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"A dream project born from an innate fascination of an era so simple yet glorious, ancient yet remarkably advanced—a land of boundless innovation, imagination, and creativity. Renaissance Italy is the time I wish I had lived to witness. An age of light and shadow, that not only shaped human history but gifted us timeless masterpieces in art, architecture, music, literature, science, and more.

It is this awe of the Renaissance that drew me closer to the House of Medici, the great Florentine family whose vision and patronage defined the cultural flowering of Firenze." — Rohan Pariyar

To recreate an atmosphere that reflects the spirit of Renaissance Italy, the presentation of the couture collection "l Medici" will be staged against the grandeur of Kolkata's iconic Victoria Memorial Hall—a fitting stage where history, art, and culture converges. This extraordinary evening in the City of Joy, presented by the Consulate General of Italy, will be a confluence of music, couture, and dance to create a fully immersive experience, transporting the audience back to an era that artists and thinkers have always looked back upon with reverence.

Having studied fashion from Milan, designer Rohan Pariyar has conceived "l Medici" as an ode to the women of the Medici family — whose influence have remained central to the political, cultural, and artistic life of Florence. The collection reimagines colours from the 1 5th and 1 6th centuries, drawing inspiration from the palettes seen in the works of Botticelli, Giotto, and Da Vinci, while its embellishments are inspired by the architectural motifs and panels of Firenze, especially those by Brunelleschi.

Meticulously handcrafted in Kolkata, the garments are adorned with intricate zardozi and cutdana embroidery, with over 2,000 hours of artisanal work being invested into the collection. The silhouettes reflect grace, strength, and composure of the Medici women—each ensemble narrating a story inspired by historical figures such as Lucrezia, Contessina, Clarice, Caterina, Bianca, Maria, and others. These women, through resilience and strategy, have contributed immeasurably to the Medici legacy and to the flourishing of the Renaissance in Italy and other parts of Europe.

The evening is set to feature 35 designs from Pariyar's atelier, accompanied by talented musicians from the city and the graceful dancers of Sapphire Dance Company. Supported by the Consulate General of Italy in Kolkata, the show is embracing the spirit of global fashion—echoing the grandeur of Milan's celebrated Fashion Weeks.

Set in the Eastern Quadrangle of Victoria Memorial Hall, the event will unfold as a theatrical journey through history. Models to be styled by the renowned make-up artist Abhijit Chanda, and directed by the acclaimed Pinky Kenworthy, will walk the ramp alongside dancers choreographed by ace choreographer SudarshanChakraborty, while the String Orchestra providing a soulful score by Calcutta School of Music will lend a Midas touch to the spectacle.

The show gradually intends to take audiences into the world of the Medici women—queens, patrons of the arts, mothers of Popes, and figures who have inspired and supported geniuses such as Da Vinci, Botticelli, and Brunelleschi, while even extending patronage to the enigmatic Nostradamus. Whether in youth, marriage, or widowhood, these women stood tall against the test of time, leaving a legacy of power, intellect, and grace.Every look in the collection aims at paying tribute to their strength, elegance, vision, and indomitable spirit.

The 45-minute presentation will begin with an introduction to the collection through music and dance, followed by addresses from the Consul General of Italy in Kolkata and the Director/Curator of Victoria Memorial Hall. The evening concludes with the designer's closing note at the curtain call—a heartfelt homage to Italy's enduring gift of history, art, fashion, and culture to the world!