South Asian fashion and bridalwear brand Nazranaa presented its Spring/Summer 2027 collection, ‘Samskriti 2.0,’ during New York Fashion Week, September 16, with actor Bhumi Pednekar making her global runway debut as the showstopper.
The presentation at Refectory Chelsea in New York City drew on Indian architecture, spirituality, festivals, literature, mathematics and poetry, interpreting the themes through contemporary couture.
‘Samskriti 2.0’ built on Nazranaa’s earlier collection, ‘Samskriti,’ and was created by sibling founders and designers Shivangi Gupta Singh and Shashank Gupta.
The collection included references to the Meenakshi Temple, Prem Mandir, Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra, Holi and Raas Leela. A lehenga drew inspiration from the Meenakshi Temple’s architecture, while another look referenced Vrindavan and the stories of Radha and Krishna.
“Our mother was born in Mathura, and we grew up spending time in Mathura and Vrindavan, surrounded by stories of Radha and Krishna,” Shivangi said. “Samskriti 2.0 brings that emotional connection to a New York runway.”
Two menswear jackets drew from India’s mathematical and literary traditions. One was based on Acharya Pingala’s Meru Prastara, using Laghu, Guru, 1 and 0. The other drew from the ‘Sarvatobhadra,’ a multidirectional pattern poem by 7th-century Sanskrit poet Māgha, and incorporated it into a reversible geometric design.
Pednekar closed the show in a hand-embroidered velvet lehenga and blouse inspired by the Ramakrishna Temple at Belur Math. The design drew on the temple’s architectural elements associated with Hindu temples, mosques and churches. The skirt featured a swan representing the Paramatman, or Supreme Self, from Swami Vivekananda’s emblem, while a net veil with scalloped lotus detailing completed the look.
“There is something very special about seeing Indian culture celebrated on a global stage like New York Fashion Week,” Pednekar said. “Closing the show for Nazranaa’s Samskriti 2.0 felt incredibly special because of the way they took stories, symbols and traditions that are so deeply rooted in India and translated them into beautiful, modern couture.”
“With Samskriti 2.0, we continue using fashion to bring India’s extraordinary temples, texts and intellectual traditions to a global audience,” Shashank Gupta said. “We want each garment to spark curiosity about the story behind it.”