Triptii Dimri eschewed done-to-death red carpet gowns in favour of a craft-forward look for the launch of a new shopping mall in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. For this public appearance, the actor chose a lehenga set from Jaipur-based designer that put his signature craftsmanship against a modern silhouette. Balana lets the saturated purple hue, which he anticipates is colour of the season, do most of the talking.
“Triptii is wearing a beautifully handcrafted lehenga from our ‘Noorbaagh’ collection,” shares Balana. The outfit teams a structured, strappy with a voluminous, floor-skimming skirt. The corset blouse features piping in a hot pink shade that injects a striking contrast to the purple palette. “The silhouette brings together two distinct design languages, the structured sensuality of a European corset with the timeless elegance and fluidity of the traditional Indian skirt. The result is a modern interpretation of Indian occasion wear that feels both rooted and contemporary.”
The surface ornamentation is the real show-stopper of the look. Called ka kaam—a heritage hand-embroidery technique from Kashmir that uses silver threads to design intricate patterns—this technique has become one of Balana’s signature craft expressions since first appearing in his 2018 collection that was inspired by the reflective interiors of Sheesh Mahal in Jaipur’s Amer Fort. “Rather than recreating glasswork literally, we translated its visual richness through patra, a lightweight metallic material cut into individual shapes and applied onto the garment before being outlined with delicate kasab embroidery.” On Dimri’s skirt, the embroidery is traced vertically in vine-like patterns, while the corset blouse carries the same artisanal language into a more ornate form.
Styled by Lakshmi Lehr, the actor’s ensemble was finished with ear cuffs, bracelets and rings from Golden Gazelle Fine Jewellery and heels by Aprajita Toor. Makeup artist Shraddha Naik brought silver-toned eyeshadow into the beauty look to complement the metallic work on the lehenga, with mascara and a nude gloss. Her hair was left open in soft curls. From the silver-toned beauty to the sculpted blouse and heritage craftsmanship, Dimri’s look finds a balance between classic and contemporary. It would work for a festive occasion like Ganesh Chaturthi and adapt just as easily for a wardrobe.