Students from Pearl Academy will showcase their collections at Lakmé Fashion Week 2025, in partnership with FDCI on 12th October, 12 PM at The Grand, Vasant Kunj. Over time, the institution has established itself as a key voice on the country’s premier fashion platform, consistently bringing cutting-edge fashion innovations and disruptive ideas to the runway.
This season, Pearl students have taken two humble Indian textiles—jute and khadi—and completely reimagined them. Once hailed as the “golden thread of Bengal,” jute has long been associated with coarse, utilitarian uses, while khadi’s fragile yarn and the traditional 5.5-feet saree format have made it both symbolic and technically demanding. Known historically for their utility and cultural weight, these fabrics have now been reinterpreted through experimental processes that soften, reshape, and reframe their possibilities for today. Through a collaboration with designer Jeetinder Sandhu, khadi will venture into an unexpected form, showing how even the most traditional textiles can find new relevance in contemporary fashion. At a time when fashion is re-examining its relationship with materials, waste, and longevity, the choice to spotlight jute and khadi feels particularly relevant. Both textiles are deeply tied to India’s history and identity, yet are being reintroduced in a global language that speaks to conscious consumption and contemporary aesthetics.
While much of the showcase remains under wraps, the presentation unfolds through three acts — Revisit, Reform, and Reinvent — each exploring a new dimension of India’s material legacy.
Revisit looks to the past through a contemporary lens, reinterpreting traditional crafts and techniques for a modern audience
Reform sets the stage for activism — drawing on khadi’s history as a symbol of protest, now reframed to address today’s urgencies such as climate change and global injustice. Here, fashion becomes a medium of silent resistance and collective conscience
Reinvent brings renewal — giving jute and khadi new life through fresh silhouettes, refined textures, and experimental design
In this trilogy of transformation, Pearl Academy students show how heritage materials can evolve from relics of the past into catalysts for dialogue and change — reaffirming fashion’s power to question, provoke, and inspire.
Pearl Academy’s continued presence at Lakmé Fashion Week reinforces its role as a launchpad for the next generation of designers, creators who innovate responsibly, respect heritage, and carry bold Indian perspectives onto the global stage.
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Ms. Soumya Vajpayee, Senior Entertainment & Lifestyle Journalist |
