Falguni & Shane Peacock close India Couture Week with Rashmika Mandanna, Vicky Kaushal's tribute to textile heritage

The closing show of India Couture Week (ICW) 2024 was all about paying homage to India’s rich textile heritage and artisanal craftsmanship. Actors Rashmika Mandanna and Vicky Kaushal, dressed in shades of white with gold embellishments, made an enigmatic pair as they turned showstoppers for the Falguni & Shane Peacock show.

Celebrating Indian craftsmanship, models walked as a medley of Indian songs played in the background, including A.R. Rahman’s ‘Ye Jo Des Hai Tera’.

The designer duo marked their 20-year anniversary with the grand finale of FDCI's Hyundai ICW 2024 in association with Reliance Brands with the unveiling of their latest collection 'Rang Mahal', along with a showcase of jewellery brand Tanishq’s collection. The ‘Rang Mahal’ collection was presented in collaboration with Swadesh, a brand that champions India's textile heritage and craftsmanship.

The collaboration has brought out a unique capsule displaying a range of sarees that feature textile-led crafts such as Kanjivaram silks, renowned for their luxurious texture and intricate motifs, woven with real gold and silver zari threads, along with a FSP monogram woven into the saree and dupatta borders. The capsule also includes Banarasi brocade lehengas and Chikankari, seamlessly combined with Falguni Shane Peacock's signature flourishes. This also marks the first time that the designers have worked with Indian weaves and textiles, celebrating indigenous weavers.

"Rang Mahal is more than just a collection; it is a homage to the artisans, the storytellers, and the custodians of our cultural legacy. Our collaboration with Swadesh brings forth the finest handwoven textiles, celebrating India's rich artisanal heritage. As each model graces the runway, they carry with them the spirit of India's past and the promise of its future, wrapped in the splendor of our cultural history, preserved and celebrated through fashion,” says Falguni Shane Peacock.

The haute couture collection by FSP has been inspired by the regal and dreamy aspects of India's royal heritage. ‘Rang Mahal’ or "Palace of Colours," draws from fifty iconic elements of India's rich history: grand palaces, lavish lifestyles, and exquisite craftsmanship. Luxurious silks, rich velvets, and intricate embroideries evoke the splendour of royal courts. Each piece is a tribute to the timeless elegance and sophistication of India's royal heritage, crafted by master artisans who carry the legacy of their ancestors. This collection celebrates the rich diversity and vivid hues defining our culture and tradition, drawing inspiration from India's majestic symbols: resplendent parrots and peacocks, serene swans, powerful horses and elephants, magnificent tigers, mystical palaces, traditional diyas, the melodious sitar, the sacred banyan tree and peepal leaf, expressive mudras, fragrant roses, the spiritual conch, revered cows, intricate paisleys and Kashmiri thread work, the unparalleled Taj Mahal, and sparkling diamonds.