India’s premier runway showcase, Lakmē Fashion Week in partnership with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), returns for its 25th anniversary celebrations after its Mumbai showcase earlier this year for a five day showcase from October 8 to October 12. The Day 1 kicked off at The Kunj — the newly opened handicrafts mall dedicated to Indian craft, textiles, and design excellence which provided the perfect backdrop for presentations by Anavila, Akaaro, and The Edit by The Kunj, honouring India’s artisanal traditions.
The thoughtful venue and curation brought in by the collaboration of FDCI, Lakmē, and Reliance Brands emphasised on the narrative, “handmade in India, crafted for the world”. Suitably, models took over not just a traditional ramp but the mall elevators and central courtyard space. They flexed Anavila Mishra’s ‘Sarmast collection inspired by the mystic state of Wajd and the soul of the Deccan. Crafted from handwoven linen, delicate French lace, appliquéd satin, European florals, beaded borders, the edit featured ruffled sarees, kurta sets, floral printed co-ords with sheer tops in a soft colour palette of washed out off white, pale yellow, peach pink along with some exceptions provided by as bright reds.
Anavila shared, “To open Lakmé Fashion Week with ‘Sarmast’ feels very special. It’s a collection that captures stillness, emotion, and the quiet beauty of craft. It’s a gentle beginning, an invitation to pause and feel the poetry in simplicity, where every weave and detail reflects the soul of the Deccan.”
In a nod to India’s handmade artistry, Akaaro by Gaurav Jai Gupta presented ‘Starlight’. It turned its focus on khadi silk, handwoven silks, cotton, metallic threads, and the label’s signature kinjis, a handwoven silk-cotton textile developed on a traditional loom in eastern India. “It is an honour for Akaaro to open Lakmé Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI this season, and to do so at The Kunj — a space dedicated to Indian craft and its many expressions. Presenting Starlight here feels particularly significant, as the collection continues our ongoing inquiry into how handwoven textiles can embody modernity and emotion in equal measure,” said Gaurav.
In a first, the prestigious runway also had ‘The Edit by The Kunj’. It featured labels like Pieux, Khamir, Iro Iro, Aavaran, Kiniho, Jiyo, Runway Nagaland, Shrujan, Vriksh, Vimor, and Mirasi that brought handcrafted creations from different parts of India. From delicate ikats and Japanese manual resist-dyeing technique Shibori on ensembles, pashminas, vibrant Kutch embroideries, to airy cottons, each piece was a re-telling of the country’s heritage, skill, and cultural memory.
Notably, instead of going too avant-garde and radical in dressing, the opening day at Lakmé Fashion Week pushed for simple ensembles suited for the aspirational India of today, pushing the country’s luxury narrative.
Speaking on the opening show, Sunil Sethi, Chairman, FDCI, shared, “Lakmē Fashion Week in partnership with the Fashion Design Council of India, with the support of The Kunj under DC Handicrafts, Ministry of Textiles, is proud to present the Opening Show for this season of fashion week. This collaboration beautifully represents our shared philosophy to preserve, promote, and contemporise Indian crafts, and opening the fashion week with a show that so powerfully highlights the artistry of our artisans reaffirms our belief that India’s creative legacy continues to inspire global conversations in fashion.”
The Kunj provided an immersive backdrop where craft and creativity merged. Jaspreet Chandok, Group Vice President, Reliance Brands, said, “The Opening Show at The Kunj stands as a powerful statement of how far the platform has come in redefining India’s fashion narrative globally. It celebrates creativity without boundaries – uniting innovation, craftsmanship, and collaboration. As we open this new season, we do so with a shared vision towards supporting the craft and artisanal eco-system.”
