Masaba Gupta debuts bridal collection at India Couture Week 2026, JJ Valaya unveils Autumn/Winter showcase
New Delhi, July 26
Continuing its celebration of Indian craftsmanship, the second day of India Couture Week 2026 saw designers Masaba Gupta and JJ Valaya present their own, distinct visions of Indian couture.
While both collections drew inspiration from traditional aesthetics, the designers stayed true to their signature design languages.
Marking a significant milestone in her design journey, Masaba Gupta presented her first-ever bridal couture collection - 'Chardi Kala', bringing her bold prints and unconventional sensibilities into the world of wedding fashion.
"The journey begins in the sacred landscapes of India before drifting into the blue-green waters of Antigua and the vibrant tropics of the Caribbean. Bridal seamlessly transforms into resort bridal," states the official description of Masaba's bridal collection.
For Masaba, models took to the runway in an array of traditional ensembles, dressed in stunning full-flared lehengas, intricately embroidered dupattas, metallic zari work, shimmering sequins, and meticulous handcrafted embellishment. It was combined with modern couture touches like structured layering, different draping and styling.
On the other hand, celebrated fashion designer JJ Valaya unveiled his Autumn/Winter 2026 collection 'SIDDI', translating his vision into bridal couture, occasion wear, menswear, and more.
Taking to the runway, the showcase featured the likes of intricately crafted lehengas, contemporary saris, fluid anarkalis, regal sherwanis and impeccably tailored bandhgalas. They were adorned in a palette of antique gold, ivory, noir, champagne, deep jewel tones and rich earth hues.
Speaking on his collection, Valaya, in a statement, shared, "SIDDI began with the idea of a journey, one that crossed oceans, geographies and centuries, eventually creating an identity entirely its own. I was fascinated by the Siddis of India and by this extraordinary confluence of African origins with the many cultural influences absorbed over generations on the Indian subcontinent."
The ongoing 19th edition of FDCI's Hyundai India Couture Week 2026 is being held at the Taj Palace in New Delhi.
— ANI
Reader Comments
JJ Valaya's concept of including Siddi heritage is truly commendable. As an Indian, it's heartening to see our couture scene acknowledging the diverse cultural stories within our own soil. The textile traditions of Siddi communities need more recognition!
Totally loving this direction for Indian fashion! But can we have a moment for the actual craftspeople behind these collections? Hope these designers are giving fair credit and wages to the karigars who actually weave these masterpieces. 💪🏻
As a bride-to-be, I'm so excited! Masaba's 'Chardi Kala' sounds perfect for a modern Punjabi wedding. Finally someone understanding that bridal doesn't have to be all red and gold. Sequin work with structuring? Yes please! 💫
Impressive how India Couture Week keeps pushing boundaries while preserving tradition. The contrast between Masaba's bold contemporary approach and Valaya's regal heritage focus shows the incredible diversity of Indian luxury fashion. Need to see these collections in person!
Good to see Indian couture getting global recognition. But honestly, these collections look like they're only for the super-rich. The prices will be sky-high, and regular folks like us can only admire from afar. Wish there were more accessible versions. Just saying.
S We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.