- The Indian fashion week landscape has evolved from a niche event in 2000 to a multi-city industry platform.
- A major split in 2005 led to competing events, but they reunited in 2021 as FDCI x Lakmē Fashion Week.
- The event continues to navigate trends, sponsorships, AI in fashion, and evolving inclusivity on the runway.
Indian fashion weeks have witnessed an extraordinary transformation over 25 years, from their modest beginnings to becoming a key player in the global fashion circuit.
Fashion weeks are no longer just about showcasing collections; they have become a playground for brands, beauty giants, and experimental marketing strategies.
Indian Fashion Weeks at 25: A Shifting Industry and Its Future
The Indian fashion industry has evolved significantly since the first Lakmē India Fashion Week in 2000. What started as an effort to position ready-to-wear collections in a nascent market has become a battleground for sponsorships, media influence, and shifting consumer trends. With global fashion weeks as benchmarks, India’s fashion week has struggled to balance business with artistic expression.
The mid-2000s split between FDCI and Lakmē changed the landscape, fueling industry rivalries. For years, the Delhi-Mumbai divide defined competition and exclusivity. The 2021 reunion was a landmark shift, signaling an era of collaboration amid economic and digital disruptions. However, questions remain about whether unity can sustain long-term growth.
Brand partnerships have played an increasingly central role in the fashion week ecosystem. From traditional beauty brands to unexpected sponsors like tech and healthcare companies, the event has embraced cross-industry collaborations. AI is now being explored as a tool for both engagement and design, sparking debate over the balance between technology and human creativity.
Inclusivity remains a work in progress. While models from diverse backgrounds, sizes, and identities have gained prominence, some critics argue that representation is often performative rather than systemic. The move away from a Eurocentric beauty standard is a positive step, but the industry still grapples with deep-rooted biases and accessibility issues.
As Indian Fashion Weeks step into their next phase, they stand at a crossroads of innovation and introspection. The industry must balance creativity, technology, and inclusivity while ensuring its economic sustainability in an ever-changing landscape.
“Fashion should be a form of escapism and not a form of imprisonment.” – Alexander McQueen
