- Manish Malhotra debuts India’s first immersive couture party at Taj Palace.
- Models move through guests showcasing INAYA collection rather than traditional runway.
- Alessandra Ambrosio serves as muse wearing crystal and pearl couture creations.
- Evening blends archive pieces, High Jewellery and a women-led live performance.
Couture took on a new life at the Taj Palace in New Delhi. Instead of rigid catwalks and stiff seating, Manish Malhotra invited fashion lovers to stroll among models donning his latest INAYA collection. This event rewrote how high fashion can feel, intimate, lively, and rich in legacy.
Indian couture has long been about grandeur and drama. This event reframed it as an all-encompassing experience. Guests mingled amid archival MET Gala looks, classic Bollywood pieces, and contemporary couture. Live models glided through the crowd wearing sculpted gowns and cocktail saris layered in crystals and pearl embellishments. High Jewellery sparkled in display cases, anchoring glamour to the old-school charm of haute design.
At the centre was Alessandra Ambrosio, making her debut collaboration with an Indian designer. Her first ensemble, Lady Crystal Diamond, paired structured draping and crystal work in signature Malhotra style. A second look, Pearl Story, celebrated sculptural femininity with cascading pearls and sequins.
A women-led live performance backdrop sharpened the evening. Jonita Gandhi’s rich vocals and DJs Kayan and Lush Lata kept the energy humming. Fashion, music, legacy and community mingled in a design ecosystem steeped in culture and modern relevance.
This was not just a presentation of clothes but an immersive lifestyle experience:
- INAYA collection blends fluid skirts, sculpted cocktail saris, tailored tuxedos, bandhgalas and contemporary gowns
- Archivally inspired ensembles, including MET Gala couture and classic Bollywood costumes
- Signature High Jewellery pieces with heirloom jhumkas, brooches, haathphools and statement earrings
Malhotra’s own quote captured it well: “After over five and a half years, coming back to India Couture Week felt deeply personal. I did not want a conventional show. I reimagined everything. No runway, no front rows, just a couture celebration with music, food and energy that felt like home.”
This event resonates with growing audience expectations for immersive, narrative-rich fashion show experiences. It speaks to design lovers who value heritage and intimacy over formal presentation. Global fashion events are shifting toward storytelling formats that honour both tradition and sensory engagement. Using Ambrosio as muse, Malhotra signaled that Indian couture plays on the global stage just as confidently as any international house, while retaining cultural identity.
Manish Malhotra’s Couture Party reset the benchmark for how Indian fashion is celebrated. It offered elegance, emotional resonance and community in one evening. For anyone longing to engage with fashion beyond fabric, this is the beginning of a new couture era!
