Tag: couture

Fit & Fabulous

Blenders Pride Fashion Tour 2025: Redefining Fashion’s Next Move

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Blenders Pride Fashion Tour, India’s most definitive voice in fashion, returns in 2025 with an edition that promises to be unlike any other. With the theme ‘Fashion’s Next Move,’ the tour is set to merge creativity, culture, and innovation on a stage that is truly ‘The One and Only.’ In a world where trends are fleeting, this edition takes fashion boldly forward, reimagining what it means to lead and define the future of style.

The journey begins in Gurugram with ‘The Futureverse of Fashion,’ where designers Falguni and Shane Peacock, accompanied by Shahid Kapoor and Tamannaah Bhatia, unlock a visionary fashion experience. Here, the runway transforms into an immersive spectacle, blending technology and couture to reshape the dimensions of fashion and redefine how it is experienced.

The tour then moves to Jaipur with ‘High Octane Couture,’ featuring designers Abhishek Patni and Namrata Joshipura. This chapter draws inspiration from the speed, precision, and power of motorsports, translating them into an exhilarating fashion narrative. With the panache of Harnaaz Sandhu, Miss Universe 2021, and the energy of rapper Raftaar, the Jaipur edition promises glamour at full throttle, pushing fashion into uncharted territory.

The grand finale in Kolkata brings ‘Breaking the Moulds of Fashion Craft,’ with the iconic Anamika Khanna returning to the stage alongside Ishaan Khatter. This segment highlights the sublime artistry of Indian craftsmanship while bridging it with contemporary design vision, offering audiences not just fashion to admire but craft to revere.

Debasree Dasgupta, CMO of Pernod Ricard India, emphasizes that Blenders Pride Fashion Tour continues to set benchmarks in shaping the evolution of Indian fashion and style. With this year’s theme, the tour is poised to lead a bold narrative that inspires the next generation and invites them into a world where creativity, culture, and innovation converge. Sunil Sethi, Chairman of FDCI, echoes the excitement, highlighting that this collaboration amplifies the commitment to shaping the future of fashion in India, bringing together diverse perspectives that celebrate creativity and culture.

Blenders Pride Fashion Tour 2025 promises an unforgettable journey across India, where fashion transcends the runway, becomes an experience, and sets the tone for what’s next in global style.

Fit & Fabulous

Anita Dongre Opens Flagship Store in Beverly Hills, Taking Indian Craftsmanship to the Heart of Global Luxury

Tanisha Cardozo

Indian fashion designer Anita Dongre, celebrated globally for championing Indian craftsmanship and sustainable luxury, has opened her newest flagship store in Beverly Hills. Located at Gardenhouse, this marks the brand’s 13th store worldwide and its most significant U.S. expansion since the opening of her New York City flagship in 2018. Following her historic debuts in New York and Dubai, Dongre becomes the first Indian designer to unveil a flagship in Beverly Hills — a milestone that furthers her mission of taking India to the world.

The new space brings Dongre’s distinctive design language to one of the world’s most iconic luxury destinations. Here, contemporary silhouettes meet traditional artistry, offering an immersive experience of handcrafted couture and ready-to-wear designed for global connoisseurs. “The West Coast represents a very global way of living — open, creative, and deeply connected to nature and culture,” said Dongre. “Los Angeles understands slow luxury, craftsmanship, and conscious living. This moment belongs not just to me, but to every artisan whose hands shape our garments.”

The store’s interiors reflect Dongre’s modern interpretation of Rajasthan — imagined as a sanctuary of serenity. A delicate fragrance greets guests into an oasis of calm, where Indian crafts merge with contemporary design. Hand-painted Pichhwai walls, depicting flora and fauna, were meticulously crafted by artisans in Rajasthan. Each cushion, wallpaper, and piece of furniture has been hand-embroidered or designed in India, embodying Dongre’s philosophy of mindful luxury. Every detail — from flooring to lampshades — narrates a story of nature, craft, and quiet opulence.

