One of India’s most prestigious fashion exhibits, India Couture Week by FDCI, kicked off on July 24. Over the next eight days, fourteen top labels will showcase their newest collections, which genuinely exemplify Indian artistry to the tee. These ateliers are ready to show their expertise through their avant-grande silhouettes, which celebrate the country’s rich craftsmanship and artistic heritage. Here’s a sneak peek of what the leading Indian designers have to display, highlighting their incredible talent.
Day 1: Asal and Mard by Abu Sandeep
On the grand opening night of the India Couture Week, the iconic duo Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla made a spectacular debut with their new brand and its collection, “Disco Mujra”, for all fashion enthusiasts. Their lineup combined traditional textiles, age-old embroidery, and modern designs. While the talented diva Wamiqa Gabbi turned showstopper as the Asal bride, the nation’s new heart-throb Taaha Shah Badussha wowed the audience with Mard’s groom wear. Both brands celebrated heritage while giving every ensemble a modern twist. The silhouettes were amplified with statement jewellery by G.K. Chudiwalas that flawlessly complimented the outfits.
Day 2: Roseroom by Isha Jajodia
As the fashion week proceeds into day 2, the celebration carries on with magnificent sets dominated by understated grace for Roseroom by Isha Jajodia. The label presented “Art of Eternity”, which whispers a tale of elegance through delicate laces and botanical motifs. Inspired by French architecture, it flawlessly blends vintage aesthetics with modern feminine strength. The designer used exquisite lace with intricate embroidery, beadwork, and needlework, celebrating nature and timeless craftsmanship in every artistic masterpiece. Jacqueline Fernandez graced the ramp for the label and showcased her fashion prowess with the collection’s showstopping ensemble.
Suneet Varma
The glamorous evening continued with Suneet Verma’s stunning collection, amalgamating traditional masterpieces with contemporary flair. The models graced the stage in silhouettes steeped in vibrant shades of pink, red, blue, black, and white, with eye-catching embellishments, innovative designs, and meticulous craftsmanship. The night ended on a high note, with the designer taking a walk down the ramp with her fabulous creation and celebrating Indian heritage craftsmanship.
Day 3: Siddartha Tytler
On day 3 of the fashion week, things got interesting in terms of creativity. The curtains were raised with Siddartha Tytler’s couture collection, Caligula’s Feast, which exemplifies flamboyance with a dash of sensual allure. The collection includes garments like lehengas, bandhgalas, sherwanis, kurtas, sarees, anarkalis, gowns, dresses, and corsets; the lineup has everything to amp up your celebration styling with ease. Featuring silhouettes like jewel tones like ruby red, navy blue and emerald, the collection exudes opulence in every stitch. The ever-classic Rahul Khanna and the fabulous Malaika Arora turned showstoppers and walked the ramp for the label.
Kunal Rawal
While Siddartha Tytler showcased opulence at its finest, Kunal Rawal chose to stick to the classics but with his uniqueness. His collection, “Sehra”, highlighted the age-old traditions, part of the Indian wedding in a new light. The brand’s signature elements of sticking to traditions yet bringing a modern twist invariably stay with this collection as well, but incorporating different crafts across the country like brocades, dhup chao threadwork, micro motifs and various other artwork that effortlessly defines the brand’s ethos.
Day 4: Dolly J
On Saturday evening, the marvellous designer Dolly J graced the India Couture Week 2024 ramp with her muse Sonakshi Sinha, and her fairytale collection, La Vie En Rose. The designer showcased how timeless elegance looks yet highlighted the contemporary elements in her collection. The label’s use of tissue, tulles, chiffon and silk organza with intricate embroidery and floral motifs ensures a sense of effortlessness with feminine grace.
