Unlike the multitude of labels celebrating vibrant blooms, the shades of the sun and fresh fields for their spring/summer collections, Prakhar Rao, the founder and designer of Zero Tolerance — a contemporary fashion brand that draws inspiration from South-Asian culture — jour neys back to his roots. Homecoming embodies a soul-stirring journey to the ‘City of Nawabs’ (Lucknow), drawing inspiration from over 3,000 years of artisanal techniques and fabrics from the region.
ics from the region. The label — which has been spotted on Riz Ahmed, Vijay Deverakonda and Dulquer Salmaan, among others — features 13 pieces for its Homecoming SS ’24 edit. These ensembles are tailor-made for vacations and casual gatherings, boasting effortlessly chic oversized silhouettes in natural earthy tones of brown, green, maroon, off-white and black. “From the finest linen to luxurious Giza cotton, handspun cotton-silk blends from Kolkata, organic cotton from the weavers of Barabanki and the exquisite Bhagalpur khadi — each fabric was chosen not only for its quality but also for its sustainability and historical significance,” Prakhar elaborates.
Keeping the architectural marvels of Lucknow and carvings adorning centuries-old monuments in mind, the edit boasts ancient kalamkari motifs and patterns infused with elements of gothic text and embroidery using age-old techniques of aari and zardosi, adding a touch of mystique to the collection. “From logo patchwork adorning collars to intricate hand-stitching reminiscent of vintage Indian menswear, each piece speaks volumes about our dedication to marrying contemporary style with cultural substance and self-expression,” the founder elucidates.
A few stand-out pieces from this collection include Dhup Chav Detachable Sleeve Shirt (crafted from organic cotton and hued with algae-based sustainable dyes, this soft-on-the-skin shirt boasts a hand-worked logo patchwork on the collar); Kairi Handwork Shirt (fashioned from locally sourced fabric from Bihar, this shirt showcases the timeless artistry of aari and zardosi embroidery); and Royal Blue Silk Embroidery Linen Shirt (designed from the finest linen fabric featuring silk thread embroidery inspired by kalamkari motifs).
₹11,000 onwards. Available online.
email: srushti@newindianexpress.com