Hasina Khatib
With a fresh offering of Lakmé Fashion Week X FDCI March 2023 upon us, there is much to be
excited for. Whether you are hoping for your wardrobe to emerge from winter’s sobering
neutrals—delve into the merry riot of colours at Arpita Mehta and Punit Balana—or you are
looking to update yourself on the latest efforts in the realm of sustainability—recycled materials
and upcycled post-industry waste assume the spotlight at Doodlage—or perhaps you are just in
the mood for some good old-fashioned glamour—couturiers Tarun Tahiliani and Manish
Malhotra remain at your bidding—there is something for everyone. Ahead, a closer look at the
highlights of the week:
Comeback chorus
After a brief sojourn from the runway, a host of celebrated names will be reuniting at Lakmé
Fashion Week X FDCI March 2023. Expect to see Bodice’s signature binding splashed on
summer-friendly silhouettes or get swept away with Monisha Jaising’s updated lexicon of luxury.
Namrata Joshipura, meanwhile, is prescribing post-modern disco elegance for the season and
Ritika Mirchandani offers up spark-joy pieces to fete the return to normalcy.
Sustainability stable
Also among those returning to the runway is designer Anavila, whose opening show on day 1 of
Lakmé Fashion Week X FDCI March 2023 championed vegetable dyes, flora and fauna to
serve a sense of oneness with nature. Under the patronage of the United Nations in India, the fifth year of the Circular Design Challenge by R|Elan™ reunited alumni designers, Doodlage by
Kriti Tula, Chamar by Sudheer Rajbhar and Iro Iro by Bhaavya Goenka.
Tropic like it’s hot
Spring has sprung at the ateliers of Arpita Mehta, Jajaabor and Flirtatious by Aakriti who have
conspired to court your imagination with tales of foreign lands. From wafty kaftans that offer
immense weekend appeal to the kaleidoscopic prints and textures of the island of gods,
Indonesia, to limoncello-inspired motifs, prepare to be whisked away to a realm of endless
tropical sunsets.
Rise and shine
…with a fresh crop of names looking to break fresh ground in the hallowed halls of fashion. If
you have been looking to update your little black book of designers, INIFD presents GenNext
offers a closer look at exciting new names, including Hiro by Hiral Jajal, KOYTOY by Kunaal
Kyhaan, KoAi by Anugrah Chandra and Rudraksh Dwivedi.
All that glitters
If you have been feeling the clamour of glamour after years of sequestering indoors, nothing but
the industry’s finest will do. Gilded hues reign strong at Anushree Reddy while Punit Balana
champions Rajasthani folklore. For those feel-great moments that your après-hours wardrobe
has been craving, all eyes can only be on Tarun Tahiliani’s luxe prêt offering that celebrates the
nuances of Indian draping before things build to a crescendo with Diffuse by Manish Malhotra,
the couturier’s bridge-to-luxury offering that will bring the curtain down on the week.