Over the years, models who were once the whole and soul of fashion campaigns and runway shows were overshadowed by film personalities taking over the runway as showstoppers.
In a world of celebrity showtoppers, did we forget the unsung stars of the ramp?
‘Back then, it was not about business; it was all about creativity,’ expresses supermodel Nayanika Chatterjee candidly as speaks her heart out in the behind-the-scenes documentary of The Return of the Muse by globally acclaimed couturiers Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla.
Like Nayanika Chatterjee, who has been in the modelling industry for 35 years, India has been home to OG supermodels such as Lakshmi Rana, Carol Gracias, Sheetal Mallar, Diandra Soares, Indrani Dasgupta, Madhu Sapre, Mehr Jessia, Milind Soman, Arjun Rampal, Dino Morea, Lisa Haydon, Bipasha Basu and many more. While some of the models chose to invest in modelling, others tried their luck in Bollywood.
Cut to 2023, while the Bollywood Showstopper Syndrome still exists, the industry this year saw fashion designers and brands go back in time and celebrate its OG Supermodels in a big way.
From fashion campaigns to fashion weeks, this year has been all about the supermodels. “I have been part of this industry since the age of 15, and I am still attached to it. As someone who mentors and trains young models, I believe that the industry either finally realised their foolishness of letting us go over the basic lack of respect for its senior girls, most of whom made it on their own from scratch, or this is just a trend like plus-size models and LGBTA+ models. And the industry is riding on a wake-up trend. I hope not, but in fashion anything is possible,” expresses supermodel Diandra Soares. Diandra recently sashayed the runway looking radiant in an Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla ensemble at the New Order of Style showcase at the opening of Jio World Plaza in Mumbai.
Models are the muse and the life of the runway because an outfit is just a piece of clothing until a model sashays it down on the runway. It’s years of perseverance and hard work that make a supermodel, and today, with so much competition and the impact of social media, becoming a model and sustaining yourself can be challenging.
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So with the industry bringing back the OG supermodels on the runway, does it help with the future of modelling? “Absolutely, the evolving definition of supermodels reflects the changing dynamics in the fashion industry. Beyond celebrity associations, recognizing and appreciating talent has become a significant aspect, showcasing a more inclusive and diverse approach to modelling. The contribution of supermodels on runways and in fashion films goes beyond their looks; it’s about adding substantial value to the brand through their skills and presence,” expresses Akanksha khurana jeet, Director, Purple Thoughts. Akanksha’s talents, including Shimona Natha and Kirandeep Chahal, were part of the Lakme muses who walked the runway for Bibhu Mahaptra at the grand finale of Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI in October 2023.
Delhi-based fashion designer Ridhi Mehra, paid tribute to the runway superstars with the ICONS AW 23 campaign. The campaign featured the legendary faces of the modelling world, including Indrani Dasgupta, Ujjwala Raut, Carol Gracias, Archana Akhil Kumar and Kanishtha.
“Through the AW 2023 campaign, I wish to bring back the glorious days from decades ago when the runway was an altar in its own right and the models that ruled it were no less than deities of fashion. It’s an ode to their indomitable allure and their iconic walk that the world was in awe of—the OG showstoppers, the ICONS,” shares Ridhi Mehra.
Similarly, Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla’s behind the scenes documentary ‘The Return of The Muses and fashion film Jogi, featured supermodel extraordinaires Arjun Rampal, Nayanika Chatterjee, Sheetal Mallar, Carol Gracias, Laxmi Rana, Dino Morea, Dayana Erappa and Rikee Chaterjee. The models and Abu Sandeep reminisced about the early days of their careers and recall moments that have delightfully become a permanent part of their memory.
Sharing their thoughts on the collaboration, Abu Sandeep, shared, “2023 was a year full of ups and downs. We learn, laugh and move on like we always do. We wanted to welcome 2024 with a sense of celebration and that’s how ‘The Return of the Muse’ and ‘Jogi’ happened. After all, our hope for the future has much to do with our gratitude for the past. And so, we collaborated with our original muses to revisit our creative roots. 2024 will see many of our traditional techniques reinterpreted into fresh fashion.”
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Closing 2023 on a high fashion note, couturier Sabyasachi Mukherjee presented his high jewellery collection in an intimate setting and featured supermodels including Indrani Dasgupta, Nethra Raghuraman, Sheetal Mallar, Lakshmi Rana and many more.
As we head towards 2024, we hope the fashion industry continues to celebrate the real showstoppers and don’t treat it like just another trend…
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