One of the most eagerly-awaited events in the calendars of all fashion followers in the country, Lakmé Fashion Week X FDCI 2023 recently concluded, giving us a glimpse at all the trends we would be seeing in the coming months.
Along with a host of new GenNext designers, we got to see many familiar names make a comeback on the runway, like Namrata Joshipura and Anavila. From new frontiers of sustainability to a return to classic, old-school high-glamour fashion by the masters, there was something for everybody. Here are all the major highlights that you might have missed from Fashion Week…
Sustainable is the future
LFW has always been a champion of sustainability, with a special day dedicated to designers that promote eco-conscious fashion and mindful practices. Anavila, who has always been a pioneer of sustainable fashion in India, showcased her collection on day 1. Her collection ‘Dabu’ highlighted a labour-intensive practice of dyeing that honours local practices and raw materials.
Summer vacation ready
To celebrate spring in all its glory (and to remind us to book our tickets for a much-needed summer getaway), designers like Arpita Mehta, Jajaabor, Flirtatious by Aakriti, and Eshaa Amiin sent down models in airy kaftans, kaleidoscopic prints, and bright and vibrant colours in their respective showcases.
Old school glamour
Designers Tarun Tahiliani, Anushree Reddy, Punit Balana, and JJ Valaya didn’t hesitate to turn up the glamour by showcasing collections replete with gilded hues, classic silhouettes with a modern edge, and an inherent sense of romanticism.
Star-studded runways
It wouldn’t be LFW without a healthy sprinkling of celebrities. Amongst the stars spotted at the runways, this time around were Tamannaah Bhatia, Karisma Kapoor, Kalki Koechlin, Ishaan Khatter, Malaika Arora, Nushrratt Bharuccha, Rashmika Mandanna, Nargis Fakhri, Taapsee Pannu, Parineeti Chopra, Athiya Shetty, Sushmita Sen, Sara Ali Khan, Sayani Gupta, Sanya Malhotra, and Sobhita Dhulipala. Some of the cast members of Netflix’s The Class, namely Anjali Sivaraman, Piyush Khati, Zeyn Shaw and Cwaayal Singh, made their runway debut with Abhishek Sharma’s showcase. Star kid Shanaya Kapoor also made her LFW debut by walking for Arpita Mehta.
But one of the biggest highlights of the fashion week was veteran actor and emerging Instagram superstar Zeenat Aman walking for Shahin Mannan. Ananya Panday and Aditya Roy Kapoor closed the show for Diffuse by Manish Malhotra.
Manish Malhotra’s grand finale
Speaking of Diffuse, Manish Malhotra presented his Diffuse collection at the grand finale of LFW. The collection proudly claimed to be unapologetic and a champion of individuality. Malhotra, one of the most celebrated designers in the country, is reinventing himself with a more diverse approach to design, breaking the barriers of gender identity and our perceptions of conventional.
