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Bibhu Mohapatra brings a Japanese spring to New York's autumn

By Rediff Get Ahead Bureau
September 13, 2017

Eight months after he filed for bankruptcy, it's business as usual for the Indian designer who dressed Michelle Obama.

Bibhu Mohapatra (left) helps a model prepare for his Spring/Summer 2018 fashion show at the New York Fashion Week on September 8.
Photograph: Andrew Toth/Getty Images.

 

It's been eight months since Bibhu Mohapatra, best known in India as the designer from Odisha who dressed then American First Lady Michelle Obama, filed for bankruptcy protection.

'This was a planned decision,' he had told the Economic Times. 'My business is doing really well actually. People file for chapter 11 if they are struggling and they want to scale it [operations] down. People also do it because they want to restructure the organisation, reduce debt and then bring in more money... Brands like Michael Kors and Dior have done it in the past.'

He had added to The Wall Street Journal, 'It is business as usual while this process proceeds. This brief period of restructuring will allow us to emerge stronger than ever and more able to deliver the finest products and experience that I take so much pride and joy in bringing to our customers around the world.'

Eight months on, it's business as usual for the designer.

Scroll down for a front-row view of his Spring/Summer 2018 Collection, which was showcased at New York Fashion Week.

 

For his spring inspiration, this time Bibhu Mohapatra's creative leap took him to early 20th century Japan.
Photograph: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.

 

According to Vogue, 'Instead of the kimono, he reinterpreted the underpinnings that traditionally stayed hidden beneath it.' 
Photograph: Photograph: Amr Alfiky/Reuters.

 

Though there were 'nods to kimono shapes with wrapped fronts and dramatic off-the-shoulder pieces,' the fashion magazine pointed out.
Photograph: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.

 

In other nods to Japan, there were clear origami inspirations, and the line remained rather modest with hints of sexiness.
Photograph: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.

 

As always, the Bibhu Mohpatra killed it with his glamorous evening wear.
Photograph: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.

 

Bibhu Mohapatra summed up his muse as 'an intrepid spirit that craved for cultural knowledge and courageous adventure that transcended continents.'
Photograph: Amr Alfiky/Reuters.

 

The designer (right) and his team make the walk.
Photograph: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.
Rediff Get Ahead Bureau

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