Stepping into the outside world after a long self-exploration feels like a rebirth. Jumping from online to offline, feeling the vibes of the eclectic city of Mumbai, the vibrant Indian lifestyle with much more mindfulness and awareness, is like living, nearly exploring, a new life.
This is what two of the most creative tutors at Istituto Marangoni Mumbai, stylist Grazia Morelli and photographer Pretika Menon, felt when they teamed up for an impressive cross-cultural collaboration.
Step out, city bird fashion movie shot in Mumbai by photographer & video-maker Pretika Menon and stylist Grazia Morell
They bridged Italian and Indian visions in Step out, city bird, a fashion film/editorial on everyday life in Mumbai coming out of the lockdown. They were joined by a selection of rising talent from Istituto Marangoni, including students Radha Jain and Anaisha Shah as Stylist Assistants and Fashion Design student Abishek Gaherwar who created unique stockings for the story.
Step out, city bird editorial shot in Mumbai by photographer Pretika Menon and stylist Grazia Morelli
“Crossing the city of Mumbai after the long period of internal silence due to the lockdown made me feel like I was in many cities and in one only at the same time: Mumbai,” said Grazia Morelli, who has been working in the fashion industry for about ten years as a freelance stylist for top brand campaigns as well as editorials featured in Vogue Italia and W Korea, but also handled fashion show organisation while even exploring the world of cinema.
Photography Pretika Menon, styling Grazia Morelli
“The Art Deco architecture brings my mind back to the eternal wonders of Europe, the skyscrapers soaring over the ocean in the night lights make me feel like I’m in New York, the ever-present and numerous Victorian-style buildings remind me of classic English architecture... but around the corner I’m in India,” she added.
Photography Pretika Menon, styling Grazia Morelli
For some, Mumbai is like a mini-New York – the business centre of a large country, a cultural melting pot swarming with dreamers and business people. But what are the feelings that Grazia Morelli refers to when describing Mumbai? Almost all of them embrace the senses, from sight to smell and sounds. “The aromas of incense and spices, the millions of people immersed in a multitude of daily activities, the prayers echoing in temples at every street corner, accompanied by the unique and joyful notes of Indian musical instruments. And the colours! The colours are rich, intense, cheerful”.
Photography Pretika Menon, styling Grazia Morelli
“India embraces all shades of yellow, red, orange, green, purple... all with their deepest meaning. And this is where creativity bursts into life: just mention a Sari paired with a leather jacket,” Morelli said. “This is a traditional Indian garment, and it’s worn with some Italian tailoring. Made in India meets made in Italy, and my eyes light up with all that beauty you can only create by blending the heritage and traditions of East and West. And this is exactly the fine line that makes Istituto Marangoni Mumbai rise and shine”.
Clementina Bianchi,
Editor
Credits
Photographer & Video-maker: Pretika Menon; Creative Direction: Grazia Morelli & Pretika Menon; Styling: Grazia Morell; Make-up & Hair: Aashna Shah; Model: Naina U. @Inega talent agency; Photographer assistant: Inderjeet Singh; StylistAassistants: Istituto Marangoni Mumbai students Radha Jain, Anaisha Shah; Make-up & Hair Assistant: Sneha Kelkeri. Thanks to Istituto Marangoni Mumbai Fashion Design student Abishek Gaherwar for creating stockings for the story