Fashion rarely pauses a city in its tracks, but the finale of the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour did just that. Against the monumental silhouette of the Howrah Bridge, Kolkata’s Hooghly River transformed
into a living, breathing runway where fashion, performance and cultural history converged.
In collaboration with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), designer Anamika Khanna’s AK|OK presented a collection that challenged how Indian craftsmanship is traditionally perceived. Rather than treating heritage techniques as sacred artefacts, the collection dismantled them. Zardozi, chikankari and mirror work were broken down and reassembled through futuristic tailoring, metallic textures and cosmic-inspired graphics.
The result was a powerful dialogue between past and future, where craft was no longer static but fluid, reactive and charged with modern intent. Sculptural silhouettes, sharp constructions and chainmail elements emerged as statements of strength and reinvention.
Ishaan Khatter’s Commanding Showstopper Moment
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Ishaan Khatter turned showstopper for AK|OK. Making a striking entrance in a speedboat, the actor emerged as the embodiment of the collection’s experimental spirit. Dressed in a sheer, draped white long-sleeve t-shirt paired with sharp black trousers, Ishaan’s look was elevated with long metallic chains and a gleaming metal belt that echoed the collection’s industrial undertones.
Designer Anamika Khanna shared, “Together with Blenders Pride Fashion Tour, I was delighted to showcase how Indian craftsmanship can be deconstructed and reimagined for the modern world. Witnessing the audience embrace this bold reinterpretation of heritage was truly exhilarating.”
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Ishaan echoed the sentiment, saying, “Being part of Blenders Pride Fashion Tour felt completely in sync with my own instinct to experiment and move beyond the expected. Watching craftsmanship break out of its traditional mould and take on a sharper, more expressive form made the experience incredibly exciting. Set against such an iconic backdrop, it felt like being part of a moment where fashion wasn’t just shown, but actively shaped.”
The show unfolded on a barge anchored mid-river, converting it into a dramatic floating stage. Divers emerged from the water as scaffolding structures ignited with light, smoke and sound. Models appeared from within the framework to a pulsating score, while responsive lasers shifted with every step, heightening the sense of movement and tension.
The narrative built steadily, peaking with unified chainmail looks before transitioning into sculptural ensembles in motion – each piece reinforcing the idea of craft as something alive and evolving.
