Lakmē Fashion Week X FDCI: Here’s What To Expect From The 25th Anniversary Celebrations – News18
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Lakmē Fashion Week in partnership with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) will take place at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai from March 26th to March 30th, 2025
Lakmē, FDCI and Reliance Brands to celebrate 25 years of beauty, fashion innovation and sustainability.
A pioneer in designing dreams and celebrating Indian fashion and its makers on a global stage for more than two and a half decades, Lakmē Fashion Week x FDCI is back and is here to ring in 25 years of fashion, beauty and innovation in the city of dreams – Mumbai.
A creative runway envisioned in 2000, a home to Indian designers and couturiers, stylists, makeup artists, models and many more today, is elated to ring in its silver jubilee with a one of a kind fashion week. Spread over five days, Lakmē, FDCI and Reliance Brands will celebrate 25 years of beauty, fashion innovation and sustainability starting from March 26th, 2025 to March 30th, 2025 at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai.
Every season is one step into the future for Indian fashion. This season, expect the perfect amalgamation of fashion, beauty and innovation through showcases that not only celebrates the collection and the designer but also shares with the world the brilliance that is – Made In India.
Here’s What To Expect From Lakmē Fashion Week in partnership with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) 25th Anniversary Celebrations:
THE SILVER JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS
The House of Lakmē Grand Opening will open the season with AK|OK Anamika Khanna, in partnership with the Lakmē 9to5 Hya-Matte range. The show titled ‘Silver Collar’ is a celebration of bold, ambitious women who own their space. “I am extremely honoured and excited to open Lakmē Fashion Week this season. Opening the show is a crucial moment—it sets the tone, creates the first impression, and leaves the audience eagerly anticipating what’s next,” shares Anamika Khanna, adding, “This collection is a celebration of bold, ambitious women who own their space, lead with confidence, and inspire others with their strength and individuality. Partnering with Lakmē, a brand that continuously champions modern beauty and self-expression, makes this collaboration even more special. I can’t wait for everyone to see and experience the story it tells.”
Lakmē Fashion Week x FDCI will conclude on March 30th with the 25 Year Anniversary GALA Night, bringing together the best in fashion under one roof. News18 has learnt that some of the big names in the world of fashion.
THE FUTURE OF FASHION
Every renowned designer was once an emerging talent! 25 years later, the platform encourages new talent through an array of programs including NIF Global ‘The Runway’, FDCI X Pearl Academy ‘First Cut’, NIF Global presents GenNext and the Emerging designer showcase.
This season, NIF Global presents GenNext unveiling three emerging talents—Abhichiq, That Antique Piece, and Quarter. Speaking on the NIF Global Presents GenNext program Jaspreet Chandok, Group Vice President, Reliance Brands says, “The NIF Global Presents GenNext program continues to be a defining pillar of our mission to identify and elevate emerging designers. This season’s winners have brought forward extraordinary creativity and unique perspectives, reaffirming our belief in the power of new talent to shape the future of fashion.”
First Cut stands as a testament to Pearl Academy’s unwavering commitment to nurturing the next generation of fashion innovators. This year’s theme, “Find Your Self,” is inspired by the upcoming film Mannu Kya Karegga, which is based on the Japanese philosophy of Ikigai: The Secret to a Long and Happy Life.
Sunil Sethi, Chairman, FDCI, says, “At FDCI, we are committed to providing emerging talent with meaningful opportunities to shape their future in fashion. FIRST CUT is a platform that nurtures young student designers from Pearl Academy and gives them the exposure they need to make an impact in the industry. Fashion is an evolving dialogue, and this showcase allows students to engage with its transformative power. We look forward to witnessing their vision come to life on the runway.”
INNOVATING INDIAN TEXTILES
Indian textile on the runway has been celebrated innovatively over the years! So it comes as no surprise when you have artisans take charge on the runway. This season, get ready to be enthralled with the artisan designers of Somaiya Kala Vidya featuring Ajrakh Gharana by Zaid Khatri, Alaicha by Amruta Vankar, Elysian by Mubbasirah Khatri, Musk by Muskan Khatri and Neel Batik by Shakil Ahmed.
