Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI Kicks Off In Delhi Today; Here's What To Expect This Season

Lakmē Fashion Week, in partnership with the Fashion Design Council of India, returns to Delhi with yet another fascinating week of innovation, fashion and beauty.

Highlighting India’s most exceptional fashion and creative talent, this season presented by House of Lakmē, the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) and Reliance Brands (RBL), will be hosted at The Grand, New Delhi, from October 9 to October 13, 2024.

With legendary designers to upcoming talents, expect the runway to bloom with creativity. “This season promises to highlight exceptional design talent on the runway. Our aim is to create a dynamic platform for both established and emerging designers, showcasing their work to industry professionals while fostering new talent through our discovery initiatives. We are eagerly anticipating this season and believe it will elevate the Indian fashion industry to new heights,” expresses Sunil Sethi, chairman, FDCI.

Celebrating 15 years of storytelling through its delightfully whimsical take on Indian craftsmanship, péro will open Lakmē Fashion Week x FDCI on October 9th. “I am so happy and honoured to celebrate péro’s 15th anniversary by opening Lakmē Fashion Week in partnership with the Fashion Design Council of India. This collection, in particular, is very close to my heart as it is a celebration of our collective childhood nostalgia reinterpreted in our own quirky style. Think cottage core but with a twist,” says Aneeth Arora, founder and designer, péro.

The House of Lakmē Grand Finale, with couturier Rohit Bal at the helm, will close the season on October 13. A captivating culmination of the week, the finale embodies the ethos of timeless design, floral beauty, and empowering femininity. “It’s an honour to close Lakmē Fashion Week X FDCI with The House of Lakmē Grand Finale. This collection is a celebration of nature’s beauty, and the inspiration behind it is the way flowers take form and transform the world around them. Through this collection, I aim to slow down time and allow the audience to appreciate the intricacy and grace that both fashion and nature offer,” shares Rohit Bal.

This showcase promises to be an exquisite celebration of the feminine spirit, drawing inspiration from House of Lakmē with Rohit’s iconic sartorial legacy. Speaking about the collaboration, Sunanda Khaitan, Vice President Lakmē, says, “Rohit Bal’s collection for the Grand Finale is a true showcase of Fashion X Beauty and reflects the inspiration behind Lakmē’s new launch—a celebration of slow beauty interlaced with splendour, with florals being a central trend that flows seamlessly into both beauty and fashion. We are delighted to have him as the Grand Finale designer and support him in this showcase that will truly push the trendsetting envelope of beauty and fashion.”

Here’s What To Look Forward To This Season:

YOUNG MINDS OF FASHION

On October 10, NIF Global presents Gennext will open the Atelier and unveil four emerging talents: Padma Saldon (2112 Saldon), Saurabh Maurya (MARGN), Ananya Arora (Ananya—The Label), and Sakshi Vijay Punyani (VJ). Their innovative collections aim to bring fresh perspectives to the runway.

On October 13, FDCI x Pearl Academy will unveil an innovative iteration of its renowned event, ‘First Cut.’ This year, the theme “Chained by My Femininity” delves into the dichotomy between traditional femininity and the pressing need for safety in today’s society. “The theme ‘Chained by My Femininity’ pays homage to the profound strength of women, from revered goddesses to everyday champions. At Pearl Academy, we are committed to nurturing this spirit of creativity in our students, empowering them to craft impactful narratives that uplift and advocate for all women,” says Aditi Srivastava, president, Pearl Academy.

NEXA Presents the Spotlight, a platform that empowers and highlights emerging design talent in India, is back with its eighth edition this season. In this edition, the program has announced TIL by Ankur Verma as the winner, who will be showcasing at Lakmē Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI on October 11, 2024.

SUSTAINABLE FASHION

The Sustainable Fashion Day On October 10, 2024, will witness designers such as Anurag Gupta, Ek Katha—slow clothing, Kaleekal, Antar-Agni, Payal Pratap, presenting collections that champion sustainability.

R|Elan Circular Design Challenge in partnership with the United Nations in India will see its new group of finalists in its second global edition. The finalists for the season include EU: Wenyan Xu & Meng Wang (Saltless); APAC: Tsang Fan Yu; UK: Silvia Acién (ACIEN); India: Gautam Malik (Jaggery), Ritwik Khanna (RKive City) and Chandini Batra (A Blunt Story). Rashmick Bose & Drishti Modi (Lafaani) will be joining as wildcard entry from India.

Abraham & Thakore will close Sustainable Fashion Day, with the collection ‘Finding Beauty’ that breathes new life into forgotten everyday items transforming them into glamorous, upcycled evening wear.

OF BRANDS AND CREATIVE COLLABS

Continuing partners of the platform will be seen associating with acclaimed designers for showcases like NEXA Presents OTT (Tarun Tahiliani), R|Elan™ X Huemn, and Lakmē Salon X Samant Chauhan.

“We are excited to return with an exhilarating line-up, showcasing outstanding design talent from India and around the world. This season will feature a diverse array of influential and visionary creators. We’re grateful for the ongoing support of our valued brand partners and are thrilled to welcome new collaborators to this dynamic journey. With high anticipation, we aim to transform the event into a vibrant centre of design, innovation, and sustainability in the upcoming season in Delhi,” says Jaspreet Chandok, Group Vice President, Reliance Brands.

INNOVATIVE SHOWCASES

The FDCI Showcase: The Denim Edit, featuring five designers— Ashish Soni, Sushant Abrol of Countrymade, Dhruv Kapoor, Kanika Goyal Label (KGL), and Himanshu Shani and Mia Morikawa of 11:11—will celebrate the versatility of denim—from luxury tailoring to streetwear, sustainability to gender-fluid designs.

One Infinite Presents Megha Bansal, Salita Nanda, Romaa, Rashi Kapoor, Awigna By Varsha and Ritu and Rishi & Vibhuti. “We are thrilled to embark on our 4th season with Lakmé Fashion Week in collaboration with FDCI. This season, we are proud to introduce six incredible designers whom we’ve carefully handpicked from across the country. At One Infinite, we are committed to discovering and nurturing the next generation of fashion innovators, and we are excited to present these new talents to the nation through such a prestigious platform,” share Pratap Simon and Krishna Chaturvedi, founders, One Infinite.

A RUNWAY OF INNOVATION

Designers to look out for in the Delhi season include Payal Singhal, 17:17 by Simmi Saboo, Abhishek Sharma, Ashdeen, Line Outline by Deepit Chugh, Monisha Jaising, Pankaj & Nidhi, Payal Jain, Payal Singhal, Pawan Sachdevaa, Punit Balana, Rahul Singh, Richa Khemka, Rohit Kamra Jaipur, Sameer Madan, Sanjukta Dutta, Shruti Sancheti, TISASTUDIO, Urmil, and Vikram Bajaj.

Celebrated designer and textile evangelist Shruti Sancheti is pleased to unveil her latest collection titled, ‘Advayaa’ on October 13, 2024. “The collection is a tribute to the unsurpassed legacy of craft and textiles of India and it celebrates the glorious heritage of slow and handcrafted skill sets of Indian artisans,” shares Shruti Sancheti.

ONE STOP SHOP

FDCI Designer Stockroom is back! With almost 70 designers participating, you shop till you drop at The Grand Hotel on October 13, 2024. Open to all, the Stockroom caters to all groups and has up to 70 % off on some ensembles. This year, the lineup includes Ashish Soni, Namrata Joshipura, Geisha Designs by Paras & Shalini, Samant Chauhan, Pankaj & Nidhi, Shruti Sancheti, Anju Modi, Nitin Bal Chauhan, and 60 other remarkable designers.