Renowned Indian designer Abhishek Sharma recently unveiled his latest haute couture collection titled Ratiaranya, an evocative and immersive runway experience that blurred the lines between fashion, art, and storytelling. The showcase took place at The Upper House by Tivoli in Chhattarpur, New Delhi, where Sharma presented a night-time couture world inspired by passion, power, and emotion.
Forest of Desire: The Concept Behind Ratiaranya
Ratiaranya — meaning forest of desire — is rooted in a creative vision driven by emotion rather than form. Sharma drew inspiration from Rati, the goddess of passion, translating themes of longing, strength, and sensuality into garments that felt both instinctive and deeply personal.
The ambience of the show was unlike a typical runway: a towering 20-foot digital installation served as a living backdrop, playing a conceptual fashion film shot in a cinematic night-vision style, turning the runway into an almost otherworldly space that reacted with the movement of the models.
Supermodel Ujjwala Raut as Showstopper
Global supermodel Ujjwala Raut opened and anchored the collection with commanding presence, embodying both the power and poetry central to Sharma’s vision. Draped in sculptural couture that used metallic embroidery and foliage-inspired detailing, she set the evocative tone of the collection, marking a reunion of two creative forces celebrated for their strength and artistry.
Craftsmanship Meets Emotional Narrative
The Ratiaranya collection fused advanced couture techniques with narrative depth:
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Hand-intensive craftwork such as metal wire detailing, resham embroidery, appliqué, heavy beading, 3D body sculpting and pleating gave each look a tactile richness.
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Silhouettes spanned from fluid sarees and draped gowns to sharply tailored pieces with exaggerated collars and power shoulders — a juxtaposition of strength and softness woven throughout the collection.
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Crystals, stones, and fringed embellishments reflected light like moonbeams through leaves, enhancing the night-time dreamscape feel of the runway.
Sharma explained that Ratiaranya was a play of contradictions — “strong and grounded, yet allowing softness and movement to coexist,” a design philosophy he likened to yin and yang.
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