And while we talk about Indian textiles, how can we not talk about Khadi. Khadi India highlights FDCI’s dedication to promoting Indian textiles globally, with Khadi—India’s most iconic fabric—at the heart of the showcase. The showcase will feature top designers— CoEK – Khadi India, Niki Mahajan, Nikasha and Ka-Sha—who will present fresh interpretations of Khadi with contemporary silhouettes, fine craftsmanship, and a blend of tradition and modern designs.
Innovation is synonymous with couturier Amit Aggarwal and this season, Aggarwal upcycles Banarasi weaves into ethical, fashion forward pieces, inspired by the brand Nothing’s sleek aesthetics. A perfect blend of technology and fashion. Thus, shaping a bold future for Indian textile and its heritage.
LET’S TALK FASHION
Who doesn’t love to explore what the future holds? This season, there are two interesting talks that will be hosted during Lakmē Fashion Week X FDCI. META Fashion Talks x Manish Malhotra. We can’t wait to hear what the two powerhouses – Malhotra and META have in store for us in the virtual meets fashion discussion.
Fashion week is incomplete without exploring sustainability. The Next Gen Blueprint: Rethinking Materials in Fashion is a one of a kind panel featuring Nicole Rycroft, Canopy Founder & Executive Director, fashion designers Amit Aggarwal and Urvashi Kaur, and Sara Sozzani Maino, Creative Director & Founder, Fondazione Sozzani. This panel will explore how brands, designers, and innovators are rethinking materials in fashion to build a future that is sustainable, scalable, and impactful.
PRET-O-MANIA
Pret is having its moment on the runway this season! OTT by Tarun Tahiliani, S&N By Shantnu Nikhil, AFEW Rahul Mishra, AK|OK Anamika Khanna are all set to celebrate ready-to-wear on the runway in style.
A GLOBAL RUNWAY
As part of its ongoing efforts to put Indian fashion on the global map, the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) is proud to present ZA_ZA. This showcase is part of FDCI’s designer exchange program with the Russian Fashion Council. This initiative is a testament to FDCI’s commitment to international collaborations. The council recently showcased two collections at the Moscow Fashion Week. Now, the exchange program welcomes Russian designer ZA_ZA to the Indian runway, strengthening cultural ties between the two nations. Adding to this momentous occasion, Alexander Shumsky, President of the Russian Fashion Council, along with his colleagues, will be present in India to witness the showcase.
Also, bringing in an international flavour would be British brand ASOS and a special showcase of Fashion trust Arabia winners Salim Azzam, Kazna Asker and Yousef Akbar. The showcase will form the starting of a year long collaboration with Fashion Trust Arabia where India is the guest country this year.
TRENDSETTERS
By continuously shaping trends and inspiring self-expression, Lakmē empowers individuals to embrace beauty as a form of personal storytelling, and be unapologetically themselves. A beautiful journey of beauty and fashion together has not only been historic for India’s fashion week but has given the industry so many iconic moments! “Beauty and fashion are both fluid, they are not separate choices but are part of a unified statement. Individual expression isn’t either beauty or fashion, alone, it’s the entire look. For our collection each season, we think differently from the start, ensuring trends in fashion seamlessly influence beauty and vice versa,” shares Sunanda Khaitan, Vice President, Lakmē India.
Similarly, Lakmē Salon introduces its latest Cut & Color Collection—a vision of versatility and effortless style, which will complement Satya Paul’s Alchemy collection. Vipul Chaturvedi, CEO – Lakmē Salon says, “Lakmē Salon believes that beauty, much like fashion, is an evolving form of self-expression. With Alchemy, we empower individuals to transform their look effortlessly transitioning from work to play. Our Cut & Color Collection is designed to be as versatile as our consumer’s life in motion, allowing hair to become a dynamic canvas for elevating everyday moments.”
He further adds, “Our collaboration with Satya Paul brings this idea to life on the runway, proving that true style is about fluidity, confidence, and endless possibilities. Our consumers can get the runway experience of the Alchemy collection with our experts across the 450 Lakme salons in India.”
SHOP TILL YOU DROP!
The perfect culmination of this five-day-long initiative is the FDCI Stockroom, where people can explore and shop designer wear at jaw-dropping prices. Featuring over 60+ leading designers, including House of Masaba, Tarun Tahiliani, Shruti Sancheti, Pankaj & Nidhi, and many more, the Stockroom Sale is your one-stop destination for designer fashion at incredible discounts.
