There is an inviting new fluidity to Frontier Raas’ latest bridal wear couture outing—not in terms of fit, which rather suggests a certain kind of authority and a certain kind of elegance. It is freer in its spirit. Think contemporary accents, young silhouettes and fresh cuts. Called Taraasa, the bridal wear collection features ebullient, opulent creations destined for “the urban bride, who is authentically herself and wants her wedding trousseau to be an unabashed extension of herself,” explains Gaurang Batra, director, Frontier Raas.
Whether it’s the lehengas with larger-than-life trails, bralette-esque blouses or red carpet-ready gowns in frothy fabrics, “each ensemble in the collection is created as a modern heirloom. These modern heirlooms reconcile couture with a purpose of bringing indigenous craftsmanship to the fore,” he explains. Frontier Raas’ couture is meticulously yet delicately crafted by artisans with a generational wealth of skill and know-how. It always has been. “India’s unsurpassed craft culture needs no testament. As a brand we only want to help our artisans and the craft industry. We believe in preserving this legacy of age-old mastered techniques,” elaborates Batra. During the nascent stage of designing Taraasa, Batra was thinking about how he could revive classic crafts in a contemporary fashion. It’s a question he has tried to answer with the story lehengas and gowns in the collection that feature “a lot of pearls and bespoke embroideries accentuated with zari, sequins and tassels. The idea was to adopt the crafts without any bias for any technique that has stood the test of time,” he muses, adding a philosophical undertone to the approach.
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With Taraasa, the label introduces abstract and architectural motifs to bridal wear, where we are accustomed to traditional influences. Then, there are nature-inspired elements that look astonishingly true to life. In one instance vivid reflections of 3D water-lilies, embedded with cutdana, sequins, Swarovski crystals, resham and appliqué leaves, are showered over an ombré blush pink and sage green gown. Elsewhere, the brand went macro by magnifying artistic embroidered florals alongside patterns of birds, treating lehengas as a canvas for a landscape view. In some cases, blooms are scaled down and seamlessly juxtaposed with geometric shapes.
Likewise, glistening azure water ripples became a voluminous milky blue net lehenga. The confection comes alive with pastel resham, dabka, and nalki work. By Batra’s own admission, it is the pièce de resistance of Taraasa. “The blouse and the dupatta is highlighted with delicate yet elaborate work, elevating the entire look with a myriad of dainty dangling handcrafted tassels to match. The ensemble comes with a dainty belt to match,” he says. A cascading effect of feathers emblazoned on an ivory gown masterfully mimics the flight of a bird, while its pleated drape yoke that cinches around the waist gives it a sculptural appeal.
Although lavishly enhanced with intricate embellishments and embroidery, these ostentatious silhouettes are deceptively diaphanous and easy-to-move around in. “Most of the silhouettes in Taraasa are crafted in lightweight, premium organza textiles, tulles and nets,” shares Batra, elaborating, “As a brand, we only offer the highest quality products that can be worn over generations and not a quality that wears off and ends up in landfills. Sustainability is an important part of the process, and it’s reassuring when we see our customers demanding for it as well.”
Of the inclusive colour palette, he says, “The collection is punctuated by two themes within a sublime colour story of ivories and earthy pastels, which are instantly reminiscent of lightness and ease, while the other features vivacious reds and warm mustards that evoke passion and youth of nature. We wanted to give the bride the freedom to paint her canvas in any shade she wants to.” The bold and beautiful blouses, too, speak the same language, spotlighting fresh necklines and cowl necks, and accessorised with detachable embellished belts.
The biggest bridal trends of 2022
Experimentation and individuality is an overarching theme among brides today, says Batra. “Indian weddings are a big and elaborate affair with many ceremonies that follow the main ceremony, where usually brides try to incorporate different looks for all their occasions. Brides today desire varied options that fit their vision. Some prefer to stick to their traditional roots, while some want to go all out.” So, the brand invariably takes cues from their brides to forecast trends. There are choices for the Frontier Raas bride based in north India for her traditional Anand Karaj ceremony, and even picks for global brides who are on the lookout for head-turning couture for their barefoot beach, which can be repeated and re-styled for occasions down the road. Speaking of the biggest wedding trends of 2022, he shares, “Dramatic silhouettes, veil dupattas, elaborate lehengas with trails, prints, ivories, and golds are the bridal trends worth bookmarking this year,” he concludes.
