Astitva 2026: Istituto Marangoni Mumbai celebrates identity through fashion

Fashion became a medium for deeply personal storytelling as Istituto Marangoni Mumbai unveiled Astitva, its annual student showcase featuring the work of its second-year Fashion Design students. Held on July 18, the presentation went beyond the traditional runway format to bring together nine original collections that explored identity, memory, resilience, heritage and transformation through contemporary design.

Each of the nine emerging designers presented three looks, translating intimate personal experiences into contemporary fashion. Anshika Yadav's Ecdysis explored transformation through the symbolic journey of a bird, while Anushka Puranik's Anchors of Immanence reflected on family as a constant source of strength despite physical distance. Diya Gupta's Unfinished Rooms revisited the childhood spaces that continue to shape identity, while Drishti Bachwani's Alexithymia drew from the emotional challenges of expressing unspoken feelings. Natalia Kumar's Inheritance Adorned celebrated Indian jewellery and gemstones as symbols of identity and personal evolution, while Paarvi Khullar's Learning to Breathe Again documented a journey through anxiety, healing and self-acceptance. Pallavi Singh's REVIVE paid tribute to the resilience of Kutch following the 2001 Bhuj earthquake by reimagining traditional crafts such as Bhujodi weaving and Ajrakh block printing through contemporary winter wear. Tarini Kakar's La Révolution explored transformation as a continuous cycle of renewal, while Vanya Gupta's Fleeting Grief transformed the experience of losing her mother to cancer into a moving narrative of healing and acceptance.

The evening also recognised outstanding achievements among the graduating designers. Pallavi Singh received the Designer of the Year 2026 award for her collection REVIVE, while Anushka Puranik was presented with the inaugural Sustainability Award 2026 for Anchors of Immanence, which celebrated craftsmanship, conscious creation, heirloom design and mindful luxury.

The Astitva showcase was brought to life under the creative direction of Kristian Steinberg, Director of Education at Istituto Marangoni Mumbai, with styling by Kayaan Contractor and show direction by Vahbiz Mehta, Delnaz Daruwala and Kamal Mehta. Hair and makeup for the presentation were curated by Daniel Bauer Academy, while Amal Embroideries contributed handcrafted embroidery to selected student looks, highlighting its longstanding expertise in couture craftsmanship. The event was also supported by fragrance partner ŚASVA, the luxury fragrance house founded by Istituto Marangoni alumnus Sriman Subramanian, known for creating scents inspired by Indian art and heritage. Guests were served wines by The Source by Sula, celebrated for its sustainably produced wines from the Nashik Valley.

With Astitva 2026, Istituto Marangoni Mumbai presented a new generation of designers whose collections demonstrated not only technical skill and innovation but also the power of fashion to communicate deeply personal stories that resonate on a universal level.