PILGRIMAGE

Bibhu Mohapatra’s Fall 2025 collection emerges as a profound and deeply emotional tribute, intricately woven from the threads of his childhood memories and the rich, vibrant traditions of Odisha, the land of his birth.

The inspiration for this collection began with a poignant pilgrimage—a sacred journey that took Bibhu to three of India’s holiest sites, where he performed the final rites for his parents and his brother. As he stood by the banks of the sacred Ganges River, carrying out the rites for those who had given him life, a flood of memories washed over him—an overwhelming cascade of vivid recollections from his early years in Odisha. It was in this sacred moment of reflection, amidst the rituals, that the deep connection to his roots began to surface with clarity.

The sights, sounds, and textures of his childhood came rushing back—those that had been lovingly woven into his life by the women who shaped him. The collection itself is far more than a celebration of craftsmanship and artistry—it is a heartfelt narrative of love and loss, of people who shaped and nurtured Bibhu. The collection carries the spirit of the men and, most profoundly, the women in his life—their stories, resilience, and the grace with which they lived their lives. As Bibhu’s most personal collection to date, it is an intimate expression of the enduring influence of those he loved and lost, and a celebration of the culture that shaped him. Through it, he honors the timeless power of memory, and the transformative impact of the women who taught him that beauty is not just in what is seen, but in what is lived, loved, and remembered.