Ancestral Route to Innovation: A Legacy of Loom from Tradition to Modernity

The Fashion Design Council of India executed a one-of-its-kind spectacle at the iconic Purana Quila in the national capital, honouring India’s past while shaping its future on the global stage with a textile, fashion and cultural showcase. The event, “Ancestral Route to Innovation: A Legacy of Loom from Tradition to Modernity,” was executed for the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade under the aegis of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India and had the entire European Union Commissioners in attendance. The Confederation of Indian Industry hosted a lavish sit-down dinner. Four of India’s leading couturiers – Rahul Mishra, Amit Aggarwal, Falguni Shane Peacock, and JJ Valaya – showcased their collections. The showcase was replete with live music and traditional folklore performances from different parts of the country. The opulence and grandeur of the outfits were further enhanced by rich heirloom pieces from Archana Aggarwal Timeless Jewellery and ISVARI Jalandhar Jewellery House.

The event, which was a presentation on India-EU Trade and Economic Relations, featured a keynote remark by Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition of the European Commission, special remarks by Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, Sanjiv Puri, President of CII and Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII. It was graced by Dr S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, Government of India, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways & Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & IT, Government of India and Shri Jitin Prasada, Union Minister of State for Ministry of Commerce & Industry and Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology. Shri Conrad Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, was in attendance along with leading industrialists. Also present were Shri Sunil Barthwal, Secretary, Department of Commerce, Shri Amardeep Singh Bhatia, Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India and Shri Rohit Kansal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. A power-packed guest list included stalwarts from India Inc. like Rajan Bharti Mittal, Dr Naresh Trehan, Sunjay Kapur, Aman Gupta, Ajay Shriram, Kulin Lalbhai, Amit Kalyani, Madhav Singhania, Nikhil Sawhney and Vijay Shekhar Sharma amidst others.

The textile, fashion and cultural showcase was curated by Sunil Sethi, Chairman, FDCI who commented, “The showcase was a celebration of India’s unparalleled craftsmanship, where tradition met innovation on a global stage. By bringing together our finest designers and folklore artists, we not only honoured our rich textile heritage but made a statement on how Indian couture is shaping the future of luxury fashion. Through this initiative, we reinforced the significance of Indian couture and culture in the global fashion conversation.”