Fdci To Present Nitin Bal Chauhan And Akaaro In A Brand-New Showcase At The Upcoming Lakmé Fashion Week In Partnership With Fdci

~ The presentation titled ‘FDCI Innovators’ is all set to woo the audiences on Day 1 of the upcoming Lakmé Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI~

National, 1st March 2023: With an endeavor to provide a national platform and shine a light on talented designers across the fashion spectrum in India, the Fashion Design Council of India is all set to present two labels as part of a new showcase on Day 1 of Lakmé Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI in Mumbai. Titled ‘FDCI Innovators’, the presentation will feature different perspectives on French culture by designer Nitin Bal Chauhan and label Akaaro by Gaurav Jai Gupta.

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

A visit to Paris that led to a three-year exploration, sparked the idea for Gaurav Jai Gupta’s label Akaaro’s upcoming collection. The collection titled, The Sky Is Mine is inspired by the iconic shade International Klein Blue created by a French artist Yves Klein. Adopting the artists’ unique approach to fashion, Akaaro presents 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. The designs experiment with the potential of the colour blue and feature elements of straight lines, concentric circles and abstract forms. The collection at its core, delves into the future of contemporary Indian art, textiles and fashion through a new prism.

Commenting on the first-ever FDCI Innovators showcase, Sunil Sethi, Chairman, FDCI said,“At FDCI, we are constantly working towards and launching initiatives that bring to the fore, some of the most talented designers and labels in the country. As we enter a new era of design, it is extremely important for us to showcase these voices whose creations will set the course for a varied approach to fashion. Both these designers have shown promising fashion moments in the past and have distinct perspective on the idea of fashion and design. We are very excited for the world to see this presentation on the runway this upcoming season.”