Inclusivity Stands Out As A Theme In First 3 Days Of India Couture Week 2024

Fashion Design Council of India’s (FDCI) second digital showcase of the India Couture Week is underway, and the first three days of the event have made audiences take notice of ground-breaking themes as well as Indian craftsmanship. So far, the event has seen showcases from designers like Manish Malhotra, who opened the fashion week, Gaurav Gupta, Suneet Varma, Dolly J, Amit Aggarwal, Siddhartha Tyler as well as designer duo Pankaj and Nidhi.

Inclusivity In All Its Forms

A recurring theme has undoubtedly been inclusivity, in terms of gender, size, age, and sexuality.

Designer Manish Malhotra, opened the digital edition of the India Couture Week with his bridal collection ‘Nooraniyat’ that featured some of the most exquisitely crafted lehengas in crimson as well as pastel hues. The collection featured different women as models, including body positive influencer Sakshi Sindwani, a model featured as an older woman with a daughter, as well as actress Kriti Sanon as the showstopper.

Image Source: Instagram/fdciofficial, stylemeupwithsakshi

Keeping up with the theme of inclusivity was designer Gaurav Gupta, best known for his sculpted designs. The collection featured womenswear pieces in Neptune blues, cosmic greys, asteroid pinks and patterned embroidery. The menswear pieces were in stark black and white, night teal, and Neptune blue with constellation-inspired details. The showcase featured same-sex couples, models in extended sizes, and a couple with an age gap to convey 'Universal Love', as the collection was named.

Image Source: Instagram/fdciofficial

Tyler’s debut couture collection at the event included muted ivory and gold tones, intricately handcrafted garments, and most notably, anarkalis for both men and women. The collection successfully, yet beautifully, blurred gender-based lines in Indian clothing.

Image Source: Instagram/fdciofficial

Conscious Couture

Designer Amit Aggarwal has been celebrated time and again for his take on conscious fashion in his couture creations and his collection at the digital event was just that and more. The digital showcase of his collection, 'Metanoia' was narrated by the designer himself, and was an ode to the three elements—earth, water, and air—that inspired the genesis of the collection. The collection featured pieces hand painted through a marbling pattern over discarded PVC or Polyvinyl chloride and handwoven polymer.

Image Source: Instagram/fdciofficial

Craftsmanship At Its Best

Designer Suneet Varma, who showcased on Day Two of the event, put across a collection featuring fresh pastel hues embroidered with beads, crystals and thread work, alongside traditional bridals in red with intricate thread work and zardozi.

Image Source: Instagram/fdciofficial

Designer duo Pankaj and Nidhi’s collection, 'Afterglow’, showcased intricate textures, grand and statement silhouettes handcrafted to represent ‘a new dawn with a longing for a bright future.’ The collection was radiant and showcased exquisite craftsmanship.

Image Source: Instagram/fdciofficial

Dolly J used highlighted liquid silver-like fabric, customised for the collection. The showcase featured signature traditional Indian silhouettes in pastels and jewel tones made with intricate handwork of silver as well as gold threads.

Image Source: Instagram/fdciofficial