HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Dec 27: The Blenders Pride Fashion Tour concluded this year’s edition in Kolkata with a visually striking showcase that sought to reimagine Indian craftsmanship through a contemporary lens.
Set against the iconic Howrah Bridge, the finale transformed the Hooghly River into an unconventional runway, marking what organisers described as a decisive step towards fashion’s next phase.
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The closing showcase featured an experimental collection by designer Anamika Khanna under her label AK | OK, with actor Ishaan Khatter as the showstopper.
The collection moved beyond conventional design boundaries, deconstructing traditional Indian crafts such as zardozi, chikankari and mirror work, and reassembling them through futuristic silhouettes, metallic detailing and cosmic-inspired graphics.
Presented in collaboration with the Fashion Design Council of India, the Kolkata edition challenged the idea of craftsmanship as a static tradition, instead positioning it as an evolving and adaptive force.
The show unfolded on a barge anchored midstream on the Hooghly, turning the river into a floating theatre of fashion.
The presentation opened with divers emerging onto the barge, followed by a dramatic interplay of light, smoke and sound as models appeared from within the structure to a high-energy score.
The narrative built towards a series of bold chainmail ensembles presented as a collective statement, followed by sculptural silhouettes in motion.
The finale reached its peak with Khatter’s arrival by speedboat, culminating in a unified closing moment framed by the illuminated Howrah Bridge.
Guests were hosted aboard The Bengal Paddle vessel before being ferried to the barge.
Its museum-like interiors and the Riverine Museum housed in its former boiler room, showcasing marine artefacts and installations tracing the Hooghly’s legacy, added a cultural dimension to the evening.
Debasree Dasgupta, Chief Marketing Officer, Pernod Ricard India, said the Kolkata finale captured the transformative spirit of the tour, noting that Future Is Crafted reflected the convergence of heritage and innovation.
Anamika Khanna said the collaboration offered a platform to reinterpret Indian craftsmanship for the modern world, while Ishaan Khatter described the experience as being part of a moment where fashion was actively shaped rather than merely presented.
Sunil Sethi, Chairman of FDCI, said the collaboration brought together two influential forces in Indian fashion, with the Kolkata edition celebrating creativity and culture while setting the tone for what lies ahead.
