Bandhgala king's tribute to Oscar de la Renta

One designer back home for whom de la Renta has a special connect is ace designer, Raghavendra Rathore, who worked and trained at the design house more than two decades back, and is now known for his signature bandhgala creations. Rathore shared a personal note with us about the legend's passing.

Iconic designer Oscar de la Renta passed away in the US on Tuesday morning, at the age of 82, after losing a long battle with gastric cancer. Back home, the fashion industry too mourned the Dominican Republic-born designer's creative aesthetics and charming personality.

One designer back home for whom de la Renta has a special connect is ace designer, Raghavendra Rathore, who worked and trained at the design house more than two decades back, and is now known for his signature bandhgala creations. Rathore shared a personal note with us about the legend's passing.

"Generalist with a flawless sense of style, Mr Oscar De La Renta was a master of understanding the social atmosphere in any locale. He stressed on servicing clients and building personal relationships rather than selling products to them, and he always believed that fashion was a celebration of life rather than an episode to be discussed at shows and events. Once, when I was handing him a pin, as he meticulously draped a chantilly lace on a mannequin, I made the mistake of handing him the sharper edge. He calmly pronounced: "These are the hands that pass pins to Schiaparelli, if I had made the same mistake twenty years ago, I would not be here today." What he said sent a shiver down my spine, but also made me realise the importance of being in his company, truly historic now. It was a privilege to have worked under an icon like Mr. De La Renta, a name tantamount to the philosophy of fashion itself," Rathore shared.