It was FDCI Innovators' time with label Akaaro by Gaurav Jai Gupta and perspectives on French culture by Nitin Bal Chauhan at Lakme Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI at Jio World Garden.

A visit to Paris that led to a three-year exploration sparked the idea for the Akaaro collected called The Sky Is Mine, inspired by the iconic shade International Klein Blue created by French artist Yves Klein. Adopting the artists’ unique approach to fashion, Akaaro presented its signature handwoven fabrics developed using materials like stainless steel, merino wool, monofilament silk and cotton, each offering an exploration of the sublime through pure colour.

Recommended Read: Lakmé Fashion Week X FDCI 2023: It’s a mod Bod ft. Bodice!

The designs experimented with the potential of the colour blue and feature elements of straight lines, concentric circles and abstract forms. The collection delved into the future of contemporary Indian art, textiles and fashion through a new prism.

Nitin Bal Chauhan’s collection The Outsider derived inspiration from L’Etranger (The Stranger), a French novel from the 1940s by Albert Camus. While the novel emphasizes on how an individual that acts against societal constructs is termed an outsider, Nitin Bal Chauhan translated this subtle emotion through tangible aspects in design. Unusual, off-centred design details, juxtaposed panels and asymmetric silhouettes created a certain feeling of absurdity. On the other hand, layers of textures and 3D hand embroidery across clothes, shoes and headgear came together to make the collection rich in design. Adding a neo-minimal-punk flavour to the pieces, the designs featured an extensive use of metal renders as well.