Even though the Mumbai edition of Lakmē Fashion Week, in collaboration with FDCI, is over, the festivities are only getting started.
Even while Lakmē Fashion Week, which was organized in collaboration with the FDCI Mumbai edition, is over, the festivities are just getting started. The finest in the fashion business gathered in one place for a spectacular evening to honor the 25-year history of Lakmē Fashion Week and the individuals who have been involved with it.
Renowned comedian and actor Kal Penn took the stage to kick off the festivities at a sit-down event held at the Lotus Ballroom at the famous Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. Everyone was in stitches after Kal Penn shared a few of his own fashion experiences with the crowd, including fashion designers Tarun Tahiliani and Manish Malhotra, in an entertaining fashion banter.
Kal Penn’s witty opening act, who kept things sassy and cool, was the evening’s high point. To be honest, it was better than most Bollywood stars who opened presentations at Fashion Week this season. Don’t be shocked if you’re asked to open for a fashion show the following season, Kal.
Without Sunil Sethi, chairman of the Fashion Design Council of India, Lakmē Fashion Week will not be the same. A force of nature, Sethi sent a passionate statement on the 25th anniversary of Lakmē Fashion Week, thanking Jaspreet Chandok, group vice president of Reliance Brands Limited, for his support and for maintaining equilibrium during this collaboration.
As I stand in a room full with designers who have always been my fellow travelers, I can’t help but feel a little sentimental and overcome with nostalgia. Our sincere appreciation goes out to Lakmē and Reliance for their steadfast assistance. My partners Sunanda [Khaitan, Lakme Innovations Lead] and Jaspreet [Chandok] of Reliance Brands deserve special recognition. You two are responsible for maintaining the equilibrium of this collaboration and this platform, JC. “I’m excited for us to be united for the 50th anniversary,” said FDCI chairman Sunil Sethi.
The stage glowed as Kal introduced Kareena Kapoor Khan, the original Face of Lakmē, as the evening prepared to honor the past while gazing into a creative, fashion-forward future. After 13 years as the brand’s face and a four-year break, Kareena is finally back at home. Wearing a Manish Malhotra saree, Kareena looked like royalty and smiled broadly as she reminisced about her wonderful runway experiences with Kal Penn.
Without fashion and its designers, models, stylists, hair stylists, makeup artists, choreographers, light and sound engineers, stage designers, and many more, 25 Years of Lakmē Fashion Week would not be complete.
The Lakmē Fashion Week x FDCI Gala Night runway looked like going through an old photo album featuring the archival creations of esteemed designers including Tarun Tahiliani, Gauri Nainika, Ritu Beri, Varun Bahl, Monisha Jaisingh, Ashish Soni, Falguni Shane Peacock, Narendra Kumar Ahmed, Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Raw Mango, Pankaj Nidhi, Alpana Neeraj, Namrata Joshipura, Shantnu & Nikhil, Bibhu Mohapatra, Rina Dhaka, Amit Aggarwal, Rahul Mishra, Anshu Arora, Bodice, Gaurav Gupta, Anamika Khanna, Suneet Varma, Malini Ramani, Manish Malhotra, Anita Dongre, JJ Valaya, Ritu Kumar, and the late Rohit Bal.
Renowned Indian fashion models celebrated each archival piece. Carol Gracias, who looked exquisite in an Anamika Khanna 2004 archive piece, and Lakshmi Rana, who exuded elegance in a 2001 showstopper ensemble by Manish Malhotra, who also reproduced the famous black and gold sling that was made for Shah Rukh Khan, were the highlights.
In addition to honoring the creator, each historical and reproduced piece also highlighted their accomplishments and adventures. As the audience applauded, the original Lakmē faces throughout the years came on stage to close out the fashion presentation. Indrani Dasgupta played Rohit Bal, Lisa Ray played Ritu Kumar, Lisa Haydon played Anamika Khanna, Sarah Jane Dias played Tarun Tahiliani, Shimona Nath played Rahul Mishra, and Roshni Sharma played Malini Ramani on the runway.
Every designer took the stage to rejoice with their fellow designers who had shared in their journey on the esteemed runway as the curtain came down on Lakmē Fashion Week’s 25th anniversary.
Cheers to an amazing evening in India’s fashion history!
