A modernist interpretation of Henri Rousseau’s art work:SHIVAN & NARRESH Cruise Resort '15/16 Lakme Fashion Week 2015

For their Cruise Resort 2015 collection, India’s well knows swimwear designer duo, Shivan & Narresh also known as the pioneers of Bikini sari, took inspiration from the artwork of the French Post-Impressionist painter Henri Rousseau. They saw his art work back in 2008 during their visit to the Musée D’Orsay in Paris.

Titled, ‘Henri’s Garden’, the sharp cut-outs and flowy silhouette of the collection played around three underlying print stories – geometric cabana in Rousseau’s signature colour palette, an abstraction of the Artist’s foliage tips, and a juxtaposition of vintage vegetable against sharp geometric shapes.

With a soft and vibrant colour story of ivory, yolk yellow, saffron, cerulean, nude and signature black, the collection offered range of swimwear and resort wear pieces such as bikinis, trikinis and maillots, including jumpsuits, rompers, maxi dresses and kaftans. Palazzos, jewelled swimwear and dresses, resort lehengas and saris were an interesting addition to the collection.

In totality the collection was a translation of Rousseau’s depiction of jungles wherein elements have been taken and interpreted in a modernist style.