When Ujjwala Raut stepped onto the runway as the showstopper for Abhishek Sharma’s latest couture offering, the moment felt less like a finale and more like a revelation. Her presence – commanding, assured, and deeply evocative – set the emotional tone for Ratiaranya, a collection that explored desire, instinct, and awakening through the language of couture.
Presented on December 19 at The Upper House by Tivoli in Chhattarpur, New Delhi, Ratiaranya unfolded as an immersive experience rather than a conventional showcase. Sharma’s couture has always been rooted in storytelling, but this collection felt especially intimate – one that leaned into emotion with restraint and confidence. Anchored by Ujjwala Raut’s powerful runway moment, the collection found
its perfect embodiment of strength meeting sensuality.
Inspired by Rati, the goddess of passion, Ratiaranya explored the quiet intensity of human connection. The narrative moved fluidly between softness and strength, desire and discipline, creating garments that felt deeply personal yet visually striking. This emotional duality was reflected across the silhouettes, which celebrated the natural form without excess.
Fluid sarees flowed alongside sculpted drapes and mermaid gowns, while structured shoulders were softened through movement. Exaggerated collars and vintage-inspired flares introduced a subtle nod to nostalgia, balanced carefully with modern construction. A recurring interplay between masculine tailoring and feminine fluidity emerged as a defining design language, lending the collection its quiet confidence.
Colour played a crucial role in shaping the mood of Ratiaranya. The palette evolved through deep midnight blues, kajal blacks, and musk tones before softening into rose hues, honeyed grape shades, sunlit yellows, muted greens, and skin-inspired neutrals. Each shade was layered with intention, creating depth, warmth, and an almost tactile richness across the garments.
Craftsmanship remained at the heart of the collection. Sharma employed metal wirework, three-dimensional body sculpting, resham embroidery, applique, beadwork, pleating, surface manipulation, and natural prints to build texture and dimension. Crystals, stones, and fringes were used sparingly, catching light with movement rather than overwhelming the design.
The show’s closing moment with Ujjwala Raut’s confident stride brought the narrative full circle. Her presence amplified the collection’s emotional core, reinforcing Ratiaranya as a celebration of strength, sensuality, and self-awareness.
More than a couture presentation, Ratiaranya marked a clear evolution in Abhishek Sharma’s design journey – one where craftsmanship, emotion, and storytelling come together with clarity, control, and purpose.
