Pierpaolo Piccioli and Tarun Tahiliani reflect on the purpose of couture at Harper's Bazaar LuXperiences 2025

The Harper’s Bazaar LuXperiences 2025 edition brought together brilliant minds in the world of luxury fashion, design, and culture. From a heartwarming retrospective celebrating Rohit Bal’s legacy to panel discussions with some of the leading designers, architects and more, the day packed it all. 

One of the highlights of the evening was the candid conversation between Tarun Tahiliani and Italian designer Pierpaolo Piccioli during the ‘Legacy of Couture and its Purpose’ session. The two icons discussed the Italian designer’s key career moments, how inclusivity has reshaped fashion, the influence of Indian culture and craftsmanship on international design houses, and a lot more.

For Piccioli, the former creative director of Valentino, fashion is a form of self-expression—a reflection of one’s emotions, ideals, and sense of self. “Fashion is a language to express your own emotions, your values that you stand up for. So, everything (your life and job) overlaps a lot more.”

Piccioli's work is a testament to his words. An advocate for inclusivity in fashion Piccioli showcased a kaleidoscopic collection on a brilliantly diverse cast of models for the AW22 Haute Couture show (aka the Spanish Steps show)—one of his iconic shows as the sole creative director at Valentino. He believes that in the times we live in, inclusivity is not an option and has to go beyond tokenism. “Today, if we are still only thinking about inclusivity, rather than acting on it, I feel we have to do it. I don’t believe in doing one show with 50 super skinny girls and one big girl. In this moment, beauty lies in uniqueness. We have to break the rules, but in a very subtle way—that’s the only way to progress. As designers, we have a voice and when we have a loud voice, we have to stand up for people who do not have a voice.”

The conversation between Piccioli and Tahiliani at Harper's Bazaar LuXperiences 2025 reaffirmed that fashion is much more than clothing—it is a powerful tool for self-expression, inclusivity, and change. As the industry continues to evolve, voices of designers like Piccioli are leading the charge for a more diverse future in fashion.

Also read: Celebrating Rohit Bal’s legacy at Bazaar LuXperiences 2025

Also read: 4 experts share the psychology behind what we wear and how it shapes our identity