India-born designer Bibhu Mohapatra says he is “honoured” and “humbled” by US First Lady Michelle Obama wearing his creation on her trip to India and hopes he will get an opportunity to design for Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon.
“It is a super-thrilling moment, like one of your wildest dreams coming true. It is a great feeling, I feel honoured and humbled by this,” Mohapatra said on seeing the US First Lady donning his creation as she landed in India with husband US President Barack Obama on a three-day visit.
The First Lady wore a knee-length floral dress paired with a matching coat and black pumps on Sunday.
The award winning designer, 41, said he feels proud to have connected India and US in a small way through his work.
“The fact that it became part of the historical trip and with all the excitement that is happening in India itself...the attitude of the citizens of India and the energy going on there, it could not have happened at a better time,” he said.
“I am really proud to connect the two great countries through my work in a very small way. I find that link very meaningful for me personally,” he said.
Mohapatra said Indian PM has an impeccable dressing sense and he would “absolutely” want to design for him.
“Of course, I would want to make something for the Prime Minister. It would be really special and meaningful and I would definitely want to design for him,” he said, adding that he is very keen to meet the Indian leader some day.
Mohapatra said both Obama and Modi have had humble beginnings but have gone on to reach the pinnacle in life.
Having dressed the First Lady on previous occasions, the designer said creating something for her this time around was different since “it was for India.”
Odisha-born Mohapatra said he had to take into account the Delhi weather and colours of India. He said while he was aware the dress was being made for the First Lady’s trip to India, he did not know other details about when and how it is going to pan out.
“That’s the fun part of it, we find out when everyone finds out,” he said.
The New York-based designer launched his eponymous label at New York’s Fall 2009 fashion week and has a presence in North America, Europe, Russia and the Middle East. He is currently working on his fall collection for the prestigious New York Fashion Week next month.
