The final day of Times Lifestyle Week 2026 witnessed a vibrant celebration of design, fashion, and craftsmanship. The event, titled Dalcore – Design is Alive Presents HMD Times Lifestyle Week 2026, was powered by the Indian Institute of Fashion & Design (IIFD) and Volvo Car India, with co-power from Ahaglow. Held at the Grand Hyatt in Gurgaon, the showcase featured an array of unique silhouettes, creative styling, and vibrant designs that set the trends for the upcoming season.
Chhavi by Anju Modi
Designer Anju Modi presented her collection Chhavi, drawing inspiration from the vibrant hues of Indian festivities. The collection reflected the essence and legacy of Indian couture through Modi’s signature design lens, featuring bridal couture pieces with distinctive dupatta draping styles. Modi explained, “Chhavi means the beauty of a woman, which is sundarta in Sanskrit and Hindi. It’s about shringaar and the heritage of our country with weaves, embroideries, and different crafts. I believe it deserves to be celebrated. The showstopper outfit is inspired by pichwai painting from Rajasthan, featuring the Nandi cow and the tree of life, symbolizing the continuation of life.”
Showstopper Zareen Khan, who wore a stunning cream embroidered lehenga, shared her excitement: “I’m feeling on top of the world. I’m so thankful to Anju Modi for choosing me to represent her collection. I’ve been a huge fan of her work, and she has designed for my favorite director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Right now, I feel straight out of his movie—like royalty!”
Sidharth Chowdhry, Managing Director of Dalcore Projects Pvt Ltd, commented, “It feels great to be at Times Lifestyle Week. In our project, design is the main focus, and since it’s equally important in fashion, this collaboration is about celebrating design and lifestyle.”
M3M Foundation x Jaipuri Banno
M3M Foundation brought back Dream Weaves 2.0, titled Ada-e-Hind, showcasing India’s rich heritage through traditional sarees, lehengas, and fusion pantsuits paired with jewelry and gajras. Designer Neetu Mahajan from Jaipur Banno, who mentors women from the M3M Foundation, said, “For this collection, we used hand embroidery from Lucknow and Patiala, along with hand-painted ajrakh prints. All the work is done by our artisans and took around three months to finish.”
Showstopper Neetu Chandra, who wore a handwoven Kanjivaram saree paired with temple jewelry, expressed her joy: “This is the perfect combination. I’ve done many South Indian movies, and I remember people wearing beautiful South Indian sarees. Today, I get to wear this, and it feels great. I’m proud to walk for a foundation at Times Lifestyle Week.”
Dr. Aishwarya Mahajan, Managing Trustee of M3M Foundation, added, “Times Lifestyle Week is always a pleasure because it’s open to innovative ideas. We wanted to promote our rural artisans, and Jaipuri Banno worked with their crafts across states. This collection, Ada-e-Hind, proudly promotes Indian handicrafts.”
Harsh Khullar
Designer Harsh Khullar presented his menswear collection Sukoon, moods of the Mughals, reimagining the regal era with a futuristic sci-fi approach. “All of us need to love ourselves and the Mughal in us. I played with cottons and velvet, blending fabrics for this collection. When sketching the showstopper piece, I thought of Sahil, so it’s made for him,” Khullar said.
Showstopper Sahil Salathia, who wore a Mughal hand-embroidered armor, shared, “I find this look very unique. It’s like armor but with intricate hand embroidery. It’s Mughals, but it has a modern touch for someone like me who likes Indian elements.”
Mehakk Jain
Designer Mehakk Jain’s collection was a playful ode to whimsical couture, bringing magic and whimsy to the red carpet. Showstopper Mahek Dhingra, channeling a fairy in cut dana and pearl embroidery, said, “The look is dreamy, whimsical, and in my favorite color pink! It feels like a dream to be in this piece.”
Jain shared her inspiration: “For this collection, I looked at Rococo art from 18th-century Europe and reinterpreted it with Indian craftsmanship, using satin fabric and metallic threads. I’m grateful to showcase my collection early in my career.”
Go Devil
Angel Arya’s summer collection for Go Devil brought street style with attitude, featuring bold colors, edgy designs, and a fearless attitude. “Our collection is vibrant and edgy, catering to both minimal and maximal aesthetics. It features bold colors and striking prints, keeping summer in mind. We work on unisex street style,” Arya said.
Vinish Arya, founder of Go Devil, added, “Vibrant colors define our summer collection. We used fabrics like cotton, mixed blends, and polyester. The palette includes neon shades along with reds, blues, and greens. This was our second consecutive time here, and the experience has been lovely.”
Showstopper Dinesh Mohan, who looked dapper in a bright oversized tee paired with cargos, commented, “I feel awesome in this look. The colors and prints are amazing. I’ve been associated with the brand for 5 to 7 years. Fearlessness defines me. We enjoyed ourselves on stage. Life is short—let’s enjoy it!”
House of Sikka
House of Sikka presented fluid silhouettes, graceful drapes, and hand-embroidered ensembles, celebrating understated luxury with subtle gold and silver tones. Showstopper Nidhi Shah, who wore a sequined red ensemble, said, “This outfit is probably heavier than my weight but so gorgeous. I feel like a princess! Fashion should be different yet comfortable.”
Designer Drishti Sikka noted, “Traditional looks use authentic Indian fabrics and embroidery, while Western ones are on net, organza, and sequins. They are very different, so I kept them separate. The showstopper piece features a range of reds in sequins, making it understated yet glamorous.”
IIFD – Indian Institute of Fashion and Design
IIFD graduates displayed talent beyond their years with a tribute to Mithila and Madhubani art forms in a traditional collection with contemporary silhouettes. Showstopper Ayush Sharma, who wore a sharp bandhgala, said, “I don’t usually enjoy Indian wear, but I have to compliment the students. I felt comfortable and had a great time walking and dancing to the music. IIFD gives aspiring designers opportunities to show their talent.”
Sharing a fashion tip, he added, “Keep it simple and comfortable. Fashion is about what makes you confident. Personally, I prefer black track pants and nice denim.”
Vimi Vansil, Director of IIFD, stated, “With the fusion of Mithila and Madhubani art, we created stylized costumes that present them in contemporary ways. India has a rich heritage, and we want to promote and celebrate these traditional art forms. I’m grateful to Times Lifestyle Week for giving this platform to our students.”
Archana Kochhar
Designer Archana Kochhar redefined elegance with sequined and embroidered gowns in pastel shades, deep blue, and green. Showstopper Nimrat Kaur dazzled in a white embellished gown named Evelyn. “I feel like a dream! The outfit brings out your beauty. This look is like walking out of a fairytale. Archana’s designs bring out femininity and spirit in Indian women,” Kaur said.
Kochhar shared her vision: “We showcased beautiful gowns. India is now global, and at weddings, we have gowns for sangeet or reception. The hand embroidery uses pearls and cut danas, with the showstopper piece appearing three-dimensional.”
Ankur Arora, President of Sales and Strategy at Indiabulls, said, “This collaboration blends perfectly with our brand vision. India is moving towards lifestyle and luxury, and we deliver projects suited for fashion, lifestyle, and luxury.”
About the Author: Sara Siddiqui writes about city, lifestyle, and culture. She is a Delhiite and can be found around books.
