Mrunalini Rao presents ‘Utpala’ at LFW

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Feb 17, 2020

Womenswear designer Mrunalini Rao presented a lotus-inspired collection entitled ‘Utpala’ on day five of Lakmé Fashion Week in Mumbai, featuring hand-crafted details and bold, bright hues.

 
Mrunalini Rao presented a highly feminine and romantic collection on the runway on Sunday at Lakmé Fashion Week’s 20th anniversary edition. Lehengas and sarees featured lotus motifs, the inspiration for and name of the collection, and garments were soft and nostalgic.
 
Bollywood actress, Athiya Sherry, closed the show with the designer and wore an embellished lehenga with a red, halter-style top and pink floral skirt featuring yellow inserts. The runway was decorated with flowers and grass and models wore soft makeup and ethereally swept hair.

“Utpala is a summer collection inspired by the serene lotus,” the brand announced on Facebook.

“The beauty of this ethereal flower is reinterpreted by the designer into an abstract work of art. The Utpala Collection flaunts a colour palette that’s directly derived from the real essence of the flower and its surroundings.” 
 
“Each piece in the collection is crafted with a reverence for traditional artistry and showcases elements such as hand zardozi embroidery, thread embellishments, and appliqué,” announced Rao.

The collection also included bright, hand-painted prints and textiles including organza, silk, and chiffon. 
 
Lakmé Fashion Week began on February 12 and ended on February 16 at the JioWorld Garden in Mumbai. The fashion week featured a sustainable fashion day, showcase for up-and-coming designers, and jewellery program.