After a long-drawn gap of two years, the FDCI India Couture Week finally opened its doors to patrons and wide-eyed fashion enthusiasts with an eclectic physical showcase. The ten-day extravaganza exceeded expectations as India’s top 13 couturiers clearly set the bar high with coming-of-age ensembles.
Although couture might not be heavy on menswear, the designers paved the way forward with major trend takeaways. Think metallic colours, heavy embroideries and patterns that denote a story, the collections had all that and so much more to offer.
With FDCI India Couture Week coming to an end, here’s a look at MW’s top picks from the menswear edit.
Siddartha Tytler
Dubbed Shan Shui, designer Siddartha Tytler’s showcase at the FDCI India Couture Week saw actor Farhan Akhtar and singer Guru Randhawa as its showstoppers. The collection’s title translates to a Chinese term for the art genre ‘landscape’. Tytler’s edit is equal parts snazzy yet versatile, featuring flowy silhouettes with golden floral prints, embellishments and solid colour tones such as olive, black, white and red.
Kunal Rawal
Kunal Rawal’s couture edit is a heady confluence of playful silhouettes with an unexpected twist in embroideries. Ranking high on functionality as well as utility, the collection features loose genderless pieces as well as wedding wear essentials such as bandhgalas and deconstructed jackets. Actor Arjun Kapoor looked dapper as he closed the show in an eye-catchy black-beaded bandhgala.
Amit Aggarwal
Designer Amit Aggarwal’s bespoke collection, titled Pedesis, ticks all the right boxes. Drawing inspiration from a kaleidoscopic ode to the new age era — where digital space takes precedence in aspects that aren’t accessible in the physical world — each piece depicts the echo of the first human, while holding the inception of the future. Geometric patterns on menswear capes such as spiral embroideries and the presence of metallic tones are noteworthy highlights of the collection.
Rohit Gandhi & Rahul Khanna
Rohit Gandhi & Rahul Khanna presented Fibonacci at FDCI India Couture Week, with Malaika Arora sashaying down the ramp as the show stopper. For men, the collection featured constructed jackets, sheer embellished shirts, draped kurtas and layered suits. In both womenswear and menswear, a heavy influence of nude tulles, organza and embellishments set the tone for the collection.
Falguni Shane Peacock
Designer duo Falguni and Shane Peacock unveiled the Love Forever collection, with Sara Ali Khan as the showstopper. This couture collection takes inspiration from their recent travels to London, where the designers were presented with the prestigious Shiromani Award for their invaluable contribution to the Indian fashion industry. Deeply influenced by the French renaissance and tapestries, the collection amalgamates Indo-Parisian culture and architecture. Intricate embellishments such as beads, sequins, crystals, refined stones in the collection recreated a classic Falguni Shane Peacock magic.
(Featured Image Credit: Instagram)
