Here come the mothers of the bride and groom

More designers are understanding the need to dress and cater to the mother's fashion demands, but their offerings remain limited

- SUJATA ASSOMULL

Embroidered coats, zari-adorned kaftan dresses, embellished shararas and many of the saris at the recent edition of India Couture Week in New Delhi were not targeting the bride. They were meant for another important set of women: the mothers of brides and grooms.

Indian designers are finally realising there is more to a wedding than just bridal dressing. Yes, we all know that India couture has long been about bridal fashion, but as the industry matures, many players are understanding the need to cater to the mother, a high-spend individual who's an integral part of every wedding function.

Having just returned from a few summer weddings of my friends' children, I noticed how much fun all the mothers were having with their clothes. They were thoroughly enjoying their fashion moments. Many of them, however, complained about how hard it was to find options that worked well for their bodies.

"This is the new generation of mothers," says couturier Rahul Mishra.

"As an important individual at the wedding, the mothers come with their own set of requirements. They want to make a special kind of statement. We, as designers, understand this need and must rise to the occasion." Mishra adds that the mother of the bride and the groom are looking beyond the sari, kurta and lehnga. They want floor-length dresses and pant suits as well and this was evident at Mishra's recent India Couture Wee show, which included pieces that could work well for a high-fashion mother.

Today's mother of the bride, or the groom, belongs to Gen X, those in their 50s who grew up at a time when contemporary Indian fashion was just starting to grow into an industry.