Victoria Memorial comes alive with Rohan Pariyar’s Renaissance-inspired collection

The Victoria Memorial may be the pièce de résistance of Kolkata’s skyline during the day, but the historic marble marvel is a sight to behold post sundown, lit up by artful lighting that brings every intricately chiselled detail alive. It was in such a wondrous setting that Victoria Memorial Hall, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Italy in Kolkata, hosted “Una Serata Fiorentina: Alta Moda Multi-Genre Showcase I MEDICI,” designed by Rohan Pariyar, on November 17.

A celebration of art, culture, and couture, the event brought together the elite of the City of Joy to pay tribute to the grandeur of Renaissance Italy and the influence of the powerful Florentine House of Medici. In fact, Rohan — a Kolkata-based designer who studied fashion in Milan — drew from his deep admiration for Renaissance art and architecture, and the spirit of invention that defined Florence’s golden age, to present his “I Medici” collection. 

“Renaissance Italy is the time I wish I had lived to witness,” he shares. “An age that shaped
the course of humanity and gave us art, music, architecture, and literature that continue to
inspire even today.”

The collection reimagined 15th and 16th-century palettes, textures, and silhouettes through a contemporary Indian lens. Each of the 40 handcrafted ensembles paid homage to the women of the Medici dynasty who stood at the intersection of power, art, and intellect. Inspired by Florentine architecture, Renaissance frescoes, and the mastery of artists like Botticelli and Da Vinci, the garments were embellished with over 2,400 hours of zardozi and cutdana embroidery at Rohan’s Kolkata atelier.

The show was conceptualised as a 45-minute theatrical experience, merging fashion, music, and dance. It was directed by Rohan and Kuntanil Das, choreographed by Pinky Kenworthy, and featured routines by Sapphire Creations Dance Company, and music by FM Ensembles.

“Through ‘I Medici,’ we are proud to provide a platform where Indian designers and performers interpret global heritage in their own creative language,” says Anurag Kumar, Secretary and Curator of Victoria Memorial Hall. 

Riccardo Dalla Costa, Consul General of Italy in Kolkata, adds, “The evening epitomised the enduring dialogue between Italian artistry and Indian creativity, weaving history and modernity into a dazzling tapestry of unparalleled beauty and grace.”