Our favourites from the FDCI India Couture Week 2021

The second digital edition of the FDCI India Couture Week 2021 brought together some of the biggest Indian couturiers with amazingly interesting themes. All in all 19 couturiers participated in the magnanimous event which saw applauds and appreciations coming in from the fashion lovers from India and abroad.

Though we loved all the couture collections presented by designers – Amit Aggarwal, Amit GT, Anamika Khanna, Anju Modi, Ashima Leena, Dolly J, Falguni Shane Peacock, Gaurav Gupta, Kunal Rawal, Manish Malhotra, Pankaj & Nidhi, Rahul Mishra, Reynu Taandon, Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna, Shantanu & Nikhil, Siddartha Tytler, Suneet Varma, Tarun Tahiliani and Varun Bahl – but some of the garments just stood out.

We, at Life Confluence by Nitika Bajpayee, have collated a list of our favourites from each of the couturier’s collections… Take a look –

Metanoia by Amit Aggarwal: Elements Earth, Water and Air inspire the genesis of Metanoia, which features 35 unique styles and silhouettes using innovations in techniques and showcases hand painting through marbling pattern over discarded PVC and hand-woven polymers.

Scintilla by Amit GT: The brand highlights brush stroke linear embroideries along side the ruffles, scrunched textures, features and those ingenious saree drapes. Scintilla is a story of dramatic ball gowns with long trains, saree gowns, Duchesse satin gowns with detachable trains with large bows, organza textured ball gowns, saree drape gowns and more…

Anamika Khanna: The couture collection by Anamika Khanna rejoices beauty while paying homage to the most intricate crafts of the country. Accentuating the nuances of the cosmos, the designer brings beautiful bridal dresses such as lehengas, dhoti Kurtas, sherwanis to name a few.

Eternal Story by Anju Modi: Eternally Vintage couture by Anju Modi at ICW 21- Celebrating the power of generational legacy, designer Anju Modi brings to life a burst of colours and a plethora of interesting bridal couture collection

Nazm-e-Mahal by Ashima & Leena Singh: ‘Nazm-e-Mahal’ by Leena Singh is a tale enveloped in sophistication and that poise that exudes timeless radiance and majestic epiphany. Depicting the story of a classic royal maharani, who values the old world charm, the collection for FDCI India Couture Week 2021 takes you on a magical journey in the palace

Ah-Lam by Dolly J: AH-LAM Couture 2021, the couture collection by Dolly J is sure to lure you as it celebrates individuality. With beautiful nuances, the designer highlights liquid silver fabric which has specially been woven for this collection with signature silhouettes and crystal encrusted belts.

Love is by Falguni and Shane Peacock: ‘Love is’ by ace designers Falguni and Shane Peacock takes inspiration from the shrine of love– Taj Mahal. They unveiled Love is at the India Couture Week with a fashion film shot at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Taj Mahal, Agra. This momentous show makes Falguni Shane Peacock the first and only designers in the world to ever mount a show within the precincts of this magnificent monument of love, the Taj Mahal. The line is innovational in terms of method but strongly rooted in terms of approach, a signature aesthetic of the label. The cuts are traditional yet au courant, think trailed Lehenga, fitted-and-flared silhouettes, and ball gown-style Lehengas that make for a befitting wedding day bridal trousseau

Universal Love by Gaurav Gupta: Inspired by the ‘Universe’, Gaurav Gupta Couture 2021/22 brings out the very essence of the cosmos, the millions of stars, the axis and the movement of all planets; sprinkling and spiralling in infinite loops of time, meteoric showers and racing comets inspire abstract galactic embroideries and silhouettes.

Vision Quest by Kunal Rawal: This collection revolves around the idea of “coming of age”. With Sonam Kapoor as the muse of the designer, each outfit in this collection is made to insight confidence in those who wear it. The collection offers 55 distinct styles, crafted out of a diverse range of new fabrics, including linen, cotton, and linen satin, which showcase the individuality of each look. 

