The Indian Couture Week finale ended with a bang! A big explosion of bling and sequins, enhanced by a capsule of handwoven sarees, gleamed the most brilliantly.
Falguni and Shane Peacock, Mumbai-based designers, presented their collection on July 31 to close Hyundai IndiaCouture Week (ICW) in collaboration with Reliance Brands and FDCI initiatives. The corridors of the Taj Mahal in Delhi buzzed with a unique kind of chaos. The city was on red alert, grappling with torrential rain; however, the spirits of the people of the capital were intact—a flurry of excitement as they filled the hall for the Grand Finale. This event heralded the culmination of an extended edition of Indian Couture Week, an exquisite marathon of high fashion spanning eight days.
The Set
All bathed in shades of gulabi pink, the venue’s arche’s, tiered chandeliers, and sculptural installation of animals and birds gracefully mirrored the exquisite essence of the collection, fittingly titled ‘Rang Mahal’. The intention was unmistakable: to evoke India’s rich heritage of royalty and royal traditions, a frequent source of inspiration in Indian bridal couture. True to form, Falguni Shane Peacock elevated this theme with their signature flair, infusing Rajasthan aesthetics with a vibrant twist; it was frenetic.
Maximalism Marvel
Unapologetic maximalism defined the show, with extravagance on display. To the ambiance that was set to a unique soundtrack with Bombay choir, sittar riffing on Elvis, and seamless footwork of kathak dance, the brand was here to serve a bit extra.
Art was very inherent on the final day of Indian Couture 2024, where the collection was divided into two segments, featuring womenswear and menswear with lehenga sets, sherwanis, jacket-style outerwear, draped gowns, and ornate kurtas. The show opened with actor Rashmika Mandanna, who was seen in a silver lehenga featuring a mini blouse adorned with tassels, sequins, and crystals and a long drape, and actor Vicky Kaushal, who was elegantly dressed in a creamy, embroidered full-length sleeve sherwani, complemented by a jacket adorned with delicate chikankari embroidery, glistening sequin details, and a slit bandhgala collar. This ensemble was paired with a coordinating short kurta and straight-fit silk pants.
Bling and shine
Over the years, Falguni Shane Peacock has showcased on international runways, dressed leading Hollywood and Bollywood stars, and made the’more-is-more’ ethos of Indian weddings its strength. In each season, their design vocabulary delivers signature elements: fur-lined shoulders, corset blousing, sequins, beadwork, and crystals. Appealing to those who seek lavish adornments, dupattas with tassel trims, and intricately embroidered skirts, the brand excels in this language, and ‘Rang Mahal’ only further exemplifies their legacy.
At ‘Rang Mahal’ every design demanded attention, and this was obvious when even the trending tulle veil of ICW 2023 got a maximalist upgrade, with model Deepti Gujral walking out in a beautifully embroidered piece with 3D, intricately cut borders and four models carrying it across the runway. Love it or hate it, at ‘Rang Mahal’ one couldn’t look away from the use of big bling, bigger composition, large volume, and a mixed canvas of colors.
Falguni Shane Peacock’s Audacious Take
Relentless in its brilliance, the display of crystals was both audacious and daring—risks that only someone with Falguni Shane Peacock’s established reputation could undertake. This bold approach was calculated, reflecting 20 years of experience in the industry and an excellent grasp of balancing critical acclaim and commercial success.
A standout segment of ‘Rang Mahal’ had the power to meet both criteria. This segment featured textile-based designs created in collaboration with Swadesh, Reliance Retail’s crafts store renowned for its work with artisan clusters across India, which made its debut last year in Hyderabad. While Falguni Shane Peacock might seem like an unlikely partner for handwoven Indian textiles due to their distinct aesthetic, this collaboration introduced a new dimension to the show, demonstrating that Falguni and Shane could indeed make traditional art and craft sparkle.
