BIBHU MOHAPATRA

Shakti: The Power of Feminine

By Vanshika Gupta
Bibhu Mohapatra, like many people, came from a small town and now he is renowned for his
designs for some of America’s most recognizable icons. It’s a story of a boy who started his
journey from Rourkela and made his way into the wardrobes and hearts of some of the most
well-known women in America. He might have dressed some of the most influential women in
America but at heart, he is still the same young boy that used to climb trees and play Gilli dandi
with his friends.

While bibhu might have moved to the U.S. in 1996, His years of growing up on the east coast of
India (i.e. Odisha), formed the core abilities that have helped him become the designer he is
today. Bibhu credits all that he has done so far to his mother who taught him at an early age
appreciation for handwork and textiles for making clothes. When creating, Bibhu bears in mind
the time when his mother first taught him how to sew. Additionally, he
constantly  incorporates new components of his early skills, influences, and experiences into
various parts of his collection.

He worked a long time as a design director for J.MENDEL, He spent almost a decade working on
his tailoring and balancing it out with the wearable, expressive design. After all his hard efforts
of working for years, he finally in 2008 got the courage and started “A THINKING BOX” on 73rd
on Broadway. He painted the walls white and filled the shelves with books and paintings based
on fashion, architecture, and history.

In his thinking box, he began to lay the groundwork for more than just the clothes he wanted to
create but what principles and values he wanted that would help him drive a bigger vision for
what a fashion design company he could make.

After merely receiving the order of three coats, he was able to arrange seed money . after a few
years he did his signature dresses and sharply cut jackets which become what we today known
as “collector’s pieces”, which drew the attention of powerhouses like Gwyneth Paltrow and the
former first lady Michelle Obama, who honored Bhibhu by wearing his original on her very first
visit to India, which only made things for Bhibhu uphill from there.

Bibhu is resolute about his mission of making beautiful things, even after recognition from Ecco
Domani, the national arts club, and the cfda. Bibhu declares, “I don’t want to dress a woman for
a one-time affair. “To, me it’s important that my designs give women a deep sense of self-
assurance, reminding them of who they are. That no matter what they do or where they go, they
can feel confident, strong, and beautiful on their terms”
And while we’re on the subject, Bibhu’s most recent collection, Resort 2023, was likewise based
on feminism and female power, characteristics he usually incorporates into his collection” One
thing in his collection that is challenging to find are his narratives, The story is primarily told
through textiles and ornamental elements, although feminism is the overall subject of each
collection.

For this season’s resort 2023 , Mohapatra emphasized well-known silhouettes

in specific material groups. Cotton made up the less formal attire, while silk was used for the
cocktail and gala attire. For celebratory apparel, velvets were used, including a minidress made
of carefully positioned fabric strips. There were also lovely laces and 3D flower embellishments.

The eventful day when Bibhu Mohapatra unveiled his S’2023 Resort line was the late evening of
June 17th. The entire collection screams of vibrant, bold ensembles. While the topic of feminism
and female power isn’t immediately apparent when you look at the collection but if you take a
close look at it, you can see the collection’s general concept and spirit. Bibhu has kept this theme
throughout the years in all of his collections.

Bibhu gave the collection the name Shakti: The Power of the Feminine .The idea of Shakti: The
Power of the Feminine can be summed up as the idea that the universe’s fundamental energy is
fem-inine.We experience everything as Shakti , which means “power” or “energy,” is often
associated with women. Shakti, an ultimate being made from the combined strength of all gods,
is the force that drives the power of nature, including the wind, oceans, fire, and sun, as well as
live itself. She is the Divine Mother, a symbol of the power that exists in every woman. The
designer incorporated feminism into his resort 2023 line. To balance out exaggerated attire he
used cotton for formal apparel and for Bhibhu’s signature silhouettes he used lace, mesh
juxtaposed with silk, embroidery, and extraordinary use of tulle. This collection offered
everything from exaggerated tulle dresses and skirts to less exaggerated attire.

There were many things to love, such as the sparkle and glamour, the use of tulle, silk, lace,
beads, and embroidery, the shoes that complemented every look, and the styling that was sure
to launch new trends.
The message of “INCLUSIVITY” was conveyed through the usage of a models. This collection
demonstrated how understated makeup can counteract expensive clothing. Each outfit, from
head to toe, was a world unto itself.

Here is one of my all-time favorite outfits, which at first glance seemed to be a typical tulle dress
but is a very intricate Lace Applique Pleated Tulle Gown type of luminous, iridescent mesh V-
Neckline, Pleated Sleeves, Fitted Bodice, Pleated Layered Skirt, Exposed Back, Lace Applique,
Pleated Tulle in an Evening Dress form. It was dressed with gold hoops and little makeup to
complete the look. The collection is a masterpiece that places a strong emphasis on opposition,
feminism, and hope. The collection is a masterpiece that places a strong emphasis on
opposition, feminism, and hope.
The message of “INCLUSIVITY” was conveyed through the usage of a models. This collection
demonstrated how understated makeup can counteract expensive clothing. Each outfit, from
head to toe, was a world unto itself.

Here is one of my all-time favorite outfits, which at first glance seemed to be a typical tulle dress
but is a very intricate Lace Applique Pleated Tulle Gown type of luminous, iridescent mesh V-
Neckline, Pleated Sleeves, Fitted Bodice, Pleated Layered Skirt, Exposed Back, Lace Applique,
Pleated Tulle in an Evening Dress form. It was dressed with gold hoops and little makeup to
complete the look. The collection is a masterpiece that places a strong emphasis on opposition,
feminism, and hope. The collection is a masterpiece that places a strong emphasis on
opposition, feminism, and hope.