In the minds of Delhi-based designers Rimple and Harpreet Narula, costuming characters for a period drama on the big screen isn’t entirely different from dressing models on the runway. For starters, their moodboard seldom reflects the trend du jour. Their strength lies in interpreting archival pieces anew and reviving traditional attire for a contemporary audience. “A similar creative process is required for clothes in elaborate costume drama films, which is why filmmakers come to us,” explains Harpreet.
Having worked on period dramas before, including Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat (2018) and Heeramandi (2024), may have given them an edge in costuming history and delivering on time, but the stakes for director Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Part 1 were higher. Close to three years in the making, the film starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, and Yash is based on the mythological epic of the same name and has already raked in controversy for its costumes online. Rimple and Harpreet may not remember the exact number of costumes they created for the film, but they let us in on their use of archival and handloom textiles, their collaborations with Amrapali in Rajasthan and artisans in Nagaland, and why they chose to stitch rather than drape this sartorial universe.
