New Delhi, 12th October, 2025:: Celebrating a decade of fostering creativity and innovation in Indian fashion, the tenth edition of “NEXA Presents The Spotlight” took centre stage at Lakmē Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI. In honour of its 10th anniversary, this milestone edition saw a special showcase by three past winners – SWGT, TIL, and Naushad Ali – who returned to the runway with their latest collections.
Each season, “NEXA Presents The Spotlight” serves as a dynamic platform designed to spotlight the country’s most promising design talent. Since its inception, the initiative has been instrumental in launching the careers of some of India’s most innovative and forward-thinking designers.
With a shared vision of pushing creative boundaries, NEXA’s continued partnership with Lakmē Fashion Week reflects its commitment to championing originality, expression, and excellence in design
NAUSHAD ALI – CONTINUUM
Designer Naushad Ali from Puducherry, made the city famous with his eponymous label, which was started in 2015. A graduate of the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Chennai, Naushad Ali has always designed collections with heritage fabrics and paid intense attention to detailing and traditional techniques.
Naushad Ali’s latest collection “Continuum” is aimed at projecting clothing in motion. His design sensibilities ensured that the garments are exchanged, transformed and reinterpreted on bodies. “Continuum” means a continuous series of things, which are slightly different from the other, but in the end the last is totally different from the first. This definition was the inspiration of Naushad’s line that he unveiled on the runway.
Naushad’s look began with a restrained order that moved fluidly on the ramp. Coats were draped over shoulders and shirts appeared gradually on the runway, while a scarf shifted in perfect fashion harmony.
The “Continuum” collection was all about a different dialogue for each piece that adorned the models. Here was a look that made a strong statement that fashion is a very personal aspect in life with an individual act of expression, which is far removed from a uniform story.
Naushad closed the show with his diverse fashion narratives, as they arrived in unison to suit the layered and sculpted forms desired by the individual buyers.
Naushad Ali’s message with his “Continuum” collection was – clothes have to last as heritage pieces and as stories for the future, and not just as trends for the present moment.
TIL BY ANKUR VERMA – BREATHE
The TIL label, started in 2022 by Ankur Verma, a graduate of the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kolkata has always maintained a great balance between crafts and inspirations.
The designer’s collection, “Breathe” at Lakmē Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI, brought a sense of freshness and calm on the ramp. The gentle hues on the ramp, featured white and blue that stayed true to the inspiration of the collection on centre stage. Patchwork and kantha stitch created a great tactile visual on the handspun cotton, cotton silk and organza that were chosen for their ethereal lightness. Layering was expertly executed, while transparency added a fashionable depth to the artisanal narrative.
The silhouettes were easy on the eyes and spelt comfort all the way. Overlays, jackets and versatile separates were options to choose from. Ankur Verma’s experiments with building a textile Dollhouse on the ramp was the highlight of the “Breathe” collection. Crafted completely from waste and upcycled materials, the dollhouse featured all the necessary accrements needed in a house, bedroom corners, kitchenware, dining tables, lamps, curtains and cushions, items that would bring immense joy for the inner child in every person.
The “Breathe” collection by Ankur Verma for his Label TIL, was like a breath of fresh air and an invitation to relax, slow down and stay calm, among the chaos and to embrace the beauty of life.
SWGT BY SHWETA GUPTA – LOOK CLOSER
Shweta Gupta’s brand SWGT started in 2018 has always been inspired by nature and its beauty. For Shweta her label SWGT, which stands for “seeker, wanderer, gatherer and thinker” speaks a language she is passionate about.
Her Spring/Summer 2026 collection “Look Closer” unveiled at Lakmē Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI, was an intense study in precision that reflected quiet devotion and patience.
The beauty of the detailing was the eye-catching element for the buyers to observe. The delicate pintucks and the perfect pleating were crafted on handwoven mulberry silk and soft cotton from West Bengal. For a gentler addition, there was Chanderi from Madhya Pradesh that was ideal for the fluid, architectural, structured forms. The weightless silks and cottons were ideal for the coming season.
The colour story flowed seamlessly from ivory, pale yellow and tender green, to washed sky and indigo blue. Faded red and neutral black and white, formed the basis of the colour palette and made a contrasting splash on the ensembles.
The silhouettes told a fluid, defined story with long coats, wrapped voluminous bomber jackets and shift dresses that were fluid and airy. The shirts were edged with delicate frills, while expertly crafted pintucks and handmade crochet buttons completed the fashion offering. The attention grabby appliqués, hand made by the women artisans in Uttar Pradesh, ensured that the detailing tale related a discreet ornamental story.
“Look Closer is a reflection on patience and presence. It is an invitation to slow down and notice what is often unseen. The collection celebrates the human hand in the way we weave, pleat, and stitch. Every piece carries time, touch, and quiet devotion – a reminder that beauty lives in attention,” said Shweta Gupta, Founder and Designer, SWGT
The “Look Closer” collection created by Shweta Gupta for her label SWGT was designed and crafted for the jet setting global women, who desire a subtle simplicity along with power dressing as they travel around the world, displaying Indian fashion that speaks an individual design story.
Made Slowly.
Seen Slowly.
SWGT
The closer you look, the more human it becomes.
Also check:- Ravi Bajaj and Suneet Varma created a fashionable impact with their distinct collections
About House of Lakmē :
The House of Lakmē, is India’s no.1 colour cosmetics and leading premium skincare brand from Hindustan Unilever Ltd. The brand has been the pioneer of the make-up and colour cosmetics in India since 1952 with 1000+ SKUs that push the trendsetting envelope of beauty and fashion. Combining international cosmetic technology with an in-depth understanding of the Indian consumer’s needs, the House of Lakmē offers a comprehensive beauty experience through its extensive product portfolio, for fashionistas to embrace beauty unapologetically. For further information, log on to: www.Lakmē india.com
About Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI):
A non-profit organisation, the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), is the apex body of fashion design in India, represented by over 400 members. Founded on the premise of promoting, nurturing, and representing the best of fashion and design talent in the country; its prime objective is to propagate the business of fashion. FDCI stays true to its commitment to promote the ‘Make in India’ label as handlooms take centre stage, in a country, whose heritage is soaked in the flavours of indigenous crafts. For more information, please visit: www.fdci.org
About Reliance Brands:
Reliance Brands Limited (RBL) is a subsidiary of Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd and began operations in 2007 with a mandate to launch and build global brands in luxury to premium segments across fashion and lifestyle. Its current portfolio of brand partnerships comprises Armani Exchange, Armani Caffe, Balenciaga, Bally, Bottega Veneta, Brooks Brothers, Burberry, Canali, Coach, Diesel, Dune, EA7, Elan Cafe, Emporio Armani, Gas, Giorgio Armani, Hamleys, Hugo Boss, Hunkemoller, Iconix, Jimmy Choo, Kate Spade, La Martina, Lenscrafters, Manish Malhotra, Michael Kors, Mothercare, Muji, Paul & Shark, Paul Smith, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pret A Manger, Raghavendra Rathore, Salvatore Ferragamo, Satya Paul, Steve Madden, Superdry, Scotch & Soda, Tiffany & Co., Tod’s, Tory Burch, Tumi, Valentino, Versace, Villeroy & Boch, West Elm, Zegna. RBL today operates 1,621 doors split into 934 stores and 687 shop-in-shops in India. In the past five years, RBL has also invested in building and operating homegrown designer brands besides acquiring the iconic British toy retailer Hamleys. Globally, Hamleys has 191 stores across 14 countries.
For more information, please visit: https://relianceretail.com/partner-brands.html
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