Our expert panellists at the first-ever Manifest Salon weigh in on what a modern Indian bride looks for in her wedding trousseau…
While the Indian bridal trousseau has always been a maximalist dream, is the modern bride moving away from that tradition? The answer, as the experts put it, is not that simple.
During the panel discussion at the recently held Manifest Salon, moderator Kalyani Saha Chawla raised the question to Delhi-based designer Karan Torani. The designer was on the panel with fellow titans of the wedding industry, including entrepreneur Chetan Vohra, Aulearth founder Vivek Ramabhadran, matchmaker and relationship counsellor Geeta Khanna, celebrity dermatologist Dr Kiran Sethi, and designer Rimple Narula.
“Brides are thinking that they don’t want to wear a 45kg lehenga and are going for more simple and lightweight saris which can allow them to dance the night away, pack it up and then wear it 10 times after that,” said the designer, on how the transformation has happened slowly, but steadily, in the post-pandemic world that we live in.
The designer, who has created a niche for himself with his minimalistic designs steeped in an old-world charm, says the shift can be attributed to a major lifestyle change. “The age bracket of women between, say, 20-40, are earning and making their own decisions about what they want to wear. Earlier, it was more of a family decision, but now it’s become more individualistic.”
Torani also acknowledged that the shift has highlighted how diverse Indian bridal tastes are in the country in 2024. “There’s space for everyone,” he exclaimed, “We’re in a period where something as exquisite and beautiful as what Rimple (Narula, his fellow panellist) creates exists and then some brides want to wear the lightest possible sari or lehenga for their beach weddings.”
Vivek Ramabhadran, the founder of Aulerth, weighed in as well by sharing how international luxury brands have started recognising India as a consumer market, thus impacting trends in modern trousseaus. “Weddings are the biggest platform for luxury that there is in this country. We spend a significant amount of our wealth and give it more importance. Luxury brands cannot ignore this space,” he said.
The panellist gave the example of China, where Westernisation has led to modern brides opting for non-traditional silhouettes and luxury brands like Dior for their big day. This, he said, cannot be the case with India. “Our tastes are significantly Indian. You can wear whatever you want for all other occasions and ceremonies, but for your wedding, you want a lehenga, sari, or something traditional. Yes, it could be lighter than what it used to be, the colour palette might be different and modern, but it will essentially remain rooted in tradition.”
What are your thoughts on the shift in Bridal trousseau trends in 2024?
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