paul Signac's pointillism, a colour-mixing philosophy, to his craft while creating a new design language. The collection subtly hides the sadness that defined Van Gogh's life within the beauty of the bright colours.