The finale belonged to JJ Valaya. Presented against a richly immersive soundscape with live music, The Valaya Man: East reflected an evolved menswear vision. Fluid silhouettes, kimono-inspired overlays and restrained detailing reinterpreted royal heritage through a global, minimalist lens, reaffirming Valaya’s mastery of craft and narrative
The second day of FDCI India Men’s Weekend 2026 brought down the curtains on a sharply curated celebration of contemporary menswear, culminating in a grand finale by veteran designer JJ Valaya. Held at Jaipur’s iconic Diggi Palace on February 7 and 8, the two-day showcase underscored craftsmanship, cultural memory and modern innovation, shifting the spotlight firmly onto design and storytelling.
The day opened with INCA’s evocative showcase, The Journey of a Dot, which reinterpreted Bandhani through evolving forms and geometric abstraction. Ajay Kumar followed with ocean-inspired silhouettes that explored movement and memory. Engineered printed shirts, light bombers, tailored suits and unlined blazers featured maps, waves and maritime geometry, blending precision with poetic fluidity.
TIL presented Layers of Chaos, offering a meditative pause through layered handwoven textiles, while Felix Bendish drew from Rorschach inkblots to explore themes of identity and perception. Antar-Agni extended its exploration of post-new age naturalism with fluid, architectural constructions, and Sahil Aneja delivered a stark narrative through The Last Supper. Countrymade’s Foundry leaned into endurance and industrial rigor, grounding its vision in Indian craft traditions.
Krishna Mehta and Dhruv Vaish balanced sharp tailoring with refined sophistication in their respective showcases. Pawan Sachdeva’s The After Dark leaned into evening elegance, presenting blazers, sleek suits, waistcoats and tailored trousers in wool blends, velvet, satin accents and textured weaves.
The closing stretch elevated the theatrical quotient. Abraham & Thakore’s Sartorial Sarongs staged a striking moment as two models emerged from the palace pool, reimagining the traditional lungi as a confident, contemporary menswear statement. It was a bold dismantling of convention, blending heritage with progressive styling.
The finale belonged to JJ Valaya. Presented against a richly immersive soundscape with live music, The Valaya Man: East reflected an evolved menswear vision. Fluid silhouettes, kimono-inspired overlays and restrained detailing reinterpreted royal heritage through a global, minimalist lens, reaffirming Valaya’s mastery of craft and narrative.
An initiative of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), this edition also marked its first partnership with the House of Glenfiddich as title sponsor. More than a fashion event, the weekend stood out for prioritising artistic expression over celebrity spectacle — a deliberate and refreshing shift that placed creativity at its core.
