On October 23, Pirelli unveiled the 53rd edition of its iconic Pirelli Calendar — called ‘The Cal’ — in New Delhi. For the first time since it launched in 1964, the calendar was shot entirely in India, across the forts of Rajasthan and the chaotic alleys of Old Delhi. In a world drowning in AI-generated mood boards, the timing couldn’t be more perfect. Also read | Supermodels Bhavitha Mandava, Lakshmi Menon and Mona Bhujel represent India as they walk for Chanel in Paris
This edition of Pirelli Calendar did not try to give one monolithic, exoticised idea of India. It had two visions — and that’s the point. Norwegian fashion photographer Solve Sundsbo shot nine contemporary icons at historic sites like Jaigarh Fort in Jaipur and Ajabgarh in Alwar, Pirelli shared on its website – like television host and model Padma Lakshmi, floating in a water lily pond covered in duckweed and lotus, wearing a sheer cream gown. Her shot was ethereal and timeless.
As fashion watchdog Diet Sabya pointed out in an October 24 Instagram post, in an era of lazy AI renders, the sheer labour of this — sweat, grime, location scouting, and real humans — feels like actual luxury.
