India, 7th October 2025: Students from Pearl Academy, India’s leading institution for creative education will showcase their collections at Lakmē Fashion Week 2025, in partnership with FDCI, on 12th October, 12 PM at The Grand, Vasant Kunj. Over time, the institution has established itself as a key voice on the country’s premier fashion platform, consistently bringing cutting-edge fashion innovations and disruptive ideas to the runway.
This season, Pearl students have taken two humble Indian textiles—jute and khadi—and completely reimagined them. Once hailed as the “golden thread of Bengal,” jute was traditionally a coarse, high-volume material used for utility goods. Students stripped the fabric back to its DNA, reworking its weave and finish to transform it from rough to luxuriously soft—almost wool-like to the touch. By refining the fibre and using less material, they’ve turned an everyday utility textile into a high-value fabric, reviving commercial potential for jute-producing regions.
Khadi, on the other hand, demanded precision. Its fragile yarn and the traditional 5.5-feet saree formatleaves room for error — one broken thread could mean starting all over again. To reimagine this challenge, Pearl students collaborated with designer Jeetinder Sandhu to transform khadi into an unexpected form: the sneaker.
By translating handspun fabric into trainer-style shoes inspired by global icons like Converse and Vans, the project set out to create an Indian original — a khadi sneaker that could one day become as iconic as its Western counterparts. The smaller canvas demanded exacting skill in weaving and finishing, while the process itself minimised waste and pushed artisans toward new levels of craftsmanship.
Together, these explorations go beyond nostalgia. They represent a radical reinvention—a material-led experiment that elevates artisanal craft, increases economic value, and proves how design thinking can transform traditional textiles into generation-forward fashion.At a time when fashion is re-examining its relationship with materials, waste, and longevity, the choice to spotlight jute and khadi feels particularly relevant. Both textiles are deeply tied to India’s history and identity, yet are being reintroduced in a global language that speaks to conscious consumption and contemporary aesthetics.
While much of the showcase remains under wraps, the presentation unfolds through three acts — Revisit, Reform, and Reinvent — each exploring a new dimension of India’s material legacy.
- Revisit looks to the past through a contemporary lens, reinterpreting traditional crafts and techniques for a modern audience.
- Reform sets the stage for activism — drawing on khadi’s history as a symbol of protest, now reframed to address today’s urgencies such as climate change and global injustice. Here, fashion becomes a medium of silent resistance and collective conscience.
- Reinvent brings renewal — giving jute and khadi new life through fresh silhouettes, refined textures, and experimental design.
In this trilogy of transformation, Pearl Academy students show how heritage materials can evolve from relics of the past into catalysts for dialogue and change — reaffirming fashion’s power to question, provoke, and inspire.
Pearl Academy’s continued presence at Lakmē Fashion Week reinforces its role as a launchpad for the next generation of designers, creators who innovate responsibly, respect heritage, and carry bold Indian perspectives onto the global stage.
About House of Lakmē :
The House of Lakmē, is India’s no.1 colour cosmetics and leading premium skincare brand from Hindustan Unilever Ltd. The brand has been the pioneer of the make-up and colour cosmetics in India since 1952 with 1000+ SKUs that push the trendsetting envelope of beauty and fashion. Combining international cosmetic technology with an in-depth understanding of the Indian consumer’s needs, the House of Lakmē offers a comprehensive beauty experience through its extensive product portfolio, for fashionistas to embrace beauty unapologetically. For further information, log on to: www.Lakmē india.com
About Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI):
A non-profit organisation, the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), is the apex body of fashion design in India, represented by over 400 members. Founded on the premise of promoting, nurturing, and representing the best of fashion and design talent in the country; its prime objective is to propagate the business of fashion. FDCI stays true to its commitment to promote the ‘Make in India’ label as handlooms take centre stage, in a country, whose heritage is soaked in the flavours of indigenous crafts. For more information, please visit: www.fdci.org
About Pearl Academy:
Pearl Academy, a unit of the Creative Arts Education Society (CAES), is India’s leading creative education institution. Established in 1993, the institution offers a diverse range of Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes, including B.Des/M.Des., BBA/MBA and short-term certificate courses across disciplines such as Fashion Design, Communication Design, Product Design, Interior Design, Textile Design, Fashion Communication, Fashion Styling, Global Luxury Brand Management, Fashion and Lifestyle Business Management, Advertising and Brand Management,Media and Entertainment Management, Gen AI for Business and more.
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With campuses in Delhi-South, Delhi-West, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Jaipur, Pearl Academy provides world-class education backed by its affiliation with the Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD), a Government of India Institution of National Importance on par with prestigious institutions such as IITs, IIMs, NIDs, and AIIMS. This partnership ensures that effective 2024 intake, all students will receive accredited degrees recognised by the Government of India.
With a legacy of 32 years, Pearl Academy has evolved into a globally renowned institution of higher learning, placing a strong focus on global exposure, entrepreneurship, technological expertise, and life skills. The institution has been a catalyst for success for its students through its constructive tie-ups with industry bodies such as FDCI, Tech Mahindra, Reliance Brands Ltd., MAC, and international universities. With an impressive track record of consistently exceeding a 99% placement rate, Pearl Academy has over 700 top recruiters hiring its graduates annually. The institution boasts 15,000+ successful alumni and continues to be a driving force in the creative industries, both in India and globally.
For more information, please visit: www.pearlacademy.com
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