The Wedding That Never Happened: A Tribute in Threads
Clynne Morgan Jorge - B.Sc. in Fashion and Apparel Design 2022
Sanjana Gurav’s Aeternum, the winner of The Best Prêt-à-Porter Designer Award, is an elegant Spring/Summer formal collection that redefines the ancient Hase Chittara—a historical folk painting tradition employed by the Karnataka-based tribe, Deevaru—into contemporary silhouettes. Derived from Latin for “eternal,” Aeternum delves into the understated, long-term appeal of cultural heritage through the lens of contemporary design.
This line is not about extravagance; it’s about being majestic in sync with your values. In each piece, hand-drawn Chittara-inspired motifs become quiet but potent statements of design, combining motifs that stem from tribal ceremonies, daily routines, and the natural world. Instead of being locked up in museums, these tales are now sewn into the rhythm of everyday sophistication.
Made from airy cotton fabrics, the pieces are comfortable and relaxed—necessities for hot weather and long days—without compromising shape. The silhouettes are fitted but fluid, made for women who want sophistication with substance. The palette, with earthy Pantones such as bistre, bleached sand, oyster grey, and reed yellow, roots the collection in calmness and cultural richness.
Aeternum harmoniously adheres to the “Pause” concept by promoting introspection: pause to recall whence we originated, to respect creative heritage, and to propel them in the future context. In a time of fast fashion and fleeting style, the collection is an exercise in quiet rebellion in favour of tradition, environmentalism, and slow-growth meaningful progression.
With Aeternum, Sanjana Gurav shares a vision for the future that respects the past—a time-transcendent conversation between what we are given and what we choose to become.
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?”