Victoria’s Indian wings

After a fiveyear hiatus the Victoriarsquos Secret fashion show is making a comeback this year with a powerful lineup of ldquoangelsrdquo including pop icon Cher Blackpinkrsquos LISA and Grammy winner Tyla alongside supermodel and political activist Gigi HadidThe famous wings the brandrsquos most distinctive iconography are being reimagined by artists as installations globally This is being spearheaded by actorproduct designer Lekha Washington in India who has renewed her awardwinning Red Dot Chair as an installation in malls across Mumbai Delhi and Bengaluru until the fashion show in New York on October 15Speaking of her association with the lingerie brand Washington shares a personal anecdote that underscores her longstanding admiration for it She recalls a childhood memory of discovering a Victoriarsquos Secret bra belonging to her grandmother that she playfully wore on her headmdashit left a powerful impression on her mind ldquoMy grandmother was a lovely bright woman with a distinct sense of fashion She would travel oftenrdquo Since then for Washington the lingerie brand has always meant very high attention to detail regarding design ldquoWhen Apparel Group approached me for this collaboration with Victoriarsquos Secret India I was excited to create something that combined their iconic designs with my own aestheticrdquo she addsWings signify an inherent celebration of self and individuation to her just like her red dot chair ldquoIt is one of my mostloved pieces as it celebrates the individual just like the Victoriarsquos Secret wings This installation symbolises the strength of selfempowerment and the courage to embrace onersquos true identity When someone sits in this itrsquos not just a chair it is a celebration of the individual and an excellent feeling that flows into each other quite wellrdquo she adds connecting the two to themes of empowerment and selfexpressionTo Washington inner resilience is about the quiet personal battles we face every daymdashthe ones that often go unspoken but shape us in profound ways ldquoWhile we celebrate career achievements or visible successesrdquo she explains ldquowe all fight unseen battles whether itrsquos learning to set boundaries moving on from a breakup or building the resilience to overcome griefmdashthese are things we rarely discussrdquoVictoriarsquos Secret wings in this installation are an extension of that ideamdashrepresenting an inner strength that we carry within us Like a hidden source of strength these designs embody resilience and support just as a wellfitting piece of lingerie does Though unseen they uplift you from within celebrating your inner fortitude in a form thatrsquos as beautiful as you areA distinct design language for each mural seamlessly ties all three pieces together ldquoIt isnrsquot easy to typecast an entire city into one particular piece of art because therersquos such variety in each cityrdquo says the Bandra resident So Irsquove created three distinct individual feelings of celebration of self Hopefully the cities will not mind if I send them exactly what I think fitsrdquoDelhi piece is ldquohighly over the top with luxurious fabrics feathers and ribbons creating a lavish and extravagant aestheticrdquo she says ldquoBengaluru is a bold statement piece that has ribbons shaped like wings flowing with dynamic movement Irsquove used boning to structure the ribbons giving them a sense of both fluidity and a sense of wildness the untamed spiritrdquo she explainsThe third piece for Mumbai drove Washington completely crazy ldquoI tried to capture the moment where the paint splash is frozen For this I used an enormous amount of silicone which is a tough material to work with It is an abstract interpretation of wings with silicone and brass Itrsquos a mural in its truest form because it sits into a painting or has that sense of merging into a piece of artrdquoWashington believes the ultimate goal of her work is to evoke introspection and wonder in those who interact with itldquoI aspire for people to experience that delightful lsquowowrsquo moment More than anything I want them to feel a profound sense of celebration for the individualrdquoThe Mumbai mural can be viewed at Palladium in Lower Parel1977Was the year that Victoriarsquos Secret was founded by Roy and Gaye Raymond