When Vivienne Westwood announced that the brand would be coming to India to present its first-ever show in the country, it was not just a celebration but also a proud moment to have an iconic brand showcase in India.

From the beginning, it was clear that the brand wanted to celebrate and blend Indian heritage and its textiles with Vivienne Westwood’s design language.

Well, April 1st will be marked in history as the day Vivienne Westwood took over the Gateway of India and gave Mumbai a night to remember.

In spite of the humid Mumbai weather and the respite from the slight drizzle in an open-air seating, the show had everyone’s attention the moment it began.

Set against the iconic Gateway of India, the show opened with a ready-to-wear lavender co-ord set with high-low ruffle detailing. As the show progressed, the runway presented a selection of the Spring Summer 2025 looks envisioned by Andreas Kronthaler, archive pieces, and a special capsule collection of couture ensembles crafted with the finest handwoven Chanderi silks and khadi fabrics, which was provided by Aaranya Gwalior and Khadi India.

Sheer silhouettes reimagined in myriad shades of Spring, the signature tartan and wool fabrics finding their way in skirts adorned by the male models, corsets romanced with contemporary cuts and sculpted voluminous skirts added a hint of drama to the runway. The collections were accessorised with bags, jewellery and footwear that added an extra edge to the runway collection.

While the music shifted between Indian classical and Western melodies, the show closed with the evergreen song Boom Boom sung by Nazia Hassan. While we missed the Vivienne Westwood runway theatrics, the intention behind hosting the showcase definitely won hearts. Vivienne Westwood was here to celebrate the country’s rich artisanal textile heritage, and so they did. Priyadarshini Scindia, the founder of Aaranya, expressed how the moment is special as the textiles used in the showcase are from Madhya Pradesh and celebrating them at the historic Gateway of India was special because the perforated screens on the monument hail from Gwalior.