Here's what Rahul Mishra's, Rimzim Dadu's, and Dior's latest collections have in common

Fashion and nature are intrinsically connected since time immemorial—from nature being the only source of fashion once upon a time (think animal skin, fur, and other organic materials used to create durable coverings) to it coming to be the fashion industry's go-to muse today. Nature's diversity and versatility have guided multiple designers who have gone on to create designs that reflect its vibrancy, drama, and delicateness. Here's a look at how designers incorporate nature in their works.
 
Emblems 

One of the most obvious influences of nature is its replication on fabric. Couturiers like Rahul Mishra extensively use nature-inspired motifs in their designs. His latest showcase at Paris Haute Couture Week saw multiple designs with embellishments and tigers on them. For influencer Alanna Panday’s tropical oasis mehendi, Mishra designed a stunning lehenga that reflected the theme of the event. The base colour was a pastel green and the bottom of the skirt was covered in a dainty flower pattern. The top part of the skirt had trees and plants, complete with little giraffes. The true showstopper, however, was the blouse, which had two hand-embroidered gold kissing cranes, complete with 3D feathers.
 

Dior is another brand that uses motifs from nature. In Dior’s Fall '23 show, we saw the use of fabric with prints that are reflect India’s wilderness; think elephants and peacocks. From bags and pants, to complete sets, they all featured stunning birds and animals that celebrate the diverse flora and fauna of the country. We even saw a complete tiger-print coat. Dior’s Savoir Faire Capsule also features intricately designed watches that reflect the cosmos and the wilderness.

Colours

Nature gives us a multitude of hues, from the azure oceans and the shades of greens in the forests, to the bright pops of colour from flowers and animals. Designers have taken inspiration from these myriad of hues. Carolina Herrera’s Resort 2024 collection showcased designs in rich, eye-catching colours like summery yellows and oranges and some sky blues. These vibrant colours combined with textures, give a sense of life to the outfit—the smoothness of silk reflects softly flowing river water; plush velvet reflects soft moss; and the unfinished texture of jute reflects rugged mountain terrain.

Elements

The five key elements of nature—water, fire, earth, air, and ether (space)—have been incorporated into a large variety of designs over the years. Alexander McQueen's Fall 1998 show featured designs that screamed 'fire'. The outfits were bold and red, and at one point even the runway was set on fire to drive home the inspiration. The elements play an imperative role when it comes to designing silhouettes. Rimzim Dadu presented her collection, Hydrochromic, at India Couture Week recently, and although the colours were not instant reminders of water, the silhouettes and textures were of water cascading down a waterfall. Iris Van Herpen’s Spring/Summer 2020 collection represented flowy printed pieces, all of which resembled marine organisms. India Couture Week in 2021 saw Amit Agarwal's collection, ‘Metanoia' which explored the elements of air, earth, and water.

Nature is ever evolving and will continue to provide us with inspiration till the end of time. However, with fast fashion at an all time high, and global warming at a critical level, we have reached a stage where we could be destroying this very muse. It is up to us to maintain the sanctity of nature and not destroy it in the name of fashion.