In Bastar, the Naxal epicentre of India in Chhattisgarh, you start your day with a serving of chapda, chutney made with red ants. Men stare at you blankly, and you return the gaze with suspicion. Are they sizing you up? Might you be a conspirator of the state? With every turn of your rickety Bolero,…
What does it mean to create from a place of memory? For these seven women-led brands, fashion is less about seasons and more about stories—of heritage, community, and quiet rebellion. Each label in this edit is a chapter in the evolving narrative of Indian design. VINTAGE VISION BOARD Cord by Neha Singh and Pranav Guglani…
It’s just days ahead of Rkive City’s digital presentation at Milan Fashion Week and an exposition in Paris to present Reclaim the City S/S ‘26 collection. Ritwik Khanna is caught up in a meeting, and the team lets us take a look around the studio at The Dhanmill, Delhi, which also doubles up as his workshop. Some of the clothes on the…
Paris Haute Couture Week Fall/Winter 2025–26 concluded a week ago and, as expected, was a spectacle. From surreal silhouettes to detailed craftsmanship, the runways were brimming with artistry and awe. But at the end of each show, as the curtains drew to a close, and the designers emerged from backstage, a different reality set in—one…
Some nights, when the world has talked too much and touched too little, I slip into a dress that doesn’t mean a thing. No slogans stitched into the hem. No vintage references. No nods to pop cultures I’ve read about but never felt cool enough to claim. Just silk. Just skin. Just the whisper of…