India’s prestigious fashion spectacle, Lakmé Fashion Week, is back with its much-anticipated summer/resort edition, setting the stage for the trend-defining season from 26th to 30th March. In partnership with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), this edition is set to spotlight a stellar lineup crafted by the industry’s icons and emerging designers. Just as the film’s opening scene sets the tone, the first showcase of the fashion week also sets the season’s narrative and upcoming trends. And who better to set the mood for the season than Anamika Khanna? The fashion powerhouse will lead the way with her prêt label, AK|OK, on March 26th.
A revered name in the Indian fashion industry, Anamika Khanna first showcased at the Lakmé Fashion Week in 2004 and has been an integral part of the celebrated event ever since. Her signature lies in the ability to reinvent traditional fabrics and culturally rooted designs with modern sensibilities – an essence that shines throughout every collection she has presented in years.
Take last year, when her label AK|OK showcased a striking lineup that drew inspiration from the Bonda Tribe of Orissa. Amalgamating her unique design language with the tribe’s rich colour palette and motifs, the designer created a collection that is extravagant yet effortless. The collection breathed new life into classic staples like denim, jackets, and kaftans and reshaped them into statement pieces perfect for the modern cityscape.
Similarly, in 2021, she opened the prestigious fashion week with her collection Timeless the World, which paid homage to India’s rich heritage. The collection was a flawless mix of tradition and nostalgia, featuring a wide range of effortless styles to sartorial masterpieces. By uniting artists with luxurious textiles, she transformed fashion into true works of art.
While she opened the show in 2021, she brought the curtains down in 2018 with a spectacular finale. That year, her collection, Reinventing Nudes, focused on the country’s rich craftsmanship merging with global fashion aesthetics. Despite the collection spoke of nudes, Anamika Khanna incorporated stunning colours like red and black. The show-stopping moment, you ask? Kareena Kapoor Khan draped in a stunning black saree. From structured silhouettes to fluid elegance and muted nudes to bold hues, Anamika created a lineup that evoked a spectrum of emotions.
Marking another iconic finale in 2015, she closed the fashion week with Sculpt, a collection that redefined structured silhouettes with an artful deconstruction. Rooted in tradition yet crafted through the contemporary lens, the collection features intricate zardozi work reimagined according to the new-age narrative. With a diverse array of sarees, dhoti pants, and capes, the collection offered a refreshing take on modern Indian outfits that left a lasting presence at the prestigious event.
While those were a few of her past milestones, this year, she returns with Silver Collar. True to its name, this prêt lineup is curated for modern women who want to make an effortless statement. Known for reinventing classic outfits with traditional elements of India’s culture, we look forward to a seamless weave of her signature motifs and designs into her creations, ensuring each piece tells a story of heritage and innovation.
