Acclaimed designer Abhinav Mishra unveiled his highly anticipated annual couture showcase, Into the Wild 2026, in the capital city on Saturday evening. The presentation marked a bold evolution for the label, seamlessly blending its celebrated traditional craftsmanship with an audacious, contemporary design sensibility. Actor Kriti Sanon captivated the audience as the evening’s showstopper, embodying the collection’s spirit of untamed elegance.
Set against a dramatic landscape of monumental deer installations and sculptural figures, the runway came alive to an original musical composition by Anhad & Tanner. The showcase carried a distinctly elemental character, where the raw beauty of the wilderness met the intricacies of Indian bridalwear. The front row featured a stellar lineup of attendees, including veteran designer Varun Bahl, Taiwanese pop icon Cheng Chang Fan, and top models Sheetal Mallar, Archana Akhil Kumar, Alicia Kaur, and Kanika Dev.
Kriti Sanon stunned on the runway in a groundbreaking black lehenga crafted from innovative Neo-Tech fabric.
The avant-garde ensemble featured intricate hand embroidery, signature mirror work, and metallic embellishments, paired with a heavily embellished bralette blouse and a sheer dupatta adorned with linear sequin details. The look set the tone for a collection that confidently challenges the traditional boundaries of wedding attire.
The visual vocabulary of the collection drew directly from the natural world, translating its restless energy into animal-inspired prints, oversized florals, and bold paisleys. Moving away from conventional bridal silhouettes, the lineup introduced modern alternatives for the contemporary bride, featuring bandeau blouses, halter-neck bralettes, bustiers, and strapless cropped corsets with structured busts, alongside flowing kurta-and-flared-skirt combinations.
Mishra’s signature mirror work remained central to the collection, elevated by a complex interplay of textures including zardozi, beads, leather sequins, and laser-cut detailing. The color palette reflected a nuanced, organic spectrum, transitioning through moss and forest greens, deep chocolate browns, rich reds, and dusty neutrals. The menswear line mirrored this adventurous spirit, offering densely detailed kurtas, open jackets, sherwanis, and trousers.
“Into the Wild is inspired by animals, nature, and the feeling of freedom,” said designer Abhinav Mishra. “Hebwanted to bring that spirit into Indian bridalwear. Mirror work has always been his signature, and this time he has combined it with metallic sequins, distinctive motifs, and prints.
The collection feels a little adventurous, while still being beautiful and special for a bride.
He wanted to explore how traditional craftsmanship could take on a fresh energy while remaining at the heart of what they do.
News Edit KV Raman
