“We don’t simply fall in love, we become it,” said fashion designer Rahul Mishra. As the 18th edition of Hyundai India Couture Week, in association with Reliance Brands and an initiative of The Fashion Design Council of India FDCI, officially opened this week, Mishra’s show titled ‘Becoming Love’ revealed a new dimension to his recently showcased collection at the Paris Haute Couture Week.
The gold and metallic elements, particularly through hand embroidery and sculpted forms, had actor Tamannaah Bhatia as his muse while a variety of themes such as love, nature, and sustainability with a focus on Indian craftsmanship and artistry were a testament to the nearly 2,000 artists, who contributed to the mesmerising designs showcased at the Taj Palace, New Delhi.
With scenes drawn from the intricate language of Mughal miniature paintings, where imagined glimpses of Krishna’s raas evoke devotion in his absence and from the atmospheric light of Claude Monet and the gilded ornamentation of Gustav Klimt, the show’s spirit continued in hand-embroidered interpretations of romantic skies, foliage, rivers, and landscapes beautifully articulated in the collection. The collection was inspired from the seven stages of love in Sufism, highlighting Mishra’s commitment to ethical and cultural sustainability with Rivaah by Tanishq as the jewellery partner for the show.
Upcoming wedding season
Talking about the upcoming wedding season, Mishra from a designer’s perspective told FE, “The wedding market today is more individualistic, emotionally driven, and deeply rooted in storytelling. The consumer is seeking garments that hold meaning, celebrate craft, and reflect personal identity—making couture more relevant than ever. We see rising demand for pieces that balance tradition with modernity—florals, geometric embroideries, fluid draping, and silhouettes that feel at home anywhere in the world. There’s a shift toward timeless investments that transcend occasion and geography, especially with the rise of diverse formats—from intimate gatherings to cross-cultural and queer weddings.”
As the Hyundai India Couture Week continues to be the most awaited platform showcasing the mastery and evolution of Indian couture, Sunil Sethi, Chairman of FDCI said it’s a celebration of design and innovation. “The participating designers’ creativity, craftsmanship, and commitment elevate this platform year after year,” said Sethi.
Designers for this year
This year’s stellar couturier lineup also includes Rohit Bal, JJ Valaya, Ritu Kumar, Tarun Tahiliani, Amit Aggarwal, Falguni Shane Peacock, Shantnu & Nikhil, Suneet Verma, Rimzim Dadu, Jayanti Reddy, Rose Room by Isha Jajodia, and Aisha Rao.
Among these designers, ARCANUM by designer Amit Aggarwal stands out for its dramatic exploration of time, transformation, symbiosis where each silhouette is a coded celebration of biology. Volume, colour and structure take shape echoing the first signs of identity. The silhouettes open like petals – fluid, architectural, luminous and his signature polymer forms and micro pleated textures bloom like an exquisite geometry.
Through this collection, Aggarwal clothes not just the body, but the bond between time and transformation, where textile holds trace, form carries emotion, and clothing lives as a second skin for the self that is always evolving.
In another show, titled the ‘Whispers Of Love To Myself by ROSEROOM’ by designer Isha Jajodia reimagines contemporary Indian couture through sculpted lace corsets, bustle skirts, structured capes and flowing veils, melding grace and structure. Every silhouette brings romantic fluidity to life in sumptuous layers of Chantilly lace, gossamer featherwork, and translucent tulle, set beside metalwork of 18K gold blooming with iridescent enamel and mother of pearl.
“The 50 couture pieces are designed for women, confident in her gentleness, and timelessly elegant as this collection offers treasures to accompany her through life’s most exciting moments,” said Jajodia.
