The FDCI Hyundai India Couture Week 2026 saw a dreamy closing show last night in the form of Rahul Mishra’s presentation. This year, Rahul Mishra went for an immersive walkthrough experience as opposed to a traditional runway show. The presentation involved a showcase of his Paris Haute Couture Week collection, ‘Devi’, along with the unveiling of his new festive couture collection. This alternate route seems to be the flavour of the season, with Tarun Tahiliani also taking a similar approach this year.
As guests entered the room, they were greeted by the visual of models standing on different platforms. The garments intertwined two different narratives—on one hand, we saw avant-garde looks from the collection ‘Devi’, while the other set of looks were festive Indian looks.
While the haute couture looks were already seen before, this showcase allowed for a better understanding of the details and intricacies. The Indian ceremonial looks on the other hand, were a set of never-seen-before looks that included lehengas, sherwanis, and gowns with intricate surface ornamentation, and unmistakable Rahul Mishra ethos. As the guests were walking by, Rahul Mishra also took a moment to speak to them and take them through the inspiration and story behind the looks. Unlike a conventional runway show, this set up allowed the guests to look at the pieces up close, appreciate the craftsmanship, and take in all the details.
This was followed by a fusion dance performance by a troupe of classical dancers. As the performance ended, we saw a traditional runway show, with the same models who were previously stationed on the platforms, walking the ramp. After the line-up came to an end, Sobhita Dhulipala closed the show in not one, but two looks. First, she walked in wearing a dreamy, intricate catsuit, which was an extension of the ‘Devi’ collection. For the second look, she added a layer of skirt over the catsuit, referencing the Indian occasionwear.