Indian Couture Week: Looking beyond bridalwear

In preparation for Mosaiq, their debut couture collection, Pankaj and Nidhi Ahuja, co-founders of the prêt label Pankaj & Nidhi, sought inspiration from mosaic making—an apt pick for a duo known for their experimental textures. “While a few designers at the Paris couture season still include love-and-marriage outfits, the big names mostly ignore the concept of putting weddings and their dressy surroundings publicly on the runways,” critic Suzy Menkes wrote for British Vogue in July, offering examples from luxury houses like Dior, Valentino and Chanel. Had I known this then, I would have perhaps named it India Couture and Wedding Week.” Despite this, Sethi says Indian couture is not restricted to weddings. “As we transit into a new phase of informed consumption, couture, as part of luxury fashion, is most likely to penetrate markets outside of bridal and weddings,” Mishra says. “We see the new-age luxury consumer as someone who is able to appreciate couture on a daily basis.from a Sunday brunch to a late-night event and from formal official meetings to a joyous solo vacation in Europe.” The increasing presence of Indian women at international black-tie events offers plenty of opportunities for couture.