Mohit Rai and Ridhi Bansal, the dynamic duo behind ITRH, have always believed in creating a haven in fashion that nurtures the authenticity of the craft of our country. Their latest collection, TITI, unveiled on the third day of Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI in Mumbai, pays homage to the iconic Queen Nefertiti while celebrating the vibrant essence of India. Infusing a harmonious blend of Indian elegance and With flowing fabrics and intricate draping techniques, the collection showcased a luxurious decadence, amplified by a rich palette of jewel tones and diverse colours.
In a conversation with GlobalSpa, the designer duo talks about the inspiration behind TITI and its resonance with today’s fashion-conscious audience.
1. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the name and concept of your latest collection, TITI?
Mohit Rai & Ridhi Bansal: TITI is where ancient Egypt meets Indian allure. It is inspired by one of the most powerful women of Egypt, Queen Nefertiti and the collection is an ode to the fierce feminine form. We have named the collection TITI, which she was lovingly referred to as in our fantasy world. The passion of that time and the sensuality of the Egyptian heritage sparked the idea to come up with TITI. We wanted to evoke the magic of Egypt with Indian heritage. We wanted to take our Indian textiles and classics and supersize them into something extremely fantasy-driven.
2. Could you walk us through the creative process behind the selection of fabrics, colours, and embellishments for the collection?
Mohit Rai & Ridhi Bansal: To start with this collection, we deeply researched Egyptian culture and their goddesses. We have done a lot of hand embroidery this time and given a different dimension to the textiles we worked with in the past. We have taken inspiration from historical elements, such as the ancient Egyptian Luxor Temple. Each piece in the collection embodies the mystique of iconic Queen Nefertiti and Cleopatra, blending opulence and intrigue seamlessly. We have worked with a lot of jewel tones—black, gold, green and red—in this collection. We have worked with a lot of gems and super-sized stones. It is almost like wearing jewels on your body. TITI is a beautiful amalgamation of Egyptian culture and Indian crafts. The signature ITRH crystalling and the different forms of art prevalent in the culture add a timeless allure of ancient Egypt and the vibrant spirit of India to the showcase.
3. The collection seems to celebrate both power and sensuality. How did you strike a balance between these elements in your designs?
Mohit Rai & Ridhi Bansal: Nothing is sexier than a powerful woman who knows her mind. We have incorporated power shoulders with deep plunging necklines and absolutely form-fitting draped looks that scream confidence.
4. How do you envision the collection resonating with today’s fashion-conscious audience?
Mohit Rai & Ridhi Bansal: The collection resonates well with today’s fashion-conscious customer, as we have tried to incorporate contemporary shapes with some evergreen looks. Everyone wants to have a draped saree in their wardrobe, but something as unique as the Egyptian scripture studded in crystal is not something we come across every day. Today’s audience doesn’t like to buy in the same repetitive fashion. We innovated the crystals to suit their aesthetics. We took it up a notch by doing crystal prints and highlighting it with surface ornamentation.
