Rahul Mishra’s The Pale Blue Dot explores the intersection of fashion and environmental crisis

When Rahul Mishra steps into the hallowed halls of Paris Haute Couture Week on January 27, he brings with him more than just another collection. He brings a deeply personal narrative, a global call to action, and the poetic sensibilities of an artist mourning loss while grappling with humanity’s place in the universe. Rahul’s latest work, titled The Pale Blue Dot, emerges from a period of profound reflection — fuelled by the recent loss of his father and inspired by American astronomer, Carl Sagan’s notable observation on Earth’s fragility. 

“This collection is a culmination of a thought process that has lingered for years,” Rahul reveals in a video interview. He adds, “It’s a complex concept that I didn’t have the courage to explore earlier.” But his father’s demise on December 19 served as a poignant trigger for the theme. In the last two years, his father who stayed with him in Delhi-NCR developed lungs and liver problems. “In Delhi the fresh air days are less than 50% in a year. The city is engulfed in pollution and has become like a gas chamber,” he says. As a father of a nine-year-old daughter, his concerns are deeply personal. “But these problems of mine are pertinent to everybody,” he says giving us a context to his collection. 

Piece from the upcoming collection
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Couture as climate commentary 

Sagan’s iconic photograph of Earth, taken by the Voyager 1 space probe in 1990, serves as the cornerstone of Rahul’s inspiration. In the image, Earth appears as a faint pale blue dot suspended in a sunbeam. Rahul quotes Sagan: “Look again at that dot. That’s here. That’s home. That’s us… To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever known.” 

For Rahul , these words carry an urgent resonance. “The swanky skyscrapers of today symbolise human ingenuity but also greed,” he says. He imagines a world where global warming forces humanity to flee, leaving Nature’s scavengers — crows and eagles — to clean up the remnants of civilisation. “We are building these scenarios in a gentle, poetic way,” he adds. 

Rahul’s dystopian yet hopeful vision is brought to life with his signature architectural embroidery, layering, and a use of undertones. Geometric 3D designs mimic skyscrapers and urban sprawl. Black and grey dominate the collection, evoking cities bereft of light, while shades of gold symbolise hope, the first rays of a new dawn. The Tree of Life motif, central to his designs, underscores the cycle of destruction and renewal. “There is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves,” Rahul reflects, quoting Sagan again. Yet, he sees hope in human ingenuity — the same force that brought us to this precipice might yet save us from tumbling over.  

A stage fit for a visionary 

To showcase the collection, Mishra has chosen the Institut du Monde Arabe  in Paris, designed by the legendary Jean Nouvel. The modernist marvel serves as the perfect backdrop for a show that merges humanity’s creative brilliance with its environmental consequences. Breaking with tradition, the runway will feature diverse muses from different walks of life. “We’re using the womb as a central metaphor,” Rahul says. It symbolises how Mother Nature will rebuild herself, even as we teeter on the brink. 

Behind the scenes of the upcoming collection
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Artistry rooted in emotion 

Known for fusing Indian craftsmanship with global sensibilities, Rahul pushes boundaries once again with this collection. He experiments with new techniques in zardozi, resham and 3D embroidery, creating life-like imagery of birds in flight and urban landscapes that stand out as haunting pictorial reference of the future.  

For Rahul , who has been consistently showcasing stellar, thought-provoking collections centred around environment, science and spirituality, couture is a fun space for innovation. “With ready to wear and high-street fashion at the helm, couture is getting more artistic. Across the world people are becoming uniform and boring with their choices, there was an onslaught of trends. Couture, however, stays individualistic as it’s an expression of personal emotions, deepest concerns and hope,” he says.  

As the designer gears up for a busy year ahead with plans of opening stores in Mumbai and Paris, he confesses this collection is more than fashion; it is therapy. “Some of the best poetry happens when you’re at your lowest,” he admits, reflecting on the grief of losing his father. “This is my way of venting. Life isn’t always romantic, but even in despair, there’s hope.” In his hands, couture becomes not just an art form, but a rallying cry — The Pale Blue Dot is a reminder that the power to change lies within us all.