At the Upper HSE in Tivoli, the air was chirpy on a September night. Models dressed in sculptural gowns and Benarasi drapes styled as evening wear were putting the last ounce of makeup backstage in the open-air venue. Their ensembles adorned with shimmering metallic elements mirrored the light-refracting quality of ice. Adjacent to the backstage, a crystalline bar was serving up cocktails inspired by the beauty of glacial smoothness. From crisp and aromatic Green Mountain Pasture that glided across the palate like a breath of Alpine, to crowd-favourite high-ball, Apple of Altitude with crispy green apples from the mountains, each drink was inspired by a story that took us to the French Alps.
However it was the glasshouse at the venue where the beauty of the French Alps truly came alive! A colossal runway surprised us with a massive glacier sculpture at its centre. Glassy and smooth on one side, ridged with crevasses and serrated spines on another, the life-size installation looked otherworldly amidst the backdrop of creaking sounds of glaciers. Moments later, actor Kalki Koechlin arrived, her voice, almost oracular, introducing the guests to the second edition of cocktail couture, a collaboration between French spirit brand GREY GOOSE Altius and Indian designer Amit Aggarwal.
One may wonder how Indian artistry could meld with a vodka brand’s French roots? Well, the answer lies in the French Alps. The event showcased Aggarwal’s new cocktail couture collection Exon: The Code of Light inspired by the glacial radiance of French Alps, which also serve as the source of spring water in the making of Grey Goose Altius. Koechlin’s presence was also a masterstroke with her French lineage and acclaimed place in Indian cinema. She embodied the spirit of this collaboration. Dressed in Aggarwal’s vintage Benarasi saree styled as a French cocktail gown, she opened the evening in a bilingual address, setting the stage on fire and quite literally on ice!
Cocktail Couture
The show began with models gliding down the runway in 72 pieces. They ranged from Benarasi sarees crafted into gowns, scaled corsets with skirts, flared gowns, tuxedos, and more. Their surface textures bore signature Amit Aggarwal elements — polymers refracting like sculpted ice, crystal embroideries, structured silhouettes, sharp geometric lines, and immaculate pleated draping. Suiting the theme, the ensembles featured icy colours as well as jewel tones of ruby reds, blues, emeralds and purples, encapsulating the pristine brilliance of Alpine landscape.
“This collection began in the crystalline stillness of the French Alps where glaciers fracture light into brilliance. That silence, radiant and pure, sparked a vision of bioluminescence life glowing from within. The icy blue skies and the majestic stillness of the French Alps felt like stepping into an untouched dimension of purity and elevation. That feeling became the core inspiration for this collaboration,” Aggarwal told Outlook Luxe, adding that he wanted to translate that glacial serenity into couture.
“The translucent layers, metallic sheens, and architectural structures in the garments evoke the crisp Alpine air and purity of the high-altitude snow. It’s a world where nature sculpts itself just like how I envision design: bold, elemental, and ever-evolving.”
The show ended with showstoppers Sharvari dishing out a sculpted Benarasi saree-gown in metallic purple draped sinuously around her body while Ibrahim Ali Khan flexed a navy blue Bandhgala set, adorned with Banarasi cording. “I re-engineered Banarasi weaves, rich in tradition, into sculptural terrains: pleated, layered, transformed into topographies of memory. They became heirlooms of tomorrow, proof that tradition, like connection, evolves,” Aggarwal told on the making.
A sip of glacial purity
The night culminated with a crystalline bar taken over by Avinash Kapoli. He wears many hats as a restauranter, mixologist and founder of Soka Bengaluru, ranked No. 28 in 50 best bars of Asia. He stirred concoctions inspired by the French Alps. From the Alpage Vert (Herbs) that tasted like summer in the Alps, to Sel des Cimes (Jujubes), a nod to the nostalgia of Indian summers with wheat notes, to Kapoli’s best-sellers like Éclat du Soir infused with the fragrance of jasmine, every sip elevated the cocktail evening.
“The French Alps symbolise purity, freshness, and elevation, qualities that the GREY GOOSE Altius captures beautifully. I wanted the cocktails to feel like a breath of crisp Alpine air: light, refreshing, and clean. Each drink mirrors that clarity, but is interpreted through Indian storytelling and flavour profiles,” Kapoli told Outlook Luxe adding that his interaction with Aggarwal revealed how much design and mixology share in common. “Just like couture is handmade and crafted from scratch, it’s very similar to how cocktails are made. These cocktails presented today aren’t mass-produced; they’re carefully composed experiences. Be it creating the balance between the cocktail flavour profiles, finding the right garnish to looking at each detail before one gets to sip it, the process is much like how couture is carefully crafted. This thoughtfulness, to me, is true luxury. That’s how I see fashion and mixology blending.”
Upcoming cocktail trends in India
India is witnessing increasing bar-takeovers not just in cosmopolitans like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad but tier-II cities like Jaipur and Indore. We took the opportunity to ask Kapoli about emerging cocktail trends shaping India’s bar-scene. “India’s cocktail culture has gone through a real shift in the last few years. We’ve moved beyond the days of nightclubs and high-energy pubs where straight drinks and beers dominated, into a space where people are seeking spirit-forward cocktails. Consumers now value flavour and technique, a layered take on a Negroni or Martini is appreciated as much as, if not more than, a quick-fix LIIT,” he said adding, “Another big shift is the rise of the sober curious movement. There’s a clear demand for lighter serves and lower-ABV(less alcohol) cocktails. It allows people to enjoy the social aspect and flavour, without overindulgence.”
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He noted that with bartenders, brands, and consumers coming together for city takeovers, collaborative pop-ups and one of a kind experiences, it’s putting India firmly on the map as an F&B destination. “Our standard today feels on par with what you’d expect in cocktail capitals like Singapore or Hong Kong. For me, this evolution is symbolic of our growing consumer and economy. People are not just drinking to get drunk, they’re drinking to discover and be a part of a larger culture of taste,” Kapoli concludes.
