After the success of the Bombay Times Fashion Week held earlier last month, the Times Fashion Week 2024 is finally upon us. Taking place at the Grand Hyatt Gurugram on May 18 and 19, 2024, it's time to witness the magic unfold with unique looks and seamless styles.
Making their debut on the Times Fashion Week runway this year is a young brand Tanaksh. The brand aims to bridge the gap between dream outfits and reality by introducing its debut collection, Zaria. This collection celebrates India's sartorial legacy while incorporating a modern ethnic flair. Zaria pays homage to India's rich heritage with its exquisite designs and modern silhouettes. "Our collection Zaria is inspired by the regal opulence of Indian Heritage. We wanted to pay tribute to our tradition and women artisans while giving it today’s modern interpretation of Indian fashion," shared Nilesh Mahajan, Founder and Designer at Tanaksh.
The collection features a variety of colour palettes and silhouettes, showcasing fabrics like velvet, silk, and net. Each garment is a labour of love, depicting timeless elegance. From intricately embroidered lehengas to diaphanous sarees adorned with royal hues. Zaria celebrates the modern renaissance of Indian heritage, highlighting royal elegance with artisanal brilliance. Speaking about the brand's signature aesthetic drapes, Mahajan accurately stated, "Drapes can never go out of style." In this collection, he employs dynamic techniques, exaggerated drapes, and unconventional cuts to reinvent drapes."Our foundation will always be deeply connected to traditional Indian heritage, crafts, and textiles. Each new collection allows us to express our designs from a modern perspective while staying true to our artistic roots," he explains.
At Tanaksh, blending Indian and Western influences seamlessly is a core aesthetic. "For our bridal and semi-bridal collections, we draw from tradition, incorporating aari-dori, chikankari, and gota, along with various handwork techniques like resham and zardozi, which engage over 3000 women artisans across India." However, the Western influence is evident as these traditional crafts are seamlessly integrated with contemporary silhouettes, offering a fresh take on classic designs.
When asked about a piece from the collection that is closest to his heart, Mahajan shed light on the showstopper bridal lehenga. "Every ensemble is special to us, but our showstopper bridal lehenga with geometrical patterns, ornaments, dabka-nakshi, and aari-dori in a fluorescent colour palette is a true artistic brilliance." Keeping brides in focus, Mahajan believes that muted tones are here to stay, but brides will also move towards an eclectic mix of colours, and silhouettes will include architectural shapes and sculptural forms, through the use of innovative techniques.
Ahead of the Tanaksh debut show at Times Fashion Week on May 18, the designer believes it is a stepping stone for greater things in the future.
