INDIA IN FASHION

Exhibition

Mumbai India
2023

India in Fashion explores the beautiful and sophisticated history and aesthetics of traditional Indian fashion, dress, and textiles and their profound impact on European and American fashion from the eighteenth century to today

The sheer scale of the centre’s hall allowed us to design a number of impressive pavillions inspired by Indian architectural traditions and ancient monuments. Each space told a different story through the clothes and architecture all making part of a complete narrative. Together with Mumbai based architect Rooshad Shroff we worked closely with local artisans to develop and construct spaces using traditional techniques and materials in order to showcase Indian craftsmanship alongside its rich fashion history

The Hippie Trail pavillion design was inspired by the Jantar Mantars of India. These are an assembly of early 18th century stone-built astronomical instruments all around India designed to be used with the naked eye to study the sky

The structure of the YSL building was assembled by countless steel wires individually welded together to create an enormous monolith echoing the characteristics of India’s ancient step wells

All materials used to construct the exhibition were later disassembled and given a new life in Mumbai’s Dharavi district, an incredible “recycling machine” serving the city on a daily basis

Alexander Ragnar with Patrick Kinmonth & Rooshad Shroff oversaw the design delivery of the project from concept through to completion with a team of designers

Creative Direction: Patrick Kinmonth
Curation: Hamish Bowles & Molly Sorkin
Exhibition Design: Patrick Kinmonth, Rooshad Shroff & Alexander Ragnar
Lighting Design: Studio ZNA

Production Company: 70EMG

Video courtesy of Rooshad Shroff & Patrick Kinmonth Studio
Photo courtesy of NMACC
3D Drawings by Alexander Ragnar, Rooshad Shroff & Patrick Kinmonth Studio
Sketches by Alexander Ragnar