Rahul Singh’s ‘Indi-Vita’ Puts Kantha and Shibori Next to an Italian Summer at Lakmé Fashion Week
The collection reads Indian craft through Italian architecture and Mediterranean ease, with silks and cottons for sunlit holidays and slow getaways
Designer Rahul Singh will present ‘Indi-Vita’ at Lakmé Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI in New Delhi this October. The collection brings the craft traditions of India together with the sophistication of Italian living, and it is rooted in sustainability and cultural reverence. It draws on traditional Indian techniques such as Kantha embroidery and Shibori dyeing and reads them through Italian architecture and the relaxed look of Mediterranean life.
Two Cultural Worlds, One Wardrobe
Indi-Vita is built on a meeting of two very different cultural worlds. Indian craftsmanship forms its foundation, while architectural forms, decorative details and the spirit of an Italian summer shape the visual language. Rather than keeping the two apart, Singh blends them into a wardrobe that feels rooted in heritage and contemporary in expression.
From India
- Kantha embroidery
- Shibori dyeing
- Lotus and peacock motifs
- Pure silks and breathable cottons
From Italy
- Arches, domes and windows of Italian cathedrals
- Tuscan frescoes
- Roman façades
- The relaxed spirit of Mediterranean summers
Italian Arches, Domes and Windows in Kantha
Italy’s architecture is a particular source of inspiration. Delicate Kantha stitches trace forms reminiscent of the arches, domes and windows of Italian cathedrals, turning architectural references into intricate surface details. Elsewhere, lotus and peacock motifs appear in prints influenced by Tuscan frescoes and Roman façades, setting Indian symbolism against Italian references.
Silks, Cottons and a Summer Wardrobe
The same dialogue carries into materials and craft. Pure silks and breathable cottons form the base of Indi-Vita, which suits a summer wardrobe conceived around ease, movement and understated sophistication. Kantha and Shibori bring traditional techniques into a contemporary setting, so craft becomes part of the collection’s larger story instead of serving only as embellishment.
Materials and Techniques
In Rahul Singh’s Words
Made for Sunlit Holidays and Slow Getaways
Indi-Vita is designed with sunlit holidays and slow, stylish getaways in mind, and it approaches summer dressing with a sense of ease. It moves between cultural references without turning literal, and lets craftsmanship, architecture, print and material shape its identity together.
Through Indi-Vita, Singh treats heritage as a language that can keep being reinterpreted rather than something fixed. By putting Indian craft next to Italian architectural and Mediterranean influences, he offers a contemporary take on summer dressing where culture, craft and a sense of escape meet. Rahul Singh will present Indi-Vita at Lakmé Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI in October 2026 in New Delhi.
At a Glance
Quick Answers
What is Indi-Vita?
A summer collection by Rahul Singh that brings together Indian craft traditions and Italian influences, using Kantha embroidery and Shibori dyeing alongside references to Italian architecture and Mediterranean life.
Where will it be presented?
At Lakmé Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI, in New Delhi, in October 2026.
What inspires the designs?
Kantha stitches that trace the arches, domes and windows of Italian cathedrals, and lotus and peacock motifs in prints influenced by Tuscan frescoes and Roman façades.
What fabrics does the collection use?
Pure silks and breathable cottons, conceived as a summer wardrobe around ease, movement and understated sophistication.
About FDCI
The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) is a non-profit organisation and the apex body of fashion design in India, represented by over 400 members. Its prime objective is to propagate the business of fashion. More at www.fdci.org.