Anchoring the space is a striking elephant matriarch and calf sculpture from “The Great Elephant Migration,” a global art movement featuring works created by indigenous Indian communities using invasive Lantana weeds. The installation symbolizes Dongre’s enduring commitment to sustainability and biodiversity under her guiding philosophy of “Fashion For Good.”

Over the years, Dongre has dressed global icons including Priyanka Chopra, Kate Middleton, Kim Kardashian, and Dakota Johnson, earning acclaim for her fusion of ethical craftsmanship and modern design. Her recent collaboration with Mattel — where she became the first Indian designer to create a Diwali Barbie — sold out within days, spotlighting South Asian representation and the beauty of Indian artisanship on the world stage. “Every piece we create is touched by women artisans whose skills have been passed down through generations. Bringing their craft to Beverly Hills gives their art the global stage it deserves,” she shared.

The opening event, hosted by Mindy Kaling and Poorna Jagannathan, brought together a vibrant mix of celebrities and tastemakers, including Anjula Acharia, Jay Shetty, Jeannie Mai Jenkins, Deepica Mutyala, Anjali Bhimani, Francia Raisa, Richa Moorjani, Saagar Shaikh, Yvonne Orji, and Anita Chatterjee. The evening celebrated culture, community, and couture — uniting Hollywood and Bollywood under one creative roof.

For Dongre, this new Beverly Hills home is more than just a store. It is a bridge between two storytelling cultures — Hollywood and Bollywood — both of which celebrate identity, beauty, and emotion. “Fashion becomes a bridge when it carries cultural heritage with pride,” she said. “With a space in LA, we can deepen our connection with stylists and artists, and create a haven where creativity and craftsmanship coexist.”

Rooted in Rajasthan, Dongre has long supported India’s artisan communities through initiatives that preserve and contemporize weaving, embroidery, and block printing, providing sustainable livelihoods to thousands of craftspeople. As she continues to expand globally, her commitment to conscious luxury, cultural authenticity, and women’s empowerment remains unwavering — a reminder that true luxury lies in purpose, not excess.

International

Dior Faces Backlash for Not Crediting India’s Mukaish Embroidery in $200,000 Coat

allycaralgoa

Written by Tanisha Cardozo

In the wake of Prada’s controversy over Kolhapuri chappals, another global fashion giant, Dior, is now facing heat for failing to credit India for a traditional embroidery technique featured in one of its newest couture pieces.

The luxury fashion house unveiled a $200,000 gold and ivory houndstooth coat at Paris Fashion Week as part of designer Jonathan Anderson’s debut collection for Dior. The event, attended by high-profile celebrities like Rihanna, Daniel Craig, and Robert Pattinson, was celebrated for its craftsmanship — but has since drawn criticism for cultural insensitivity.

The issue? The embroidery technique used in the opulent coat is believed to be Mukaish, an intricate hand embroidery style from Lucknow, India, known for using metallic threads to create shimmering motifs. Despite the garment reportedly taking 34 days to complete, no mention of “Mukaish” or its Indian roots was made in Dior’s promotional material or runway notes.

The oversight was highlighted by fashion analyst Hanan Besnovic, who runs the popular Instagram page @ideaservecouture. In a now-viral post, he broke down the craftsmanship behind the coat and stated:

“This is a traditional Indian hand embroidery technique… yet nowhere has Dior acknowledged its origin. This is about credit. This is about cultural respect.”

The backlash has reignited debates around cultural appropriation in fashion, where Western labels often incorporate traditional or indigenous art forms without proper acknowledgment or benefit to the original creators.

Fashion lovers, designers, and Indian artisans alike have taken to social media to express frustration, noting that such oversight erases cultural history and overlooks the skilled craftspeople keeping these traditions alive.

Critics argue that Dior missed an opportunity to spotlight India’s rich embroidery heritage — particularly Mukaish, which dates back centuries and has been passed down through generations of artisans in Uttar Pradesh.

The incident comes at a time when global conversations around ethical fashion, sustainability, and cultural sensitivity are louder than ever. As Indian textiles and techniques continue to inspire luxury fashion globally, many are calling for transparency, collaboration, and fair credit.

Whether Dior responds to the controversy remains to be seen, but the message from critics is loud and clear: Acknowledgement matters.