The label ‘Akaaro’ by designer Gaurav Jai Gupta has been synonymous with beautifully invented textiles. The designer has spent years creating magic in the innovation of his fabrics. At Lakmē Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI, Gaurav launched his new line of garments called “Moonrise” designed from amazing, engineered, unused scrap yarn.

Gaurav’s aim has always been to empower traditional craftsmen and artisanal work and minimise the endangering footprint. He has been very firm in his thoughts and has included upcycled materials to further reduce waste. His “Moonrise” collection was dreamt up from waste yarn saved in his studio over the years.

These yarns were given new life and a fashionable angle and once again woven into innovative textiles. Gaurav’s first set of handwoven fabrics took birth in his 2022 collection with a colour card inspired from Wes Anderson’s films. Gaurav’s experiments resulted in yarns like cotton, silk and linen that were imaginatively given a new avatar as revived silks, cotton, linen and molten metallics that appeared in bright pops of colours.

It was a refreshing experience to view checks in cotton silk with ‘Akaaro’s’ characteristic textiles and handwoven stretchable silk, cotton ‘Kinjis’ that made a return, along with saris. There was a clever play with denim finishes on handlooms and woven textiles, like knits. The “Moonrise” collection brought a wonderful sense of urbanity, functionality and modernity in a mix of colours, silhouettes and engineered fabrics. At all times, the focus was on a sustainable development in goals.

Making a welcome entry on the ramp were oversized shapes for jackets and blazers, while stretch, waisted trousers flirty skirts, great draped dresses and coverups with power shoulders made an impact. Exaggerated cuffs and sleeves were the detailing to watch out for.

The “Moonrise” collection by Gaurav Jai Gupta for his ‘Akaaro’ label not only brought a great collection of ensembles but made an innovative statement on textile processes after years of research and developments.

Designer Gaurav Jai Gupta shared, “Just like the moon illusion — which causes the moon to appear larger near the horizon than it does higher up in the sky — where our perception changes based on how our brains process incoming visual information, so too, the discarded yarn that has been widely used in the collection, can enjoy a renewed life if perceived or purposed differently. The very same yarn that was once relegated to waste now has a full rich life. Moonrise is an emphatic statement from Akaaro putting the spotlight on various processes that have emerged from years of research and development.”