Raised in Kathmandu, Nepal among some of the world’s most recognizable symbols of conquest, fashion designer Prabal Gurung would have learned early on that reaching the pinnacle is a journey of peaks and troughs. With five seasons now under his belt and another acclaimed collection at this week’s 2012 Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week, Gurung’s trek beyond fashion’s base camp has seen him successfully climb to some of the industry’s most coveted peaks.
Although he launched his first collection at the 2009 New York Fashion Week, in 2010 Gurung was awarded the Ecco Domani Fashion Fund Award and was later selected by the industry’s key opinion leaders for the highly coveted design studios at the CFDA Fashion Incubator (2010-2012). A runner-up for the 2010 CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund, Gurung was also honoured as one of USA Network’s twelve Character Approved Award recipients.
While accolades abound, Gurung’s Fall/Winter 2012 collection seems to reflect the notion of the arduous journey to “the top”. Speaking about this collection to NY Times reporter, Erik Wilson, he reportedly described it as, “from hell to heaven”.
Not surprisingly Fall/Winter2012 collection lead with dark black capes, sheer cut outs and a multi-textured panelling, iridescent blue patterns and blocks creep into heavy blacks. All at once blues overtake black and then suddenly, like trekkers turning an all important corner we are confronted by a tantalizing bright whiteness and gold that, like the snowy peaks of Nepal seem to signal an approaching summit.
Gurung fans, including the likes of Rooney Mara – who has graced the red carpet several times over the past year in Gurung gowns - Michelle Obama, Demi Moore, Zoe Saldana and Oprah Winfrey, would not have been disappointed in the Fall/Winter 2012 collection.
No doubt Gurung will be enjoying the view – we look forward to following him as he continues his climb upwards.
