The Hooghly River became the setting for Anamika Khanna’s AK | OK showcase, with Ishaan Khatter appearing as showstopper.
The Blenders Pride Fashion Tour brought its current season to a close in Kolkata with a riverfront showcase staged on the Hooghly River, turning the city’s historic waterfront into a live fashion setting. Set against the backdrop of the Howrah Bridge, the finale marked a departure from conventional runway formats, placing craft, scale, and setting at the centre of the narrative.
The closing show featured an experimental collection by designer Anamika Khanna under her label AK | OK, with actor Ishaan Khatter appearing as the showstopper. Presented in collaboration with the Fashion Design Council of India, the Kolkata edition sought to question familiar ideas of Indian craftsmanship by treating it as a process in motion rather than a fixed tradition.
The showcase unfolded on a barge anchored mid-river, transforming it into a floating stage. The opening sequence saw divers emerge onto the structure, followed by a carefully timed interplay of light, sound, and movement. Scaffolding elements were activated through lighting effects, while models appeared from within the structure to a high-energy score, creating a sense of build-up and momentum that carried through the show.
Anamika Khanna’s AK | OK collection reworked traditional craft elements such as zardozi, chikankari, and mirror work by breaking them down and reconstructing them through sharp tailoring, metallic surfaces, and graphic interventions. The garments moved between structured silhouettes and fluid forms, with chainmail-inspired looks forming a strong visual statement before transitioning into sculptural pieces designed for movement.
As the show progressed, responsive lighting and lasers tracked each step along the runway, heightening the sense of tension and rhythm. The narrative reached its closing moment with Ishaan Khatter’s arrival by speedboat, followed by a collective finale staged against the illuminated Howrah Bridge, bringing together performers and models in a unified visual conclusion.
Ahead of the main presentation, guests were hosted aboard The Bengal Paddle, a vessel known for its historic interiors and river-facing views. Its Riverine Museum, housed within a former boiler room, features marine artefacts and installations tracing the history of the Hooghly, providing a cultural setting that complemented the evening’s focus on place and heritage.
Speaking on the significance of the Kolkata finale, Debasree Dasgupta, Chief Marketing Officer at Pernod Ricard India, said that the tour has consistently aimed to shape fashion and cultural conversations. She noted that the closing chapter reflected the idea of craft as something that evolves through dialogue between heritage and present-day expression.
Designer Anamika Khanna said that the collaboration allowed her to explore how Indian craftsmanship could be taken apart and reassembled for contemporary audiences. She described the response to the collection as energising, particularly in a setting where the city itself became part of the presentation.
Ishaan Khatter, reflecting on his role in the show, said that the experience aligned with his interest in experimentation and pushing beyond the expected. He noted that seeing craft presented in a sharper, more expressive form, set against such a recognisable landmark, made the moment feel significant.
Sunil Sethi, Chairman of the Fashion Design Council of India, said the collaboration brought together fashion institutions and creative forces to present a future-facing vision. He described the Kolkata edition as a celebration of creativity and culture that set the tone for what lies ahead in Indian fashion.
With its final chapter staged on the Hooghly River, the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour concluded its season by shifting attention away from enclosed venues and toward open, public spaces. The Kolkata finale positioned fashion within the city’s living landscape, allowing craft, performance, and place to intersect in a way that left a lasting visual imprint.
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