AVANT-GARDE INDIAN FASHION AT THE 12TH EDITION OF INDIA COUTURE WEEK

The 12th Edition of Indian Couture Week organised by the FDCI in partnership with Hindustan Times this year unfolded in all its extravagance at the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi. Every year, Indian couturiers innovate with heritage techniques and fabrics to bring home a well-travelled sense of style and this year kicks off as usual with sheer brilliance raining on the runway. 

Photo credits: Amit Aggarwal

Day 1 | Started with Amit Aggarwal’s off-site show at One Style Mile which saw his take on new wave Indian bridal couture, inspired by the invisible exchange of light and energy in humans as well as the surrounding environment. The show titled ‘Lumen - The Light of a Human’, delved deep into the reflections of the human mind presented through meticulous hand embroidery evolving from a dot into a line and further into an entire structure, but at the centre of his experimentation were the slightly understated micro-etchings which are meant to manipulate the reflectivity of light on metallic surfaces. 

Photo credits: Amit Aggarwal

The handmade lithographs bio-mimicking wondrous neutral details left the audience in awe of Amit Aggarwal’s idea of the independent and fearless bride. A vision in red, Kiara Advani sashayed down the runway as the showstopper on the first day at India Couture Week.

Photo credits: Filmi Beat

What’s more | Such a spectacular beginning is a tough act to follow but shows from designers like Suneet Verma, Rahul Mishra, Shyamal & Bhumika, Gaurav Gupta, and Tarun Tahiliani can never disappoint! Pankaj & Nidhi also make their couture debut this year on Day 3 with their show titled ‘Mosaiq’ – with muted pastel gowns and lehengas with dramatic trails, they’re ready to set the stage and dress the Indian bride ‘who wishes to look like Beyonce’; and we are extremely excited for this one as the sneak-peaks hint to a lot of 3D hand-cut applique and inlay work set on some really modern silhouettes for the new-age bride in unusual metallic shades of sapphire blue, citrine yellow, and marble grey. Having put their best foot forward at the Lotus Makeup India Fashion Week Autumn Winter 2019, we look forward to the amalgamation of sequins, glass, ceramics, wood, tulle, organza, and satin that the designer duo has in store for us. 

Photo credits: Pankaj and Nidhi

This year’s show stopper designer | The week-long extravaganza will come to a close with Tarun Tahiliani’s off-site show where he revisits some classic tone-on-tone work in partnership with Swarovski, the highlight of the show being Kashida embroidery which allows garments to stay feather-light, all in attendance to the spirited bride who wants to feel like herself even on her wedding day. 

Photo credits: Tarun Tahiliani

Whether planning to get married anytime soon or staying abreast with wedding trends, there’s no fashion event like India Couture Week to get your insights into the grandeur of Indian weddings. For the best of the futuristic Indian design thinking and new-age occasion dressing, stay tuned. We’ll get you all the highlights!