Rescha’s New Collection Fluidly Intersects Indian Textiles With French Silhouettes

An experimental luxury brand launched in 2022, ‘Rescha’, which translates to ‘resha’ in Hindi (meaning high quality yarn) puts forth a shared cultural narrative of Indian and French craftsmanship. It was founded by Central Saint Martins graduate Charlotte Chowdhury, who seeks to honour the vibrant fashion landscape of the two lands and showcase her own multicultural roots. Hence, crafting a hybrid brand identity that channels the rich ethos and sensibilities of multiple countries by further deconstructing them through a contemporary lens.  

Their recent collection utilises the iconic silk saree to engineer ingenious silhouettes that reflect a distinctly French design language; exploring the versatility of the traditional garment by making the saree more utilitarian and wearable for the younger generations. Chowdhury also honours the gods of Indian cinema by juxtaposing the famous fabrics adorned by leading ladies such as Zardozi embroidery and the subtle fits noticed on the streets of france. Visualising playful garments for the ‘It Girls’ of the Dharma universe that each one of us grew up with. 

This collection named UN (one) remodels traditional Indian textiles with the use of classic silhouettes from France. Hence, effortlessly moulding the sartorial sensibilities of multicultural identities. The nostalgic collection also revisits the fashion of the 70's and 80’s, taking cues from the patterns and textures of the times. Their clothing could remind one of the striped clothing of the time or of the gamcha patterns that remain an integral part of India's visual design. 

Through the study of personal narratives and heritage textile techniques, the brand is also channelling a new future for the artisans. By focusing on the very real impact of their skills and making their craftsmanship the foundation of the collections they are further promoting a conscious means of production and building a brand identity that is synonymous with their sustainable ethos. 

You can explore the collection here.

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