Feasting with fashion

Fashion has a way of making its presence felt beyond the runway and the wardrobe Often it finds expression in the objects we live with the things we gift and even the rituals around a celebration Increasingly designers are taking their aesthetic into the world of luxury spirits bringing fashion and craftsmanship to festive collections merging highfashion couture details with the rich character of the spirits positioning the bottle and the accessories as a luxury festive gift Sunday midday looks at how designers like Manish Malhotra and Rajesh Pratap Singh are exploring this intersection where design becomes part of the experience of giving sharing and celebratingThe craft of dressing up a whisky giftThe Glenfiddich 12 Year Old x Rajesh Pratap Singh Festive Gifting Edition Rs 6000 includes a specially designed silk pocket squareRajesh Pratap Singh X GlenfiddichDesigner Rajesh Pratap Singhrsquos collaboration with Glenfiddich brings his work into a different setting a festive collection of single malts paired with fashion accessories He was drawn to the chance to connect two worlds through a shared appreciation of craftsmanship For him the collaboration was about finding common ground in how both fashion and whisky are shaped by time experimentation and skilled hands He drew parallels between the generations of knowledge behind the brand and his own approach to design where an idea evolves through material exploration and meticulous detailing The result he says is a collection that reflects the brandrsquos craftsmanship while retaining his design sensibilityldquoWhat struck me was the pioneering spirit behind the brand It has a remarkable heritage yet it has never been afraid to challenge convention and explore new possibilities That philosophy resonates with my own approach to design where tradition is a starting point for evolution not a limitation We found common ground in our pursuit of mastery precision and the belief that the smallest details can make the greatest differencerdquo says SinghDesigner Rajesh Pratap Singh left Kartik Mohindra MD India William Grant amp SinsThe collection includes pocket squares for the Glenfiddich 12 Year Old a pocket square and stag brooch for the 15 Year Old and a button set for the 18 Year Old Each has its own character but all share a respect for heritage an instinct to innovate and a commitment to craft ldquoFor me that is what makes this collaboration meaningful not simply bringing whisky and fashion together but creating a new expression of craft that feels authentic to bothrdquoThe Glenfiddich 15 Year Old x Rajesh Pratap Singh Festive Gifting Edition Rs 11000 includes a designer pocket square and a signature stag broochFor Kartik Mohindra managing director India William Grant amp Sons the collection reflects a shift in how Indian consumers approach festive gifting with greater emphasis on provenance craftsmanship and the story behind a premium spirit The brandrsquos new packs respond with thoughtful design details from pocket squares and a stag brooch to a button set while keeping the whisky and its heritage at the heart of the gift The collaboration with Singh he says brings the brandrsquos pioneering spirit and commitment to craft into a more personal expression of luxuryBeyond the runway into the festive spiritManish Malhotra X Black DogAs fashion designer Manish Malhotra partners with Black Dog Triple Gold Reserve to launch a limitededition festive collection and whisky packaging you get to witness his work on a different canvas The packaging showcases Malhotrarsquos signature glamour featuring a goldongold finish intricate Indian motifs and signature floral elements The richness glamour layering and intricate detailing are all there but expressed in a new waycs While creating it he considered how the pack would look in a festive setting the details one might discover when holding it and the presence it would have when brought out poured and shared The same design language extends to the accompanying glass bringing the two together as a cohesive collectable setGold and florals have long appealed to Malhotra because of their association with celebration in India and have naturally become part of his design vocabulary In this collaboration gold also felt relevant because of its existing connection with the brand ldquoWhat interested me here was taking something so familiar and giving it a fresher expression I wanted the florals to feel more fluid and contemporary with sweeping botanical forms creating movement and intricate ornamental motifs adding depth and detail The gold brings richness and catches the light beautifully without overpowering the design For me it was about celebrating familiar Indian festive codes but seeing them through a new lensrdquoMalhotra believes design should not be limited to fashion He has enjoyed taking his aesthetic into different spaces over the years with each offering a new way to tell a story ldquoThatrsquos what made working with the brand so interesting Our creative languages may be different but therersquos a shared sensibility around being part of peoplersquos celebrations bringing them together and creating moments they want to slow down savour and enjoyrdquoAs the boundaries between fashion interiors hospitality art and lifestyle become more fluid he hopes to keep exploring those intersections in ways that feel distinctive and relevant