Jaipur, Feb 10 (.) The second day of FDCI India Men’s Weekend 2026 brought its thoughtfully curated menswear showcase to a close on Sunday, culminating in a grand finale by veteran designer JJ Valaya.
Staying true to the event’s spirit, the closing day continued to spotlight craftsmanship, heritage, and contemporary innovation through layered design narratives.
Opening the runway, INCA presented ‘The Journey of a Dot’, reinterpreting Bandhani through evolving geometric forms and modern expressions. Ajay Kumar followed with a collection inspired by the ocean as a space of movement and memory, featuring engineered printed shirts, lightweight bombers, suits, and unlined blazers adorned with motifs of maps, waves, and maritime geometry.
TIL’s Layers of Chaos offered a contemplative pause, showcasing stillness through layered handwoven textiles, while Felix Bendish explored themes of identity and perception, drawing inspiration from Rorschach inkblots.
‘Antar-Agni’ continued its exploration of post–new age naturalism with fluid, architectural silhouettes, as Sahil Aneja unfolded a stark, evocative narrative through The Last Supper. Countrymade’s Foundry reflected ideas of endurance and industrial rigor, seamlessly fused with Indian craftsmanship.
Designers Krishna Mehta and Dhruv Vaish presented collections that balanced sharp tailoring with refined sophistication. Pawan Sachdeva’s The After Dark brought evening elegance to the forefront, showcasing blazers, sleek suits, shirts, waistcoats, and tailored trousers in wool blends, velvet, satin accents, and textured weaves.
The finale unfolded with grandeur as Abraham & Thakore and JJ Valaya brought the two-day event to a powerful close. Abraham & Thakore presented Sartorial Sarongs with a striking theatrical moment, as two models emerged from the palace pool, reimagining the traditional lungi as a bold and contemporary menswear statement.
JJ Valaya’s presentation followed in an immersive setting enhanced by a live soundscape. Titled ‘The Valaya Man: East’, the collection marked a refined evolution of the brand’s menswear journey, where fluid silhouettes, kimono-inspired overlays, and understated detailing reinterpreted royal heritage through the lens of global minimalism.
An initiative by the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), the fashion gala was held at the iconic Diggi Palace in Jaipur. This edition also marked the first-ever partnership between FDCI and the House of Glenfiddich as the title sponsor.
Distinguished by its focus on design-led storytelling, the showcase stood apart for placing creative and artistic expression at the forefront—signalling a rare shift away from celebrity spectacle toward the enduring strength of craft and narrative.
. MI ARN