MUMBAI: Lakmé Fashion Week's grand finale saw AFEW Rahul Mishra unveil his Fall Winter 2025 Silk Route collection, a sartorial odyssey that blended ancient trade routes with modern swagger. And what a ride it was. Janhvi Kapoor, channeling her inner Bond girl, rolled onto the runway in a gleaming Vitara, swathed in a figure-hugging, thigh-high slit willpower gown that could stop traffic – both vehicular and pedestrian.

Mishra's collection, a sumptuous tapestry of cultural cross-pollination, drew inspiration from the historic Silk Road, a conduit for goods, ideas, and, crucially, style. Think Indian bandhani flirting with Japanese shibori, and Henri Rousseau's lush jungles mingling with miniature Indian paintings. It was a visual feast, a global mash-up for the discerning fashionista, whether they're sipping chai in Mumbai or champagne in Paris.

The runway itself, a clever nod to Nexa's e-Vitara, featured blind-spot mirror installations, a wink to the future of automotive design and, perhaps, fashion itself. Mishra, ever the alchemist, transformed traditional Indian textiles into contemporary silhouettes, a fusion of old-world craft and new-wave innovation that felt both timeless and tantalisingly modern.

Maruti Suzuki senior executive officer of marketing and sales Partho Banerjee chimed in, extolling the "seamless alignment" of the e-Vitara with Mishra's vision. "We're not just selling cars, we're selling experiences," he declared, hinting at a future where automotive elegance and haute couture are bedfellows.

Mishra's collection, with its focus on nowness and sustainable chic, delivered versatile separates that were as practical as they were breathtaking. It was a masterclass in modern couture, a reminder that fashion, like the Silk Road itself, is a journey, not a destination.