Nooraniyat by Manish Malhotra: Celebrating myriad of emotions, the collection Nooraniyat acknowledges brides in their original spirit and emotions that emanates their individuality in entirety. The Bridal Edit of Nooraniyat, featuring actor Kriti Sanon as the main muse, is the latest collection of Manish Malhotra’s bridal couture. Weaved in fine craftsmanship and exquisite intricate elements, the Manish Malhotra Bridal collection 2021 is an enchanting medley of bridal glory sprawled across strikingly hued compositions where each ensemble narrates an emotional story of its own

Afterglow by Pankaj & Nidhi: With renewed hope and energy designers Pankaj & Nidhi announce their brand-new Couture Collection for 2021 called Afterglow, which symbolizes a new dawn with a longing for a bright future and with stellar craftsmanship, to create pieces that are timeless and radiating an effervescent beauty. The collection has exceptional techniques such as origami folding, handcrafted appliqués and latticework in new age materials with iridescent sheen. Adopting a path toward sustainability, many of the embroidery materials are themselves fashioned in-house out of excess generated in the process of creation.

Rahul Mishra: Rahul Mishra gets the credit of being the country’s first designer to showcase his collection at the Paris Haute Couture Week with traditional Indian crafts. For the FDCI’s second digital edition of the India Couture Week, the multifaceted designer brings to you KamKhab, a collection of couture garments developed during the two subsequent lockdowns. Creating this collection has been like creating a bouquet of flowers—with the beauty of old love and the lightness of new beginnings. Filmed in a century old haveli that was opened after, over eight decades of being shut. Much like intricate adornments on the walls of these homes, the garments envisage the love one pours into building their homes.

Zuri by Reynu Taandon: Designer Reynu Taandon celebrates surrealism with her couture collection Zuri, which draws inspiration from the nuances, shades and moods of the nature. From heavily Swarovski embellished Greens, Nudes, Pinks there will be Rich classic pieces, tone-on-tone Mirrored lehengas, Anarkalis, traditional Saris, Sharara and Gharara will make a statement without stealing the light off of the specifically Nudes and Pearl which can be worn on any occasion.

Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna: Designers Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna begin a new chapter with Couture. For the FDCI India Couture Week 2021, the duo bring together the dresses immersed in gleaming crystals, tuxedos with sharp details and modern embroideries made through the heritage techniques.

Oasis by Shantnu and Nikhil: This is by far the most unapologetically glamorous collection which has a line-up that consists of menswear primarily, with key womenswear silhouettes that add a new dimension to the overall look.

Ambrosia by Siddhartha Tytler: Debutant Siddhartha Tytler’s Ambrosia Couture 2022 draws inspiration from the Greek mythology with the color palette seen dominated by shades of ivory and gold.

Noor by Suneet Verma: Designer Suneet Verma’s showcase for the India Couture Week 2021 is enticingly called Noor, or Noor by SV to be precise. Lo and behold as Suneet takes you on an exciting journey that depicts the importance of celebration in our lives – young lovers, secret love notes, stolen glances, and that camaraderie.

Artisanal Couture by Tarun Tahiliani: The Artisanal Couture collection by Tarun Tahiliani presented at the FDCI India Couture Week 2021 comprises stunning lehengas, shararas, concept sarees, kurtas, choli capes, coats, skirts, and more in fabrics such as organza brocade, tulle brocade, moonga silk brocade and sheer silk, tulle, novelty crinkle. The collection also features accessories, such as bags, shoes, belts and more to coordinate with.

Memory / Mosaic by Varun Bahl:  The collection highlights Varun’s signature floral-inspired prints, which is slightly bohemian, with a hint of glamour, and like a finely-executed mosaic, it brings together the designers thoughts on what haute couture can be.From draped skirts and dresses paired with bralettes, jackets with power shoulder, lehengas, peplum tops with skirts, slip dresses paired with long jackets, capes with trousers, as well as elegant sarees, the garmets are done in fabrics like organza, silk, satin, tulle, velvet, and even denim.

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Pictures by FDCI and the designers