A Rheson for a post about Sonam.
There is no young Indian more synonymous with style than Miss Sonam Kapoor. Love or loathe her, one cannot deny that the girl is in a league of her own when it comes to fashion. She slips effortlessly between the “girl-next-door,” in her Indian ethnic wear, to power-playing “boss” in her Western pinstripe suits. With Louis Vuitton sending Sonam their new backpack as a Christmas gift and Elie Saab personally writing to Sonam to wish her a happy new year (enclosing a new clutch bag of course…), Anil Kapoor’s first-born has put India on the map with Western designers, and has taken Indian designers global with her unparalleled influence when it comes to fashion. So who better than her, teamed with her stylist sister, Rhea, to launch their own line of clothing for the modern, stylish, Indian girl?
Sonam and Rhea Kapoor’s new label, Rheson, is set to launch at Shoppers Stop stores across India on 12 May. They describe the brand as a “high-street fashion brand, crafted just for you.” Using personal influences, for example 90s-inspired floaty dresses, their fashion line took two or three years to build, and is “for every Indian girl” (as Sonam says in their Instagram videos). So, what better time than now to reflect on the hand Sonam, coupled with Rhea, have had on shaping ‘fashion’ in India, and for Indians?
As a young girl growing up in a Western country, sure we had heard the names of famous and fabulous designers - Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Chanel and so on. But growing up in the Western world with these Western fashion artists also meant that we were face to face with the models approved by Western society. Had I ever seen a brown girl walk the ramp wearing next season’s couture in Milan or Paris? Brown girls in Western Couture might have raised eyebrows… until Sonam stepped on to the scene.
Sonam and her personal stylist, and younger sister, Rhea Kapoor, have pushed the conventional perception of ‘style’ in India, using international platforms such as Sonam’s annual appearances at the Cannes Film Festival and Paris Fashion Week as their personal runway.
Scroll through Sonam’s Instagram and you see a flurry of modern couture. The sisters fuse modern designs with traditional touches. Sonam’s debut at the Cannes 2016 functions saw her don a powder blue and gold embroidered Ralph and Russo gown, paired with iconic, golden Jhumke designed by Kalyan Jewellers.
Indian designers have found unprecedented success when one of their designs makes it on to Sonam’s shoulders. Rimzim Dadu is one such designer whose ‘sculpted sari’ was worn by Sonam in Cannes last year. Dadu said that Sonam’s team reached out to the designer, who “was confident that [Sonam] was the best person to do justice to the outfit.” Subsequently, Dadu had has an “overwhelming” international response and asserts that “Sonam is putting Indian designers on the global fashion map.”
It works both ways – Sonam is one of the few Indian women who can claim to have international powerhouses, including Dolce and Gabbana, designing custom outfits for her. Iconic brands including Fendi, Burberry, Louis Vuitton, and Hermes are a fixture in her wardrobe. Even Australian designers, Paolo Sebastian, and Toni Maticevski, have made Sonam’s list.
She may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but Sonam has managed to create a strong personal brand and be known globally for her ‘style icon’ status. I applaud Sonam for her contribution to the fashion landscape in India. Whether it be glamourous ethnic party wear or simple kurtis, whether it be designer gowns for the red carpet or cute crop tops in between her shooting schedule, Sonam is empowering our young, Indian girls. With her role model standing, she takes Indian couture beyond the Western exclamation of “oh my gosh, saris are so pretty!” and puts India squarely on the map when it comes to the global fashion scene.
Here’s to #rheson! Looking forward to picking up a bag (or two...) the next time someone in the know visits India!
All pictures are from Sonam’s public instagram account.
