Sitting with the Guild Team at NYFW S/S 2020: Bibhu Mohapatra

New York City – For Spring / Summer 2020, designer Bibhu Mohapatra was inspired by the 1964 book ‘Nothing Personal,’ a project by former high school friends James Baldwin and Richard Avedon. The book, composed of compelling photography and essays, explored American identity through the subjects of diversity, civil right movements and black nationalism, old Hollywood, and our mental-health system. All issues that continue to be relevant to this day. “With this collection, I celebrate the American beauty and its diverse identity of strength, courage, and originality,” tells us Mohapatra who was born in India.

For this eveningwear collection, Mohapatra brings his creativity and inspiration to life with the use of luxurious fabrics, lively colors, and attention to structured details and silhouettes. The line up of outfits is quite diverse, while still offering a sense of unity via its color palette. Striking hues of yellow, blue, tangerine, and pink come together with the implementation of black in almost every outfit. Exquisite embroidery is used sparingly throughout the collection. Standout pieces from the collection include the opening black-and-white above-the-knee dress with dramatic shoulders and plunging neckline, and the sculptural pink and black dress with an off-shoulder neckline which highlights a delicate string wrapping around the model’s neck. – GM