Snake & Ladders, A.R. Rahman, Ishaan Khatter And Nora Fatehi: How Louis Vuitton Gave India Its Moment At SS26
Louis Vuitton’s SS26 men’s show, under Pharrell Williams, brought India to the global stage—loud and proud
India has been a favourite muse for fashion for decades—but usually from a distance. Designers lift textiles, silhouettes, and traditions, often without attribution, turning centuries of craft into momentary trends. That’s what made Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer 2026 menswear show so refreshing: it didn’t just reference India. It invited it in.
Held at Centre Pompidou in Paris, the show was an immersive cultural moment that saw India front and centre. From the Snakes & Ladders-themed runway conceptualised by Bijoy Jain of Studio Mumbai to an original composition by A.R. Rahman titled “Yaara” that filled the air with rhythm and resonance, this was not just a nod to Indian aesthetics—it was a full-fledged collaboration.
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Even the guest list spoke volumes. Ishaan Khatter, Padmanabh Singh, and Nora Fatehi—three rising faces from Indian cinema, royalty, and entertainment—were invited guests at the show, adding serious style to the front row. While they are not brand ambassadors, their presence was a powerful acknowledgement of India’s growing global cultural influence.
Khatter, known for his effortless fashion choices, brought youthful energy in a breezy, layered Louis Vuitton look. Fatehi, whose star power bridges Bollywood and international pop culture, served red carpet-worthy sophistication with an edge. Meanwhile, Padmanabh Singh, the polo-playing royal from Jaipur, carried an air of classic cool, bridging heritage and high fashion.
But it wasn’t just the faces in the crowd—it was the soul of the show itself. The life-sized Snakes & Ladders board wasn’t just a playful design—it was a philosophical metaphor, rooted in Indian tradition, evoking life’s unpredictable highs and lows. It was also a design triumph, crafted with Jain’s signature sensitivity to materials, space, and culture.
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A.R. Rahman’s “Yaara” wasn’t merely a background track. The Oscar-winning composer set the emotional tempo of the entire show, blending Indian instrumentation with contemporary beats that echoed across Paris. This marked one of the few times a major European luxury house handed over sonic control to an Indian artist—not for tokenism, but as a key creative force.
The clothes followed suit. The collection was filled with sun-washed cashmere, earth-toned tailoring, hand-embroidered pieces, and mirrorwork—quietly luxurious, deeply textured, and clearly influenced by Indian craft traditions. Leather chappals, bejeweled satchels, and vintage-style trunks provided tactile references to Indian design, but always through a global lens. It was India, but evolved. Fashion, but thoughtful.
This wasn’t about mimicking a Rajasthani wedding. There were no caricatures, no Bollywood pastiche. Instead, Pharrell delivered a rare example of cultural appreciation that felt earned, considered, and inclusive.
In contrast, brands like Prada have recently come under fire for repackaging the Kolhapuri chappal at sky-high prices, offering zero credit to its cultural origins. It’s a stark reminder of how fashion still often flirts with appropriation.
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But Louis Vuitton got it right. It brought Indian voices—musical, architectural, and sartorial—into the fold. It platformed Indian creatives and guests without using them as decorative props. And in doing so, it turned India’s role from muse to partner.
At a time when luxury fashion continues to “borrow” freely from the Global South, Louis Vuitton’s SS26 show is a timely reminder that giving credit, inviting collaboration, and treating inspiration with respect is not just possible—it’s powerful.