Lakmé Fashion Week 2025: A Celebration of 25 Years in Glamour and Style!

Fashion once again came back to the City of Dreams, Mumbai, with Lakmé Fashion Week. From March 26 to 30, 2025, the most prestigious fashion week in the country celebrated its 25 years in association with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) at Mumbai's Jio World Convention Centre.

Over 30 renowned designers showcased pieces from their archival collections to honour the 25-year journey of the fashion event.

Anamika Khanna's label, AK|OK, inaugurated the event with a collection that highlighted boldness and ambition. Collaborating with Lakmé 9 to 5's hya-matte range, Khanna mentioned:

As the name suggests, it’s a very interesting concept that we are working with. Basically we are suggesting that women now are able to do what they want to do. It’s an elevated experience of the wardrobe from white collar to silver collar… it’s a kind of warrior feeling in the workplace. Besides that, it is a very interesting tribe that we worked with and took inspiration from. So, my thought was, what would one of these tribal women bring into the city if they went to work with them?

Leading the showcase, Lakmé Brand Ambassador Ananya Panday graced the runway, embodying the essence of Silver Collar with her effortless confidence and striking presence.

The second day of Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI started with the Gen Next designers. Abhichiq, That Antiquepiece and Quarter showcased their unique, fresh designs that will largely resonate with the young fashion enthusiasts.

Abhichiq: Showcasing ‘Ciao’, Abhichiq brought out a collection featuring handwoven textiles, hand block printed and hand embroidered fruit and floral compositions. Along with these, the styles included carnival prints and bold strip patterns with retro detailing. Abhichiq beautifully and timelessly reimagined menswear.

That Antiquepiece: Taking inspiration from Rana queens of Nepal from the 1870s, That Antiquepiece presented a breathtaking collection featuring striking visual imagery of the Himalayas along with European influences spread across the silhouettes.

Quarter: ‘Dichotomy of Loss’ by Quarter dives deeply into the nature of grief. A social experiment turned collection which featured grief in the form of cut out contours of fabrics.

Actress Nushrratt Bharuccha was a showstopper at Lakme Fashion Week, dazzling the audience as she walked the runway for NIF Global 'The Runway'. She exuded a bold yet polished look, wearing a structured grey corset paired flawlessly with stylish black wide-leg pants. The outfit was designed by Kritika Kachhera and Shruti Kotecha. 

The Boy's Club at Lakme Fashion Week 2025 featured three designers:

Anurag Gupta: Presenting 'Metamorphosis', Anurag Gupta weaves together the hues of dawn and dusk, textures that are inspired by the nature's cycle and human evolution.

LINETRIBE_: With 'Monolith', LINETRIBE_ showcased a collection of layered silhouettes, oversized jackets, crisp tie-dye deeply rooted in androgyny and identity. 

Roy_Calcutta: Revisiting the royal Nawabs of Bengal, Roy_Calcutta in collaboration with Lakme Fashion Week presented a couture collection the region's rich heritage culture. Prosenjit Chatterjee, star of Khaki: The Bengal Chapter, also walked the runway at Lakme Fashion Week. He showcased a traditional Bengali "Kochaano" dhoti. Former Indian tennis player Leander Paes also made an appearance at the event, walking the ramp in an outfit designed by Abhishek Roy.

Bollywood actress Karishma Kapoor also turned heads at Lakme Fashion Week 2025 as she walked the ramp for Satya Paul. She wore a chic monochrome belted saree that was paired with a full-sleeve blouse. Karishma’s graceful appearance in this elegant outfit was a perfect example of timeless style.

To honour the legacy of the artisans and their timeless creations on India's most treasured fabric, Khadi designers like Nikasha, Niki Mahajan, Ka-Sha presented their stunning collections that reflect the deep-rooted history of Indian Fashion.

This particular collection by Ka-Sha expresses the axiom 'As above so, so below”, a correspondence that explains the law and phenomena of the various planes of Being. 

Day 3 of Lakme Fashion Week saw significant celebration of India's rich fashion heritage, seamlessly blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design sensibilities. Designer Mohammed Mazhar took center stage with his latest collection. and paid tribute to the exquisite craftsmanship of Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty, the showstopper, walked the ramp in a breathtaking ensemble that left everyone in awe. graced the runway in a mesmerizing white saree adorned with bold black vertical and horizontal lines, creating a striking contrast. However, the true showstopper of her look was not just the saree itself but the statement breastplate bodice that she wore over it.

Namrata Joshipura's showcase was all about pushing the boundaries and redefining what athleisure means. She used the silhouettes of athleisure and gave it her spin with elements such as sequins, stripes, and abstract geometric designs, to name a few. For her showstopper look, Malaika Arora was a vision in black, The actor was dressed in a black full-length sleeveless catsuit. The catsuit came with a round neckline, and it was adorned with sequins all over. The actor layered her bodysuit with a full-sleeved crop jacket. She left the jacket open and carried it on her shoulders like a cape with the zipper closure open. 

Ace designer Amit Aggarwal mentioned:

In the world we live in today, fashion has the power to speak volumes—not just about how we look, but about who we are, where we come from, and where we’re headed.

He presented his new collection Aged Anew: What We Have Now Is All That We Once Had – at the 25th year of Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI. His collection depicts the past being reinterpreted through fashion in today’s world. Traditional Benarasi textile was at the heart of the collection like the designer’s earlier Benarasi Edit – yet this time presented in contemporary, powerful and feminine silhouettes.

Designer duo Falguni and Shane Peacock showcased their latest collection, ‘Ashen Roses,’ They spoke about the inspiration behind this collection.

