The collection explored botanicals, memory and denim as a living canvas through sustainable and
advanced R|Elan™ performance fabrics
Mumbai, 20 March 2026: Reliance Industries Limited’s R|Elan™, a next-generation fabric brand built
on innovation, sustainability, circularity and performance, presented designer Payal Pratap’s latest
collection, ‘Memories Pressed in Time’ at Lakmē Fashion Week x FDCI 2026. The showcase brought
together advanced textile technologies and contemporary design to demonstrate how sustainable materials can inspire artistic storytelling on the runway.
Developed using R|Elan™’s advanced fibre and fabric technologies, the collection highlighted how
Responsible materials can translate into distinctive fashion aesthetics, enabling designers to create
garments that combine comfort, durability, sustainability and design excellence.
Rooted in personal memory and nature, Memories Pressed in Time reflects designer Payal Pratap’s
childhood experiences surrounded by plants, gardens and changing seasons. Botanical forms drawn from leaves and foliage become the foundation of the collection’s visual language, appearing as prints, textures and surface details across denim silhouettes.
Payal Pratap, the eponymous label of designer Payal Pratap Singh, has long explored the relationship
between nature, craft and textile storytelling. For this collection, the designer turns to her childhood
memories, particularly those shaped by her mother’s gardens and a life surrounded by plants, foliage and seasonal change. These experiences form the emotional foundation of the collection, where botanical forms translate into prints, textures and surface details.
Speaking about the collection, Payal Pratap mentioned, “My growing years were surrounded by my
green fingered mother and her myriad gardens. Those times are like fossils of my past bringing me
warmth with each reminiscence. This collection reflects the quiet poetry of botanicals and the subtle life
of flora and fauna. The prints you see in the collection are derived from actual leaves and foliage from my
garden. Art works were created using these ferns and palms and then printed digitally as well as via laser
on the denims.”
Mr. Hemant D. Sharma, President – Polyester, Reliance Industries Limited, said: “At Reliance, our core values are rooted in sustainability, innovation, circularity and creating meaningful impact through
advanced technologies and research. R|Elan™ embodies this vision by bringing together cutting-edge
fibre science, responsible manufacturing and performance-driven design to enable the future of
sustainable fashion. It is inspiring to see designers like Payal Pratap transform these advanced materials
into aesthetically striking and thoughtfully crafted ensembles. Her collection beautifully demonstrates
how R|Elan™ fabrics can translate sustainability into contemporary design, where innovation, nature
and craftsmanship come together to create garments that are both visually compelling and
environmentally responsible.”
Denim forms the central material of the collection, approached as a fabric that evolves over time and
carries memory through texture and wear. In this narrative, denim becomes a living canvas, capturing
impressions of nature while reflecting the passage of time.
The R|Elan™ x Payal Pratap collection draws visual cues from botanicals and the subtle life of flora
and fauna. Leaves, wild stems and floral forms appear pressed into indigo surfaces, echoing delicate
records of nature captured over time. Cyanotype-inspired prints create silhouettes reminiscent of botanical studies, while tonal embroidery, patchwork and washed finishes evoke landscapes shaped by weather, touch and everyday life.
Silhouettes lean towards relaxed, oversized denim forms that feel both grounded and intimate. Jackets,
skirts, gilets and dresses feature bold foliage prints and layered textures, designed with movement and
everyday wear in mind. Texture is further developed through appliqué pleats, quilting and distressed
washes that give the garments a lived-in quality.
Nature’s imprint runs through the entire collection, with elements appearing almost fossilised into the
denim surface. With every wash and wear, the fabric evolves — echoing the designer’s reflection on
memory itself, where something is always lost and something gained with time.
In line with the runway collection’s focus on sustainability and fabric innovation, the show’s standout
feature was its striking ramp design. Crafted using recycled PET bottles and repurposed denim scraps, the runway’s centerpiece took the form of a dramatic canopy made entirely of reused textiles. Beneath it,
models sashayed gracefully, bringing the thoughtfully designed collection to life.
The R|Elan™ x Payal Pratap showcase at Lakmē Fashion Week x FDCI continued to highlight the
role of sustainable materials and thoughtful design in contemporary fashion. Rooted in craft and guided
by nature, the collection presented denim not just as a fabric, but as a living surface that deepens with
every story it carries.
