All the highlights from Hyundai India Couture Week 2025—Part II

The latter half of the Hyundai Indian Couture Week saw more couturiers step into the spotlight. Tradition was re-sculpted with contemporary craft, new textures, and avant-garde detailing. This was couture in conversation with the past and crafted for the future.

DAY FOUR

Tarun Tahiliani

Tarun Tahiliani presented Quintessence, a collection that distilled his signature aesthetic into an ethereal form. The silhouettes were sculpted yet fluid, fusing sheer drapery with intricate embroidery in a palette of soft ivories and silvers. From detailed overlays to corseted bodices adorned with pearls and crystals, every garment whispered quiet opulence. Feathered textures met structured forms, while bejewelled embellishments complemented the garments. With Quintessence, Tahiliani delivered a fresh perspective while staying true to his signature style.

Manish Malhotra

Manish Malhotra's The MM Couture Party was indeed one of the most anticipated showcases of this season. With a lineup of form-fitting silhouettes, liquid drapes, and masterful corsetry, the showcase reflected Manish Malhotra’s signature blend of traditional elegance and red-carpet allure. Jewel tones, metallic pastels, and intricate embellishments shimmered under the lights as models glided down the ramp. Brazilian supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio, draped in The Lady Crystal Diamond from the collection and adorned in Manish Malhotra Jewellery, turned the showstopper. Alongside the runway spectacle, a curated display of Manish Malhotra’s archival pieces paid homage to the timeless legacy of his journey as one of India's finest couturiers.

DAY FIVE

Ritu Kumar

Ritu Kumar made a striking return to FDCI India Couture Week with Threads of Time: Reimagined, a collection that paid homage to the women who’ve worn the label and the countless artisans behind it. Curated by Amrish Kumar, the showcase opened the fifth day of the couture calendar with a modern take on heritage. The collection comprised layered sheers, printed silks, ornate bodysuits, and regal silhouettes that fused archival craftsmanship with contemporary attitude. Styled with a sense of individuality, each look felt like a bridge between generations. The collection unfolded as a celebration in gold, featuring accentuated blazers, matching headbands, and gilded textures, which highlighted the brand’s commitment to reviving Indian textiles and embroidery. Bhumi Pednekar turned showstopper in a stunning lehenga, embodying the essence of the collection where traditional techniques met bold, modern sensuality. With Threads of Time, Ritu Kumar reasserted an undeniable legacy.

Shantnu & Nikhil

Shantnu & Nikhil’s Metropolis delivered a powerful recalibration of Indian menswear—bold, structured, and exuding confidence. Positioned as a future-facing reflection on identity, heritage, and masculinity, the collection featured dramatic ruffled necklines, pearl accents, and gender-fluid silhouettes that blended strength with softness. Each ensemble bridged the ceremonial past with a fiercely modern outlook, where pinstriped drapes and cinched waists met motif-laden coats. Tailoring was sculptural, the storytelling was precise, and it was definitely rooted in Indian tradition but shaped for the next generation. Arjun Rampal, Jim Sarbh, Randeep Hooda, Rahul Khanna, Rajkummar Rao, Vihaan Samat, Zahan Kapoor, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Manushi Chillar, Shalini Passi, Samiksha Pednekar, and Kalyani Saha Chawla, among others, graced the front row, each embodying the essence of Shantnu Nikhil. This was Indian menswear rewritten for the now.

DAY SIX

Jayanti Reddy

Jayanti Reddy’s Reclaimed Opulence paid tribute to antique textiles, brought to life through meticulous dori work and hand-finished details. Opening with a palette of muted beiges and mint, Reddy set the tone with corseted saris, layered lehengas, and silhouettes that whispered quiet grandeur. As the show progressed, deeper hues of antique red, emerald green, and midnight blue were in focus, and each piece was a study in refined craftsmanship and modern elegance. Intricate florals, gilded blacks, and rich embellishments flowed into sherwanis and capes, showcasing a seamless blend of femininity and strength. Janhvi Kapoor turned showstopper, draped in a rose gold sari with a sweeping trail that was ornate, ethereal, and unmistakably regal. With Reclaimed Opulence, Jayanti Reddy reimagined heritage through a lens of precision and prestige.

Rohit Bal

Rohit Bal’s Kashgul unfolded like a musical memoir. Every silhouette was a powerful nod to age-old craft and theatrical splendour. The collection revisited romance in Indian couture like never before, florals met tweed, veils met velvet, and classic bangers scored a night of homage. Rooted in Kashmir and crafted with intention, the collection opened with a crisp white A-line gown, pleated with precision, setting the tone for a showcase that was equal parts nostalgic and new. From structured velvets to delicate threadwork, every look blended old-world techniques with updated silhouettes. The palette moved through ivory, black, wine, and gold with florals embroidered on tweed, sheer veils paired with heavy velvets, and stacked layers that played with proportion. A curated soundtrack of classic hits and Kashmiri music added a personal touch and an unmissable highlight. Arjun Rampal closed the show in a sharp black velvet sherwani with the same quiet intensity that Kash-Gul carried from the beginning till the end.

DAY SEVEN

Aisha Rao

Aisha Rao made her debut at Hyundai India Couture Week 2025 with Wild at Heart, a collection that blended fantasy with finesse. Inspired by themes of wilderness, memory, and surreal escape, the showcase marked a confident step into couture for the designer. Tropical motifs came to life in iridescent tones, hand-drawn florals, and brushed metallics. The silhouettes balanced structure with softness. From lush jewel tones to intricate embroidery, every look told a story, styled for the dreamers. Sara Ali Khan closed the show in a heavily embellished blush-pink lehenga, complete with delicate floral detailing, bringing the whimsical world of Wild at Heart to a striking finish.

Rimzim Dadu

Rimzim Dadu's Oxynn can be described as Indian couture grounded in material innovation. Known for her signature metal work, Dadu pushed the boundaries of texture and form, blending tradition with technology in a way only she can. Drawing inspiration from Gujarat’s Banjara tribes, the collection featured mirrored textiles, Patola references, and metallic weaves that were reimagined into sculptural silhouettes for both men and women. The looks were fluid yet structured, futuristic yet rooted in craft. Khushi Kapoor closed the show in a pre-oxidised metal lehenga inspired by traditional payals, an apt finale that captured the unique spirit of Oxynn.

DAY EIGHT

JJ VALAYA

JJ Valaya closed the Hyundai India Couture Week 2025 with East, a collection that reinterprets how the West once viewed the East, spanning influences from the Far East to the Balkans and India. Staying true to his signature, the couturier once again wove his passion for travel into couture, this time through rich textures like silk, velvet, brocade, and sheer organza. The show opened with Abhishek Sharma, who made an impactful entrance in an intricately embroidered three-piece pathani, setting the tone for the grand evening. What followed was a lineup of regal silhouettes and layered separates, balancing historic opulence with modern finesse. Rasha Thadani and Ibrahim Ali Khan made for a striking pair as they turned showstoppers for the evening, dressed in royalty-laden looks that captured Valaya’s flair for drama, craftsmanship, and storytelling. The showcase concluded the couture week in the most befitting manner, bringing together nostalgia and newness to the runway.

Lead image: FDCI

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