From Mumbai to Milan, Indians are reigning supreme when it comes to fashion. The glitz and glamour of Paris and Milan’s Haute Couture week recently concluded, but the echoes of India’s vibrant presence still reverberate through the fashion stratosphere.

No longer confined to the shadows of European fashion capitals, Indian designers and models stormed the runways of Milan and Paris, leaving a trail of vibrant colours, breathtaking craftsmanship, and undeniable talent. It was a cultural revolution, a celebration of heritage and modernity, and a testament to the rising power of Indian fashion on the global stage.

On 25 January, Gaurav Gupta presented his latest collection, ‘Aarohanam‘, at the American Cathedral in Paris.

The collection featured a variety of pieces, including cropped jackets, exaggerated capes, a fluid trench coat, and sculpted metal structures. These were all made using traditional Indian techniques such as ‘badla’, ‘mukaish’, and ‘zardozi’.

Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor was a vision in Dior at the Paris Fashion Week. She wore an all-black ensemble from the designer label’s Cruise Collection, which was designed by Maria Grazia Chiuri. The outfits on the runway at Dior’s haute couture show were embroidered in Mumbai by the Chanakya School, a non-profit school and foundation dedicated to craft, culture and creating new autonomy for women. They have become a frequent collaborator of the fashion house.

Lakshmi Menon was the only woman to walk the runway for Pharrell Williams’ Louis Vuitton men’s show. Menon is one of India’s most successful supermodels, with over 15 years of experience in the industry. Delhi-based designer Rahul Mishra presented his haute couture collection, ‘Superheroes’, on 22 January in Paris. The collection was inspired by the beauty and diversity of the insect kingdom. Actor Ananya Panday made her Paris Fashion Week debut at Mishra’s show. She wore a strapless black and gold mini-dress with a butterfly-embroidered giant sieve. Model Avanti Nagrath looked sharp in a grey lapel-collared blazer with a corseted waist for Dior. She paired the blazer with a pleated skirt in the same colour and a latte makeup look. Dhruv Kapoor’s Fall 2024 menswear collection, shown during the Milan Fashion Week 2024, was inspired by the idea of creating a utopian world where opposites collide with harmony, peace, balance, and love.

Bridgerton actress Charithra Chandran looked stunning in a tailored Rahul Mishra gown at the Paris Fashion Week. The dress was doused in silver sequins and featured a plunging neckline and feathery tassels at the hem. The newest Bollywood debutant, Suhana Khan, attended Rahul Mishra’s show at the Paris Fashion Week in a gorgeous floral midi dress.