In Kathakali, a single gesture or flash of colour speaks an entire visual language, and on the runway, that exact performance vocabulary was turned into something soft, fluid, and beautifully wearable. At Lakmē Fashion Week 2026 in partnership with FDCI, designer Pratima Pandey captured that exact theatrical energy with KATHA, the latest showcase from her label, PRAMA, a collection focused on storytelling through handcraft.
Instead of using literal stage costumes, the showcase captured the spirit, movement, and emotion of classical dance in simple, modern clothes. As Pratima Pandey puts it, “Katha is rooted in the idea that clothing, much like performance, can carry and communicate stories. Kathakali has an extraordinary visual language where colour, movement, gesture and costume come together to create narrative, and I wanted to explore that spirit through the lens of craft.”
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On the runway, Pratima approached her craft with the precision of a classical performer, combining traditional hand-stitching, intricate quilting, and upcycled fabric remnants. “Through Chanderi, patchwork, Kantha and Sujani, every layer and every stitch becomes part of a larger story – one that carries memory, character and the beauty of the handmade,” says the designer.
Image Courtesy: FDCI/instagram 
That philosophy of purpose extended directly into the craft itself. Lightweight sheer textiles were given subtle structural strength, while leftover embroidered fabrics were thoughtfully repurposed into kiss-lock bags, D-bags, and handcrafted potlis – demonstrating that sustainability in luxury is about honouring every fragment of material.
Ultimately, KATHA by PRAMA shows that the best style stories aren’t just worn, they’re lived in. By turning age-old traditions into lightweight, fluid design, the collection leaves us with a compelling reminder – heritage isn’t meant to sit quietly in history books, but to move, evolve, and breathe right along with us.