Divine Aura: A Sacred Pause in Fashion
Mehal Ramchandra Parab - B.Sc. in Fashion and Apparel Design 2022
Mehal Ramchandra Parab’s Divine Aura, the winner of The Golden Needle Award, is a smart casual Spring/Summer collection that invites the wearer to stop, think, and bond with Goa’s sacred practices. Weathered by the influence of the guardian Goddess Sateri Devi, believed to reside in holy anthills, this women’s wear collection spans cultural devotions and contemporaneity.
Fundamentally, Divine Aura is an ode to the unrepresented spiritual heritage and art in Goa. Evoking the Kaavi mural art of its powerful red imagery on white lime walls, the collection shows purity, dedication, and fortitude themes. Deep mud red and white define the dramatic colour vocabulary and fashion, symbolising strength and religious clarity.
Textures within the line are as rich as the histories they tell. Embroidery raised on jute rope and thread mimics the intricate form of anthills, further rendering each piece tactilely rich. Adornments are white Aari embroidery, Kantha stitching, and Kaavira Sutra, a Goan embroidery technique employing natural dyes like manjishta. All these handmade techniques promote the art of slowing down and the value of handmade.
Fabrics are selected with great attention—handloom cotton is breathable and sustainable, which works with the collection’s nature and heritage themes beautifully. Silhouettes combine effortless modern fashion with the integrity of old-fashioned detail, so the wardrobe is simply stylish and rich in meaning.
Divine Aura isn’t just wear—it’s a wearable tribute to the culture and spiritual heritage of Goa. In the midst of a crazed world, Mehal’s collection impels reflection: tribute to the place, to the legend of it, to the understated force of older understanding embroidered into every seam.
Lanchana Nanda pulled off a sneaky genius: she made the old-school Malnad comfort totally blend with current-day design smarts. Nothing clashes. Nothing feels forced. You get this spot that makes you think “hmm, am I in a boutique retreat or someone’s ancestral home?”