This collection is a reimagining of our brand’s DNA—familiar, yet entirely new. We’ve taken the signature elements that define us—bold silhouettes, intricate embellishments, glamour—and given them a fresh perspective. It’s about evolution rather than reinvention, pushing the boundaries of what we’ve done before while staying true to the essence of Falguni Shane Peacock. Every detail, from the embroidery to the form, carries our signature but in a way that feels unexpected, modern, and undeniably powerful.

Filmmaker Karan Johar and actress Tamannaah Bhatia walked the ramp for the celebrated couturiers.

The real OG of India's Fashion World, Tarun Tahiliani, presented his collection from OTT, the designer’s luxury prêt label. The show opened with a display of draped silhouettes and layered separates, setting the tone for OTT’s elegant yet functional aesthetic. The highlight of the show was the demonstration of the versatility of the collection on stage, with models re-styling pieces in real-time to highlight how garments could be layered, draped and worn in multiple ways. He noted:

This collection speaks to the multifaceted urban woman—her wardrobe evolving as she moves through life, accumulating pieces that reflect her journey and achievements. The act of buying fashion transforms into a deeply personal statement of self-expression.

Marking Lakme' Fashion Week's 25th year, the Myrah collection by Saaksha & Kinni celebrated joy, ease, and self-expression. Myrah presented summer looks for men and women, featuring the label's signature layering and hand micro-pleating across fluid chiffons, cottons, crepes, and satins. Versatile additions included lycra-infused swimwear and structured canvas jackets. The colour palette echoed the sandstone hues of the Adalaj Stepwell, with burnt oranges, yellows, and browns reflecting sunlit tones, while blues mirrored water elements and reds and purples captured Gujarat’s cultural vibrancy. They also partnered with Lakmé Sun Expert to unveil their collection. Bollywood actor Ishaan Khatter walked as the collection's showstopper, bringing his signature energy to the runway. The showcase also featured rising style star Ayesha Kanga, body-positive influencer Sakshi Sindhwani, and celebrities Aisha Ahmed, Chum Darang, and Rida Tharana.

Tara Sutaria and Veer Pahariya recently took to the ramp for the popular brand ASOS. While the two complimented each other really well, internet users did not seem to be very impressed and did not even hesitate to troll the two. They were also compared to two very popular fictional characters: Morticia Addams and Gomez Addams. Tara and Veer sported monochrome outfits. While Tara was an absolute vision in black and looked beautiful in a gown that featured a deep-neck cut and long dramatic sleeves, Veer was seen in an all-white suit. 

Ace designer duo Shantnu and Nikhil of S&N presented their latest collection – Piazza Nova – at Lakmē Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI on March 29. Marked by their sharp aesthetics, the latest collection was all about a blend between couture and contemporary fashion. Actor Ibrahim Ali Khan walked the ramp in a beige ensemble by S&N and he left his fans stunned with his charisma.

AFEW by Rahul Mishra's collection pays homage to Henri Rousseau's dreamy landscapes by blending his quaint worlds with traditional artistry like Bandhani prints. Janhvi Kapoor walked the ramp for designer Rahul Mishra at Lakme Fashion Week. The actor wore a shimmery off-shoulder thigh-high slit gown on the ramp and created a pap moment before starting her walk. However, she got trolled by a section of users who felt she rushed on the stage. 

The video, which was also circulated widely on Reddit, invited comments from netizens. One user wrote:

She really thought she did something with that expression and haughty walk. Why is she walking like she’s going to miss her train ?? Girl???

Max Fashion, a leader in India's fashion retail space, made a striking debut at the 25th edition of Fashion Week x FDCI, solidifying its influence in the country's value fashion market. Max Fashion’s debut showcased two stunning collections — Sicilian Summer and Amalfi Escape — each evoking the essence of a sun-soaked, wanderlust-filled adventure. More than just a runway show, this debut was a business milestone--showcasing Max Fashion's ability to merge trend-driven design with large-scale retail accessibility.

Kalki Koechlin turns showstopper for Max Fashion's LFWxFDCI debut. She said:

The Sicilian Summer and Amalfi Escape collections are not just about fashion—they’re a celebration of living freely, confidently, and with boldness. Fashion is no longer about unattainable aspirations, but about embracing your true self, wherever you are.

The concluding event was hosted by American actor of Indian origin Kal Penn. The showcase ended with everyone remembering late designer Rohit Bal and giving him a standing ovation as the footage from his final fashion show played out on the LED screen. During the gala, actor Kareena Kapoor Khan who has been a face of Lakmé said:

Whether it was walking the ramp when I was size zero or Taimur in my belly, whether it was size 10 or 12, that never mattered. What mattered was my heart was on the stage with Lakmé Fashion Week X FDCI in October 2024, with each and every designer I've walked for.

Over 30 renowned designers showcased pieces from their archival collections to honour the 25-year journey of the fashion event. According to PTI, the fashion designers chose two iconic ensembles from their past collections which they presented at the extravaganza in the last 25 years. The ace designers who presented looks from their previous Lakmé Fashion Week X FDCI clothing lines were: Manish Malhotra, Tarun Tahiliani, Falguni Shane Peacock, Ritu Beri, Gauri & Nainika, Varun Bahl, Monisha Jaising, Ashish N Soni, Narendra Kumar Ahmed, Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Raw Mango, Pankaj & Nidhi, Alpana & Neeraj, Namrata Joshipura, Shantnu Nikhil, Bhibhu Mohapatra, Rina Dhaka, Amit Aggarwal, Rahul Mishra, Anshu Arora, Bodice by Ruchika Sachdeva, Gaurav Gupta, Suneet Verma, Nalini Ramani, Anita Dongre, JJ Valaya, and Anamika Khanna.

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