Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI ends on a glamorous note

The weekend at Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI brought with it a fresh lineup of shows, exciting new collections and plenty to look forward to. From contemporary couture and experimental silhouettes to emerging design talent and traditional Indian craftsmanship reimagined for today, the runways at Taj Palace, New Delhi, offered a glimpse of what’s next in fashion. With celebrated designers, fresh perspectives and star-studded appearances, the three-day showcase had something new to discover at every turn.

Another highlight was R|Elan™ × HUEMN, which reimagined modern athleisure through a meeting of advanced textile technology and traditional Indian craftsmanship. Marking their second collaboration at Lakmé Fashion Week, the showcase explored HUEMN’s signature duality of beauty and terror through experimental silhouettes, original prints and archival craft techniques. Seven R|Elan™ fabric technologies were featured in the collection, including Kooltex, GreenGold, Cotluk, EcoTherm, AllClima, EcoGold and AirTherm. Standout pieces included an oxblood denim jacket embellished with Chikankari embroidery, a snakeskin-print design and an unconventional draped “mummy top”. The presentation also marked R|Elan™’s eighth year and the unveiling of its renewed brand identity.

The day brought Arvind Limited and Ashish N Soni together for a contemporary menswear showcase. Working with fabrics including cotton, wool, linen, Tencel and bamboo, the collaboration explored clean lines, considered tailoring and versatile silhouettes. Actor Jim Sarbh walked as the showstopper, underscoring the collection’s understated approach to modern dressing.

Bridal fashion took centre stage with Anushree Reddy’s MAYA, in collaboration with Lakmē Salon. Drawing on mythology, childhood memories and familiar objects, the collection reimagined the designer’s romantic aesthetic through elaborate zardozi, sequins, glass beads and rich textures. Showstopper Sara Arjun brought the presentation to a close, while Lakmē Salon complemented the couture with three distinct bridal beauty directions, from soft romantic looks to bolder, maximalist expressions.

The weekend began with Namrata Joshipura’s OBSIDIAN on Friday night, presented by OPPO. Exploring the interplay of darkness and light, the collection featured sculptural silhouettes, elongated jumpsuits, liquid metallic textures and intricate embellishments. Gilded embroidery and reflective surfaces lent the eveningwear a dramatic edge, celebrating confident, contemporary glamour.

Countrymade explored the idea of Material Memory on Saturday, placing Indian craftsmanship at the heart of contemporary menswear through traditional techniques such as Kantha and Bakhiya, exposed stitching, reversible constructions and textured surfaces. 

The day culminated in Manish Malhotra Luxury Prêt 2026, presented by Maruti Suzuki NEXA, marking the designer’s return to the Lakmé Fashion Week runway after nearly three and a half years. The collection explored a modern interpretation of occasionwear through fluid drapes, sculpted silhouettes, metallic accents and intricate detailing, alongside the introduction of Manish Malhotra Menswear Luxe Prêt. Showstoppers Sara Ali Khan and Ayushmann Khurrana brought the collection’s contemporary glamour to life, both dressed in striking black ensembles.

The final day celebrated fresh voices, regional influences and modern occasionwear. Pearl Academy’s First Cut GenAnokhi spotlighted emerging talent, while The Fifth Season: A Fashion Story from Ladakh brought the region’s indigenous textiles and craftsmanship to the runway. Featuring Zilzom by Stanzin Palmo, Namza Couture by Padma Yangchan and women-led artisanal enterprises Changra Ladakh and Charkha Ladakh, the showcase highlighted traditional crafts including Ladakhi Pashmina, Nambu, Challi and Thigma.

Ethnix by Raymond presented Wedding Stories, a contemporary take on Indian wedding and occasionwear that brought traditional craftsmanship into conversation with modern menswear. The collection spanned kurtas, bandhgalas, sherwanis and Indo-Western ensembles, alongside suits and tuxedos, with Jamawar, Jacquards, brocades, embroidery and Jaipur-inspired block prints adding depth to the designs. Indian cricketer Suryakumar Yadav closed the showcase as its showstopper in an embroidered ensemble inspired by Indian chintz florals. The presentation also featured six content creators and a live musical performance by Twin Strings, blending Bollywood classics with international electronic sounds.

The weekend concluded with the House of Lakmé × Amit Aggarwal's AM:IT grand finale, titled On a Day Like Today. Exploring Lakmé’s ‘5PM Glam Reset’, the showcase traced the transition from the structure of the working day to the freedom of evening celebrations. Drawing inspiration from familiar Indian crafts, domestic objects and everyday gestures, the collection combined utility, colour, ornament and contemporary textures to explore how personal style evolves after hours. Lakmé brand ambassador Aneet Padda took to the runway as the showstopper, with the new Lakmé 9to5 HYA Glam range complementing the collection’s shift from workday polish to evening glamour. It was a fitting close to three days that brought together established designers, emerging talent, material innovation and evolving ideas of Indian fashion.