On Sunday afternoon, Delhi’s Bikaner House played host to couturier Tarun Tahiliani’s latest collection at Hyundai India Couture Week 2026, an FDCI initiative. The collection, Navaratna Bridal-Couture ’26 unfolded as an immersive experience rather than a traditional runway show.
Rather than limiting the experience to the runway, guests were invited into a series of beautifully designed spaces that brought the collection to life. Some of the spaces felt almost surreal, immersing guests in the world of the collection. At each stop, members of the atelier walked visitors through the inspiration, craftsmanship and intricate handwork behind the garments, turning the presentation into an intimate conversation about couture
Speaking about the presentation, Tahiliani said, “I have done shows in UK and I have also done them in gallery space. So, we decided to take the nine rooms and do a scenography like I first saw when Diana Vreeland did the ‘Costumes of Royal India’ at The Met.” He added, “So, this is a little teensy-weensy version of it, put out in three days, but we think it looks really good.”
Tahiliani also weighed in on the conversation around whether he should go ahead with the show following the CJP protests, explaining why he believed moving forward with it was the right decision. He said, “You know, there was all the stress on me, you know, should we do the show? And people were writing to me and saying, do you think it is correct? And I said, yes, I think it is correct, because I found it is incorrect if I do this. People don’t have jobs, that’s why they are there. Should we now make it worse by shutting down? Anyway, I woke up this morning with a smile on my face.”
He continued, “And I think I woke up with a huge sense of renewal and hope. You know, I am not leaving this country. I love it here. I love my work here. I have learned India by travelling around and worked with these class people. And so, I just hope that we all can get a little bit of fresh air and rebirth the way we function as Indians for India.”
The Navaratna collection celebrates the many facets of the designer’s atelier and its craftsmanship, taking its name from the “nine jewels”. The collection brought together a range of artisanal techniques and silhouettes, including blouses embroidered with mother-of-pearl, Ajrakh sarees reinterpreted with kashida kari embroidery, and the designer’s signature corsets. The collection also revisited Tahiliani’s hallmark silhouettes, including fluid drapes, sharply tailored jackets, layered lehengas and architectural gowns.
The anatomical, or trompe-l’œil, corset deserves a special mention. Sculpted to resemble the human torso, it used illusion and precise detailing to create the appearance of defined abdominal muscles. It just brought an avant-garde edge to the collection.
The colour palette moved from soft neutrals to rich jewel tones, echoing the collection’s celebration of India’s vibrant artisanal heritage.
This collection is a reminder that India’s rich textile heritage and the skilled hands of the artisans who preserve it represent the truest form of luxury.