Tarun Tahiliani praises Gen Z after student protests, and more from his ICW show

Here's everything you need to know about veteran fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani's unique showcase at India Couture Week 2026, where he ditched the traditional runway format, expressed his love for Gen Z in light of the student protests.Designer Tarun Tahiliani and some of his new creations.Fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani praised Gen Z while unveiling his new collection at Bikaner House in New Delhi during India Couture Week 2026 on July 26, a day after the student protests at Jantar Mantar concluded with the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan."I woke up this morning with a smile on my face. I thought, today, India's been reborn," he said.Tahiliani also referenced author Shobhaa De's recent Instagram post while addressing the media and fashion insiders at the showcase: “And I saw Shobhaa De on her Instagram saying, I'm apologising to you Gen Zs because our generation has allowed this to happen. We never put our foot down.”"We've all had many nasty things to say about Gen Zs. There's ideas, there's values, there's vision, and a way that we do it. Gandhi did it, and yesterday we've seen it again,” he said, lauding the “true youth spirit.” “I woke up with a huge sense of really a renewal and hope. I'm not leaving this country. I love it here. I love my work here. I've learned India by travelling around and working with these craftspeople. And so I just hope that we all can look at everything afresh and rebirth the way we function as Indians for Indians, because I really think that's super important,” he added.The remarks came during Tahiliani's welcome address before the unveiling of his latest couture presentation, which departed from the conventional runway format. Instead of a traditional fashion show, he opted for an exhibition-style showcase at Bikaner House, where guests were guided through nine halls featuring mannequins dressed in the designer's couture collection. From designer Tarun Tahiliani's fashion showcase at Bikaner House in New Delhi during India Couture Week 2026. (Photo: Author) Explaining the shift in format, Tahiliani said he had been thinking about it ever since last year's showcase. While the show was well received, he felt couture - and particularly Indian bridal couture - deserved a presentation that allowed audiences to appreciate the craftsmanship up close."We need a new way of presenting in India because our couture - and our bridal collections - are about weddings. They're also about a level of detail that I don't even think people in the West can fully comprehend. Even when they look at our ready-to-wear, Westerners think we're mad to call it ready-to-wear. So I wanted to do something where people could really see the detail and be able to stop - if they wanted to spend four minutes in front of a garment," he said. Up and close with Tarun Tahiliani's bridalwear. (Photo: Author) Practical considerations, Tahiliani added, influenced the decision. Runway lighting, designed primarily for cameras, often compromises the viewing experience for guests, while the pace of a fashion show leaves little room to absorb details or the stories behind each look.The idea eventually evolved into a scenographic exhibition at Bikaner House, inspired by museum-style costume displays.Spread across the halls of Bikaner House, the exhibition featured regal ensembles for the modern bride, from structured corsets and Tahiliani's signature draped silhouettes to voluminous lehengas laden with intricate embroidery, embellishments and jewels. A glimpse of the new collection. One immersive space centred on a temple-inspired lehenga framed by digital projections, while another celebrated the architectural language of the jali through chikankari, zardozi and intricate threadwork. Garments showcasing regional textile traditions that have shaped the label's design language over the years - including ajrakh, kashidakari and chikankari - were also on display. The exhibition also offered a glimpse into Tarun Tahiliani's evolving menswear.A runway presentation wasn't entirely off the agenda either. The exhibition concluded with a short capsule showcase, where models walked in a mix of traditional, Western and fusion silhouettes. One of the standout looks was a sculpted breastplate dress that mimicked the female torso—complete with collarbones, abs and a belly button—before flowing into a voluminous skirt.Bejewelled headgear, couture-as-jewellery and lace gloves for brides were a hit too.Speaking to India Today, Tahiliani said he would like to continue exploring this exhibition format despite the additional effort it requires."I'd certainly like them to be. It's a lot more work, as you can imagine, but I love the effect it has and the way people engage with it."- EndsPublished By: Medha ChawlaPublished On: Jul 28, 2026 10:54 IST