JJ Valaya
The night went on to witness JJ Valaya’s regal collection, Muraqqa, blending India’s rich textiles, craftsmanship and skilled detailing. The fabulous creations take inspiration from Mughal, Ottoman, and Persian artistry, woven with opulent silks and velvets. From lehengas to sarees and from sherwanis to Nehru jackets, JJ Valaya perfectly infuses his love for unique techniques and time-honoured prints in his silhouettes that highlight the imperial elegance to the tee.
Day 5: Amit Aggarwal
Here comes day 5, and the fashion week is taking an exciting turn. Ace designer Amit Aggarwal showcases his creativity and unique aesthetics with his latest collection, ANTEVORTA. The lineup emphasises a strong connection between time and universe, highlighting the designer’s signature metallic work woven through every ensemble. The creative genius showcased the limitless nature of time through his exquisite creation, which became the talk of the night of the prestigious fashion week.
Rahul Mishra
After an extravagant showcase by Amit Aggarwal, the internationally renowned designer Rahul Mishra took over the stage. His fabulous collection effortlessly encapsulates opulence and intricate craftsmanship. Every piece is a perfect amalgamation of traditional timelessness and modern elegance. Be it the iconic sarees or noteworthy sherwanis; every silhouette showcased the designer’s attention to detail and his love for nature and culturally rooted elements.
Day 6: Jayanti Reddy
As the show proceeds towards the finale, ace designer Jayanti Reddy showcases her fabulous collection, Evocative Nawabi Canvas, highlighting the rich culture of her beloved city, Hyderabad. With an assemblage of heritage textiles embodied with antique motifs, the collection lets us revisit the ancient Indian in today’s time. With Kishan Das & Co’s exquisite heritage jewellery, the show was an extravagant showcase of the regal legacy of Indian craftsmanship to its finest.
Gaurav Gupta
Day 6 ended with internationally acclaimed designer Gaurav Gupta’s exquisite lineup, Arunodaya. Gen Z stars Khushi Kapoor and Vedang Raina walked the ramp wearing the collection, which signified early dawn. The creative genius used classic Zardosi work with other intricate and colourful embroidery techniques. The colour used in the collection depicted the early morning skies, highlighting the beauty and reflecting endless possibilities of hues through his masterpieces.
Day 7: Rimzim Dadu
On the second-last day of the event, traditional meets contemporary with a splash of glamour with Rimzim Dadu’s creations presented by Pearl Acadamy. The ever-gorgeous Sobhita Dhulipala walked the ramp and showcased her fashion prowess with a pristine yet over-the-top ensemble. From dramatic frills to metallic work and well-tailored suits and bandhgalas, the label has a silhouette for everyone to make an effortless statement for the upcoming festive season.
Tarun Tahiliani
The fabulous designer Tarun Tahiliani closed the 8th day with his exceptional couture collection, Otherworldly. The collection is a beautiful take on heritage elegance merged with modern comfort. With traditional craftsmanships like Kashidakar, Mukaish, and Chikankari, and infusing them with modern elements like intricate embroidery, bling-worthy jewellery and comfortable yet stylish footwear. The designer ensured that he included his signature elements in his creation yet showcased a fresh take on these timeless masterpieces.
Finale: Falguni Shane Peacock
The finale night of India Couture Week 2024 had to end on a high note, and who better than Falguni Shane Peacock to pull off? The designer duo bought their extravagant collection, Rang Mahal, to the ramp. The collection took inspiration from India’s royal heritage, highlighting its dreamy and regal aspects. The lineup has time-honoured textiles like silks and velvets, with intricate embroidery and incorporating luxurious motifs like peacocks, parrots and palaces that emphasise imperial elegance.
India Couture Week 2024 is an extravagant showcase of India’s finest work on embroidery, creativity and inspiration. From time-honoured stunners to fusion-infused masterpieces, every designer bought their unique interpretation of their creations of our nation’s cultural heritage. At the end of the sensational week dedicated to fashion, our country’s traditional artistry proudly stands out in vibrant splendours, and fashion enthusiasts are looking forward to witnessing even greater showcases at India Couture Week.