Couture caresses the capital at the India Couture Week 2022 presented by FDCI (Fashion Design Council of India)in association with Lotus Make-up in Delhi. Haunting music set the tone for the inaugural show at the Taj Palace. It was time for Tarun Tahiliani to present his couture/bespoke collection called The Painterly Dream. Pastel panache was what it was with the models gliding across the floor in happy hues of pastels.

Targeted at global Indians who care for the comfort, fit, motion and ease of the garments, this collection is the celebrated couturier’s expression of creating something timeless in sensibility, global in appeal and rooted in craft. Besides pastels, you had earthy tones of age-old patterns and also a golden glow that spelt glam.

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Multicoloured lehengas, long jackets over lehengas, red sindoori saris, well-tailored menswear with the traditional magic of drapes was what was on view. It was a picture of fit and finesse. Exquisite embroidery techniques form the strong craft pillars for this collection.

It is said that the stillness of the pandemic gave Tarun Tahiliani and the studio time to revisit what they do and think about how to technically, movement wise and flow wise, make it experiential rather than just dazzling discomfort.

They firmly believe that a thing of beauty is a joy forever, and creating exquisite clothes that feel like skin are part of sustainable fashion because then one will wear them again and again, value them, and pass them on.

Incidentally, India Couture Week 2022 will last more than a week (July 22 to 31). But then nobody is complaining!