New Delhi, 11th October, 2025: Design duo Pankaj & Nidhi presented “Araquis” presented Lakmē Fashion Week X FDCI– a collection that reimagines eveningwear through the lens of regal futurism and warrior elegance. The show unfolded like a vision from another world, a desert spanning empire where sovereigns are dressed in couture that fuses armor with grace and strength with sensuality.
The moment that defined the night came with Mrunal Thakur closing the show. She appeared in a sculpted golden bodice layered with metallic textures that shimmered like molten armor under light. The shoulders rose into a commanding architectural form, giving the look a celestial strength. Paired with a sleek black skirt and a high slit, the ensemble balanced restraint and power, beauty and authority.
Araquis is imagined as attire for a sovereign world. The palette draws from the landscape of a sun baked realm, rich earthen browns, smoked copper, burnished gold and flickers of silver and blue that catch the eye like mirages on sand. Surfaces are treated as terrain, layered with ripples, scales and metallic sheens that evoke desert winds and molten dunes. The silhouettes alternate between flowing gowns and structured jackets, fluid drapes and strong geometry, revealing both movement and might.
True to the design house’s language, the collection is a study in construction and craftsmanship. The garments are sculpted yet soft, intricate yet effortless. Metallic embellishments glint like sunlight on steel, while sharp tailoring gives form to fluid fabrics. There is a quiet sense of discipline in every cut and seam, as if each piece was forged rather than stitched.
“Araquis was born from the idea of resilience, of beauty that protects,” said Pankaj and Nidhi. “We wanted to imagine what power would look like when expressed through grace. The silhouettes are structured like armor, but within them lies fluidity, handwork and the human touch.”
With Araquis, Pankaj & Nidhi reaffirm their mastery of storytelling through surface and structure. The collection is both timeless and futuristic, rooted in craftsmanship yet soaring in imagination, a coronation of form, strength and modern femininity.
For press queries, please reach out to
Diksha Sharma, Publicist Apostrophe Communication 9818833556
Ananya Bajaj, Publicist Apostrophe Communication 9891339839
Also check:- Payal Jain brought exquisite Parisian fashion finery
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
For More updates on Fashion & Lifestyle Don’t forget to follow NBNewsNetwork
