Exclusive: Rahul Mishra Reveals Why Cardi B Wore His Creation But Missed His Paris Show

NDTV

10-07-2025

Cardi B turned heads at the Paris Couture Week 2025 in Rahul Mishra's 'Wild Rose' ensemble and the celebrated Indian designer says working with the American rapper was "a surreal and heartfelt experience".
But, not many know that the recording artiste ended up missing his show.
Cardi B, known for tracks such as WAP, I Like It, and Bodak Yellow, wore a ruby red hand-embroidered bustier long dress from Rahul Mishra Fall 2025 Couture collection. What added to the drama was the Crimson Mirage - Rose tourmalines which brought out the effect of dancing flames.
In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Rahul Mishra said the rapper arrived late at the July 7 (Monday) showcase of his collection 'Becoming Love', inspired by the artistic language of Austrian symbolist painter Gustav Klimt.
Cardi B, however, more than made up for her late arrival.
"When she arrived-albeit after the show-it turned into a moment of unexpected grace. Often after a show, I'm swept into the chaos of media, guests, and industry conversations. But that evening, because of the timing, we had the rare luxury of stillness. She spent nearly an hour with us. A full, generous hour.
"And within that, we had a deeply engaging 20-30 minute one-on-one conversation. We spoke about Becoming Love not as a theme, but as an emotional journey-moving through longing, surrender, devotion, transformation. She connected with it on a profound level, responding to each stage with reflections of her own. There was something so sincere in the way she received the story-it wasn't performative, it was personal," the Delhi-based couturier told NDTV.
Sometimes, when things don't go as planned, they end up going just right, added Rahul Mishra.
"She also apologised warmly for missing the show due to a personal emergency, and I completely understood. I always start shows on time-it's my way of honouring every guest who shows up, especially those who come with back-to-back commitments. But in this case, the delay led to a far deeper encounter. It gave us the kind of connection that rarely happens in the fashion world... That evening was one of those gifts," he said.
Did Cardi B have any brief to share with the designer before he and his team started working on her outfit, which is still garnering a lot of love online?
Working with the American rapper was "a surreal and heartfelt experience", said Rahul Mishra..
Photo Credit: Rahul Mishra's Instagram
Rahul Mishra said the Grammy winner had already seen the sketch through her stylist Kollin Carter, who he was closely working with.
"Collaborating with Cardi was an incredibly surreal and heartfelt experience-one of those moments where art, emotion, and instinct all come together effortlessly... But the real magic happened the day before the show, when my team brought the three-dimensional flowers to her-flowers we had sculpted and hand-embroidered to feel like they were blooming with memory and meaning. There was an immediate sense of fascination and reverence from her and her team."
What struck him was how organically the process unfolded, he said.
"Once she resonated with the sketch, there were no heavy briefs-just trust. We had less than a week to finish the garment, but luckily, we had already been working on that piece in parallel. It was almost as if it was waiting for her."
There was another Indian connect to Cardi B's second look from the Paris Couture Week. She completed the look with a necklace set which was embellished with natural diamonds and paisley swirls in 18 karat white gold from Tanishq Diamonds.