21-05-2025
Devangi Nishar Parekh's Cannes Conversations Honoured Craft, Couture and Cinema
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Devangi Nishar Parekh, MD of Aza Fashions talks about representing Indian fashion at the 78th Cannes Film Festival.
Craft, Couture & Cinema took centre stage in Devangi Nishar Parekh Cannes journey.
Celebrating Indian craftsmanship at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, Devangi Nishar Parekh, Managing Director, Aza Fashions and founder of Araiya by Aza, was on the Voices of Influence: Craft, Creativity and Cultural Presence panel at the Bharat Pavilion.
Marking her Cannes debut with the best in Indian fashion – Tarun Tahiliani, Anamika Khanna, Rimzim Dadu, Nupur Kanoi, Gauri & Nainika and Richa Khemka, Devangi's fashion narrative spoke a modern India story that was confident, culturally rooted, and globally admired.
Sharing her experience with News18, Devangi spoke about representing Indian fashion, speaking at the Bharat Pavilion and why the Cannes red carpet new dress code guideline made sense.
Describe your first-ever experience of the 78th Festival de Cannes through fashion.
Representing Indian fashion at such a globally influential platform as the Cannes Film Festival was an incredible honour. Cannes is a celebration of creativity – a confluence of cultures, a vibrant exchange of ideas, and a meeting point for brilliant minds from around the world. Being there was a chance to showcase the amalgamation of rich craftsmanship and contemporary aesthetics that defines modern Indian fashion. I enjoyed engaging with people from diverse backgrounds, sharing stories, and seeing how Indian fashion resonates with a global audience. The conversations were about storytelling – how each piece, handcrafted with love and precision, reflects modern India's evolving identity.
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Take us through your vision of shaping India's global identity through fashion at Cannes 2025.
Indian fashion has a rich history with beautiful craftsmanship; at the same time, it is forward-thinking and globally relevant. At Cannes, I wanted to present a narrative that speaks to the modern India story — one that is confident, culturally rooted, and globally admired. The designers and looks I selected – Anamika Khanna, Tarun Tahiliani, Rimzim Dadu, Nupur Kanoi, Gauri and Nainika and Richa Khemka all speak to this.
Representing India fashion with Indian designers: Why did you pick these looks for the Cannes Film Festival?
Each of my outfits was carefully created in collaboration with the designers, focusing on handcrafted detailing and thoughtful narratives. The Tarun Tahiliani concept saree was another modern interpretation of India's timeless drape – structured yet soft, and rooted in tradition. Another piece I loved was the quilted jacket and hand-embroidered skirt set by Richa Khemka, which had a symbolic meaning behind it: that even the tiniest fragments of art – like individual tiles – can come together to create a beautiful whole.
Sustainability is also at the heart of my vision, and it was important to me that the jewellery I wore represented my philosophy of innovation and ethical practices. Wearing jewellery from Araiya by Aza at Cannes was not just about fashion but about telling the story of a forward-looking, responsible, and proud India, which is going to play a pivotal role in the growth of the global lab-grown diamond industry going forward.
Memories of the 78th Cannes Film Festival that will always hold a special place in your journey?
Speaking at the Bharat Pavilion – a space dedicated to celebrating India's cultural and creative influence – and sharing my vision and journey on a panel of Indian women shaping a global narrative, will always hold a special place in my heart. For this, I wore an archival Anamika Khanna creation, a powerful tribute to India's artisanal heritage. The meticulously tailored jacket weaves together Kathiawari stitches, Ahmedabad's jali and haveli motifs, Ajrakh-inspired patterns from Kutch, Bengal's kantha, Punjab's phulkari, and the flowing grace of chanderi weaves from Madhya Pradesh – a living archive of pan-Indian craftsmanship, reimagined with contemporary elegance. This stunning jacket was paired with embroidered brocade pants, another rich legacy craft.
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Do you feel fashion should be restricted, and were the Cannes dress code rules justified?
I believe that maintaining ease of movement for all guests is important at an event of this scale, and from a practical perspective, the guidelines do make sense given the vast number of individuals attending the festival.
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tags :
cannes film festival
Location :
New Delhi, India, India
First Published:
May 21, 2025, 16:24 IST
News lifestyle Devangi Nishar Parekh's Cannes Conversations Honoured Craft, Couture and Cinema
