The most prestigious fashion event in India, India Couture Week, arrived with its 19th edition, opening at Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad on 23rd July. For the first time since its inception, the fashion week—which mostly takes place at the Taj Palace Hotel in Delhi—commenced outside the capital with designer Anamika Khanna's inaugural runway presentation of her latest collection. Unlike any other fashion event, this occasion gathers India's most celebrated designers who showcase their craft that is set to become the trend for the upcoming festive and wedding seasons. With the event almost concluding, we have gathered the five most eye-catching and talked-about designer collections so far.

Rohit Bal

 

The display of the collection named "DASTKAR" from the House of Bal was the first collection after the demise of the legendary designer Rohit Bal. This exhibition was a tribute to his legacy and to the artisans who have been with him over the past 30 years and have equally contributed to building its prestigious position. The collection consists of velvet sherwanis, bandhgalas, net-set jackets and voluminous lehengas that are heavily embellished and embroidered with the motifs that Rohit Bal was known for—from intricate lotuses and chinar leaves to delicate floral vines and Mughal gardens, each beautifully rendered in the clothes with subtle pearl work and rich gold threading, highlighting the timeless craft that keeps the designer's legacy alive.

JJ Valaya

 

The "SIDDI" collection became the central theme of JJ Valaya's design language, which he beautifully portrayed in his craft. The Siddis are an African-Indian community who reside primarily in Gujarat, Karnataka and Hyderabad. Their journey involved African heritage woven through Indian culture across centuries, leading to the creation of these ensembles that bridge two continents. The couture ranges from embroidered lehengas and embellished bandhgalas to draped sarees and embroidered anarkalis, featuring zardozi, aari, dori, metallic embroidery and crystal embellishments. The collection is grounded in an opulent colour palette of antique gold, ivory, noir, champagne, jewel tones and earthy hues that together exude a sense of timeless elegance.

Tarun Tahiliani

 

The pioneer of this field, Tarun Tahiliani, is known for his design experimentation while staying true to the craft, which he exhibited through his new collection called "Navaratna" – meaning nine jewels – at India Couture Week. Unlike the conventional runway, Tahiliani transformed Bikaner House into an immersive space that offered every visitor their own time to become absorbed in the excellence of craft. Guests were invited to wander through a series of thoughtfully designed rooms featuring projection mapping, digital installations and multimedia storytelling, rather than watching models stride past from fixed seats. Each space revealed a different facet of the collection — nine gems, nine stories — making it the most experiential and structurally original presentation at HICW 2026.

Rimzim Dadu

 

Among the most intellectually adventurous designers at India Couture Week, Rimzim Dadu presented a collection that pushed the boundaries of material and form. Her signature experimentation with steel-wire textiles and metallic cords was taken further in this edition, where stonework shone independently in some ensembles while marrying with her label's iconic steel-wire textiles and metallic cords in others, creating new conversations between textures and materials. The visual centrepiece of her show was an 80-foot kinetic installation designed by Anuj Anjaria of Studio Motionworks that anchored the runway and moved in rhythm with the collection. In a quietly powerful moment, Dadu herself walked the runway at the end—in a simple black dress with a small Indian flag badge gleaming on her sleeve—making one of the most understated yet resonant statements of the entire week.

Falguni Shane Peacock

 

Opening the Delhi leg of the Hyundai India Couture Week 2026, Falguni Shane Peacock presented their collection "Le Grand Voyage"—meaning "The Grand Journey"—which drew its inspiration from art, travel and traditional Indian handwork. The collection captured the spirit of a traveller who moves across cultures while carrying their heritage with them, reflected in ensembles that blend European silhouettes with intricate Indian embellishment. Rich embroidery, shimmering fabrics and opulent detailing made each piece feel like a destination in itself, staying true to the duo's signature maximalist aesthetic that has made them one of the most commercially successful couture houses in the country.