Vogue ‘Forces Of Fashion’
The globally recognized and highly anticipated Vogue ‘Forces of Fashion’ is back for its third edition in India taking place between 14th-16th October 2024. This year, the event features a fashion exhibition at the Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke in Mumbai, centred around the theme of “The Power of the Indian Runway.” A coveted space that has housed contemporary Indian art within its minimalistic ambience for years, will now pave the way for the burgeoning Indian fashion industry — showcasing a selection of archival pieces and installations from 40 remarkable designers.
Head of Editorial Content, Vogue India, Rochelle Pinto shares insights with Blur The Border on the vision for this global marquee event—one that aims to reflect each of the designer’s house codes, inspirations and a dialogue between tradition and modernity. “It was a dream to create something that would allow the audience to engage with Vogue and fashion beyond the magazine or seeing it on their phone screens,”she says, echoing a broader narrative of the exhibition.
Given that the audience has lacked access to such an experience since fashion has often been associated with exclusivity, it is encouraging to see how prominent editorial platforms are now taking the lead in offering audiences a deeper understanding of the craftsmanship that goes into designers' work.
Curated alongside fashion and lifestyle journalist, editor, and writer Varun Rana, an exhibition of this scale required significant efforts, “We worked with each of the designers to hone their ideas and push the boundaries, and I could not be more grateful for their generous efforts. It's a testament to the power of Vogue that so many designers gave us their time and creativity,” says Rochelle.
What’s particularly noteworthy is how this initiative has successfully brought together designers from various segments—both veteran and emerging—under one roof, suggesting that the fashion landscape is experiencing a significant transformation. “I believe firmly in inclusion and democracy,” says Rochelle referring to the dynamic roster including Anju Modi, Abraham & Thakore, Shantanu Nikhil, Tarun Tahiliani, 11.11, Huemn, Pero, and Rahul Mishra. “We wanted to give equal space to all participating designers. I'm grateful to the designers who agreed to work with us in this way. Selection is never easy when you have such a rich pool of talent to choose from, it's like being invited to an Indian wedding buffet and being given only a quarter plate to eat from. We wanted to showcase different styles and techniques, including a mix of popular names and ones that people may not be as familiar with, and highlight designers who have a strong point of view.”
Events such as ‘Forces of Fashion’ have begun to foster a sense of community beyond what can be experienced online. Undoubtedly, while we have moulded our lives towards experiencing the world through reels and digital images, an intimate and in-person immersive experience becomes essential. “This allows so many people to experience the incredible creativity of our fashion community in real life,” Each designer at the exhibition will bring their own distinct vision—from a fashion-infused bioscope to miniaturised couture, hand-embellished artworks to fantastic dolls. For Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna, “The installation is presented on a new aged gunmetal beaten bioscope and a matt pedestal, complementing the dynamic visuals and adding a touch of sophistication to this fashion retrospective. For a fully immersive experience, we have provided headphones for the viewers to be transported through the decades of style, creativity, and vision that define RGRK.” Such immersive experiences promise an engaging day-long event for the audience.
‘Forces of Fashion’ represents more than just an exhibition. With each designer honing different mediums to represent their respective house codes, it reveals a pivotal intersection between art and fashion, blurring borders where history informs the contemporary, the purveyors of fashion and their audience. Events like these bring together the industry, allowing us to gain a deeper understanding of the diversity and depth of the Indian retail landscape, and help us champion all the international growth opportunities coming our way, collectively.