Beyond The Runway: The Moments That Defined Lakmē Fashion Week 2026
As the curtains close on Lakmē Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI, we’re looking back at the moments that had us talking long after the models left the ramp. Péro opened the show by taking us to Barbie and Ken’s wonderland; HUEMN made us grip our seats tight with its unique showcase of masks, bloody makeup, and crying music and, to conclude, Amit Agarwal ended the week with his own unique performance in the streets with balloons and ice cream stands. This season was less about playing by the rules and more about rewriting them—theatrical runway sets and celebrities walking for new labels to bags shaped as toffees, Lakmē Fashion Week reminded us that fashion is supposed to be fun. Here are the moments that stood out this season.
Theatrical Expression in Fashion
What makes a fashion show memorable: the clothes, the storytelling, or the spectacle surrounding them? At Lakmē Fashion Week 2026, designers offered contrasting answers.
From immersive set designs to dramatic presentations, designers showed that fashion can be as much about creating a moment as it is about the clothes themselves. But when does the spectacle add to the fashion, and when does it steal the spotlight? This season had us looking at where the two intersect and how the most memorable shows find their own way to stand out.
1. Two Pret Lines, Two Distinct Approaches: AM:IT by Amit Aggarwal & Manish Malhotra
AM:IT by Amit Aggarwal brought the streets of India to the runway, complete with ice cream carts, autorickshaws and street-side nostalgia, turning the showcase into a spectacle. Titled “On A Day Like Today,” the collection reimagined these familiar sights through contemporary silhouettes, metallic finishes and unexpected textures. Traditional chatais, recycled plastics and open-toed flat sandals, or chappals, added an unconventional edge. But the toffee-shaped bags really caught our eye. Playful, experimental and full of character, this was Amit Aggarwal at his most inventive, translating his signature couture experimentation into everyday dressing without losing the distinctive details that make his work instantly recognisable. The bibs, made with leftover fabric, were a fresh addition which were also seen at Ankur Verma’s label, TIL, something that has been a part of his label since its inception in 2022.
For his Luxe Prêt (ready-to-wear) collection, Manish Malhotra leaned into glamour, letting luxe fabrics and intricate embellishments take centre stage. Metallic golds, silvers and light-catching details added just the right amount of drama, while easy tailoring and contemporary silhouettes kept things effortlessly wearable. There was a keen focus on menswear, relaxed tailoring, jewel-toned velvets, and signature house style embellishments.
One built a world around the clothes, while the other brought the spotlight firmly onto the clothes themselves, showing how two distinct approaches can make a prêt launch equally compelling.
2. Life in Plastic, It’s Fantastic!
Come on, Barbie, let’s go party! And that’s precisely where Péro took us this season. With its Spring/Summer 2027 collection, Dream Dress-Up, Aneeth Arora transformed the runway into Barbie’s Dream House, complete with life-sized pink boxes, a live band and models stepping out like dolls waiting to be unboxed. Rollerblading Barbies and Kens? Check. Bubble-gum pop? Check. A whole lot of pink? Naturally.
Moving away from the doll’s usual association with form-fitted outfits, Péro gave Barbie retro varsity jackets, windbreakers, playful knits, denim marked with the numbers 59 and 61 (homage to the years Barbie and Ken were introduced) and intricate floral embroidery.
And because no wardrobe is complete without the right layers and accessories, Péro introduced its new line of vintage-inspired intimates. On the runway, they were seen worn both beneath outfits and on their own, making a strong case for intimates as outerwear. The accessories followed suit, with miniature pink koodai baskets, traditional plastic wire baskets handcrafted by artisans in South India, adding a playful plastic touch to the doll’s world.
3. Masks, Mayhem and HUEMN
If Péro took us into Barbie’s pink dream world, HUEMN had us gripping our seats for an entirely different kind of spectacle. Think masks, bloodied makeup and crying music that made the runway feel more like a psychological thriller than a fashion show.
In collaboration with R|Elan™, the label played with the contrast between beauty and terror, bringing its signature experimental prints and sportswear-inspired silhouettes together with traditional craftsmanship. Chikankari embroidery met performance fabrics, while unexpected drapes and bold prints added to the collection’s darker edge. Equal parts unsettling and intriguing, HUEMN reminded us that fashion doesn’t always have to be pretty to make a lasting impression.
Fashion Is Better Together
From Rimple Narula making a guest appearance for Tasva to Isla Van Damme (Lou Lou) opening for TIL and Simi Chaddha walking the runway for AM:IT by Amit Aggarwal, the week felt like a celebration of the people who make the fashion industry what it is.
Beyond the clothes and the spectacle, it was lovely to see designers, established models, and new labels come together, each bringing their own presence to the runway. It served as a warm, reassuring reminder that fashion is always at its best when the industry comes together to help one another shine.
The Finale Had It All: Nostalgia, Futurism and Glamour
On the final day of Lakmē Fashion Week X FDCI, material experimentation, evolving silhouettes and statement-making accessories took centre stage, each making a case for being a showstopper in its own right.
At Pearl Academy, we were reminded that the future of fashion is in safe hands. Unrestrained creativity met a riot of colour, with styling that blurred the lines between nostalgia and avant-garde expression. Baby’s breath tucked into calf-length socks, wired earphones, childhood favourites reimagined as bags and multicoloured hair clips brought back memories of school days when Mom would dress us up. Nostalgia, however, came with a contemporary twist. Traditional Bandhani and mirror work were reinterpreted for a generation unafraid to make a statement, finding new expression in layered, restructured and Westernised shirts, skirts, puffer jackets and more.
From the familiarity of childhood nostalgia, the runway took a sharp turn towards the otherworldly at Line Tribe. Metallic, opaque sunglasses and an ominous colour palette set the tone for an extraterrestrial-inspired showcase, as models strode down the runway in silhouettes that felt decidedly futuristic. Crescent-shaped bags, pronounced power shoulders and androgynous cuts emerged as defining elements, bringing an edgy, almost sci-fi sensibility to the collection. If Pearl Academy looked to the past to reinterpret tradition, Line Tribe looked to the future, pushing the boundaries of form and personal expression.
The mood shifted once again at Richa Khemka, where futuristic edge gave way to fluid elegance and evening glamour. Sophisticated lace met deliberately crinkled, ball-gown-inspired skirts, creating an intriguing interplay of textures. Abstract prints in shades of blue lent the collection an artistic sensibility, while flowing silhouettes softened its more dramatic elements. The showcase culminated with showstopper Diana Penty, who took to the runway in beachy waves, a shimmering bustier and a feathered monochrome skirt that swayed with every step. Effortlessly commanding attention, she brought the collection to a fitting close, ending the day on a note of understated drama.
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