JJ Valaya Closes India Couture Week 2025 With A Majestic Ode To The East
JJ Valaya's grand finale at India Couture Week 2025 was a regal tribute to the East, blending heritage, mystique, and modern craftsmanship to celebrate his 33-year legacy.
Hyundai India Couture Week 2025 concluded on a high note in New Delhi on July 30, with master couturier JJ Valaya presenting a grand finale that was equal parts theatrical, nostalgic, and deeply rooted in craftsmanship. Celebrating an illustrious 33 years in fashion, Valaya's closing showcase, aptly titled 'East," brought down the curtain on this year's edition with regal flair and reflective grandeur.
Unfolding like a rich cultural tapestry, the 60-piece collection drew inspiration from the layered aesthetics of Eastern India, as well as the romanticised lens through which the West once viewed the East including the mysticism of India, the Balkans, and the Far East. The result was an opulent interplay of silks, velvets, brocades, and organzas, executed in Valaya's signature maximalist style, baroque, intricate, and steeped in storytelling.
The show opened with theatrical finesse, as monks glided down the ramp in a scene that evoked spiritual stillness and timeless tradition. Anchored by Rajiv Makhni's lighthearted monologue, the evening maintained an engaging rhythm, seamlessly blending the classical with the contemporary. Midway through, a spellbinding Kathak performance added a poetic interlude to the runway, elevating the couture showcase to an immersive cultural experience.
Valaya's set design matched the drama of his garments, grand terracotta elephants stood sentinel over the runway, evoking temple architecture and the opulence of royal courts.
The casting was as compelling as the clothes. Among those who walked were Indian cricketer Abhishek Sharma, and actors Rahul Dev and Mugdha Godse, who brought a starry energy to the show. But the finale belonged to Rasha Thadani and Ibrahim Ali Khan, who closed the event with youthful poise and royal allure.
Rasha Thadani wore a midnight black lehenga choli intricately embroidered with traditional motifs, featuring a pronounced border and a draped dupatta with subtle striped accents. Her look was styled with minimal yet striking jewellery, a diamond bracelet and rings that added just the right sparkle.
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Ibrahim Ali Khan complemented the regal aesthetic in a structured black sherwani with a high collar and front placket, worn over a relaxed patiala-style salwar. The tonal styling underscored his stately presence while nodding to traditional silhouettes with a modern edge.
More than a finale, JJ Valaya's 'East" was a deeply personal tribute to three decades of artistry. It reaffirmed his place not just as a couturier, but as a cultural archivist, someone who continues to mine the past with imagination and finesse, and reinterprets it for the present with relevance and reverence.
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July 31, 2025, 17:17 IST
News lifestyle JJ Valaya Closes India Couture Week 2025 With A Majestic Ode To The East
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