The capital is brimming with couture, to say the least, thanks to the FDCI India Couture Week 2023. The weekend was promising when it comes to statement couture and a high celebrity quotient. Here’s what the weekend looked like at Taj Palace, New Delhi.
Kunal Rawal showcased his couture collection titled “Dhup Chao” on Day 4 of the Hyundai India Couture Week 2023 in association with Reliance Brands. The collection featured unconventional drapes and fine craftsmanship, adding glamour to men’s couture. Rawal drew inspiration from both the past and future of fashion, offering modern silhouettes, androgynous clothing, and shimmer. The collection paid homage to India’s many cultures and was a fusion of traditional and contemporary styles.
Photo Courtesy: FDCI/ Instagram
On the runway, the collection showcased structured jackets paired with dhotis, contemporary drapes, sharara sets with blazers and exquisite sherwanis. Actor Ranbir Kapoor walked the ramp in a stylish, buttoned-up kurta that had a shimmery yet classy appeal. The kurta was perfectly complemented by lungi-esque pants, adding a touch of contemporary flair to the overall traditional look.
At the JW Marriott Aerocity, the king of chevron, JJ Valaya, presented his couture collection, which continued to exude extravagance. The India Couture Week 2023 showcased his signature mixed metal embroidery in the Baroda collection, which was a stunning combination of exquisite craftsmanship and elegant style statements. As with most of his couture shows, this collection was divided into three chapters. The first chapter, inspired by Art Deco, combines art deco lines with Mughal inlay motifs. The second chapter, Nomade, gave modern flair to Kutch motifs and mirror work. Finally, the last chapter, Royale, drew inspiration from Portuguese Azulejos tiles. JJ Valaya’s signature belted lehengas, red hues, and regal angrakhas for men made a significant impact.
On Saturday, notable fashion designers Rohit Gandhi, Rahul Khanna, and Tarun Tahiliani made appearances at India Couture Week 2023. Rohit and Rahul’s presentation promised to be a dazzling affair, featuring stunning gowns, cut-outs, hooded gowns, and Swarovski detailing in their Equinox collection. Men’s fashion also shined on the runway with plunging necklines, thigh-high slits, and shimmer. The mesmerizing collection featured rich fabrics, hypnotic 3D embroidery, and trellis designs inspired by wintery walks. The garments showcased a range of colors, including milkyway blue, garnet, rosewood, and twilight lavender. The day’s events concluded with Sobhita and Ishan Khattar, who both looked stunning in their fashionable attire. Sobhita wore a silver two-piece co-ord, while Khattar rocked a dapper shimmer jacket.
The recent fashion show showcased a breathtaking collection by Tarun Tahiliani, renowned for his skillful use of pastels and drapes in his designs. His latest collection, named “Art of Couture,” presented a fusion of traditional Indian techniques with modern styles, creating a fresh and innovative vision for Indian fashion. Tahiliani believes that draping is an essential aspect of Indian style, and his collection featured magnificent drapes and folds that seamlessly blended with Western silhouettes. The designs exhibited a variety of styles, ranging from modern gowns with intricate beading to embroidery and prints, all capturing the true essence of the Indian Modern Woman and The New Man. The collection also delved into traditional Indian techniques, such as Chikankari, Kasheedakari, Byzantine art, Egyptian Jaalis & Persian motifs, adding to the diverse tapestry of Indian fashion.
Sunday opened with Rimzim Dadu’s debut couture collection at India Couture Week 2023 titled Hydrochromic. Dadu commented, “My fascination with rain as a young girl partly raised in Nainital has evolved into a sentimental connection as an artist. But it’s not only the poetic inspiration I derive from water but the larger ecosystem and the water cycles inherent in the natural world. We are using water as a metaphor to draw attention to climate change where too much rain or too less of it can be devastating. Our idea is to provoke people to think and take action.”
Photo Courtesy: FDCI/ Instagram
Rimzim Dadu’s latest collection of couture pays tribute to the many forms of water and its strengths and adaptability. This collection draws inspiration from traditional Indian crafts and textiles but brings them into a modern context. The collection is characterized by textural patterns that come from conventional weaving techniques and materials. Women’s clothing includes lehengas, skirts, gowns, and Dadu’s signature metallic saris, while men’s clothing includes jackets, bombers, trousers, shirts, bandhgalas, and kurtas. The showstopper, Ananya, was dressed in a chic bustier and skirt cocktail outfit, created using Rimzim’s signature metallic cord material. The stunning leaf pattern blends fluidity and structure in perfect harmony, and the metallic skirt creates the illusion of molten gold in motion. Each gold leaf is handcrafted and arranged to form a larger sculptured palm.
Drawing the weekend to a glamorous close was the couture show by Anamika Khanna. This collection combines modern and traditional elements with a focus on silver and gold metallics, antique aesthetics, emeralds, pearls, pastel colors, ivory, and black. The use of “Khinkhab brocade,” zardozi, hand embroidery, and elegant draping bring together the old and new. The collection also includes romantic lace, hearts, bows, and the symbolism of swans, celebrating love in all its forms. Athiya Shetty closed the show for designer Anamika Khanna, wearing a stunning beige floor-length gown featuring 3D appliqué work, florals, and thread work, with a thigh-high slit and a draped bottom, looking simply ethereal.
