A throwback into the global fashion diaspora 2024

Fashion had a multi-faceted comeback this year 2024 embracing peculiarity & diversity by all means. From being adept to the conscious styling needs to the refabrication of the usual runways, innovation and versatility have been worn on every designer’s sleeve to make each event spectacular yet with a takeaway. If you are that unlucky style curator, or a fashion connoisseur who somehow has missed out on some of the prioritized fashion event updates, here is the list of ten significant fashion events that took place in India and also globally.

May 6: Fashion reimagined with Met Gala

‘Met Gala’- the fashion’s red carpet was the technological resurgence, an attempt to give new lives to the most old and delicate garments through their exhibit themed on ‘Sleeping beauties’ attuning to the dress code of ‘The Garden of Time’.
As a fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum’s Costume Institute, the event tightly holds for the iconic presence of a wide category of artists ranging from actors, singers, models and athletes. On one end of the spectrum, the red carpet was even more sizzled by the Hollywood celebratory walk-ins like Jennifer Lopez, Chris Hemsworth, Kendall Jenner, and Zendaya.
In addition, the event became even more striking in its ability to welcome artists across the borders like Alia Bhatt’s, the renowned Indian actress draping herself in a timeless saree signifying her Indian roots of origin added more global significance. Likely, Camila Cabello, having an authentic ice block purse with a rose made of bronze signalled the essence of beauty in true decay which purely lies in total sync with the theme of the exhibit.
Despite the several head-turner moments created through the eye-catching sartorial themes captured in the radiance of the model’s outfits, the event was also noticed for some of the controversies which headlined every social media page. To begin with, Chris Hemsworth breached the no-phone policy and the other attendees suffered from severe online backlash from the critics while shedding light on the ongoing global conflicts like the Ghaza war.
Overall, the event was regarded to be a harmonious blend of high-staked fashion, technological breakthrough into developing conscious styling needs and artistic expression.

July 12 to 14: Wedding that rang a bell with flamboyant fashion -Anant Ambani’s wedding

When Indian weddings were mostly appraised in cliché statements like ‘forever love’ and ‘the union of two hearts’, this particular wedding came to a quick rescue under the disguise of fashion.
Although the ultimate premise of this particular event was a wedding, it was easily conceivable in the fashion terrain on account of the irresistible styling, and appeals worn by the Indian and the global celebrities. Be it the traditional opulence perfectly crafted with the modern-day glamour reflecting a steady amalgamation of Indian traditions with Western styling, the women at Anant Ambani’s wedding were already flying out with vibrant colours.
Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla, being the duo behind the scenes of fashion, became the Bollywood town’s talk as their efforts to revoke timeless traditional collections stood as a fashion testament in the whole wedding scenario. Starting from the key events like Mehendi, Sangeet, and Haldi were purely a distinct picturesque view by closely observing the metallic tones used for Sangeet and floral prints for Mehandi. More so, the wedding event had also been observed as a fashion and lifestyle exhibition in one’s subjective interpretation of the spectacular display of styling embodying cultural aesthetics and new-age luxury.
Apart from the fashion scene of the Ambani family, it is also a sought-after venue for witnessing the complete gathering of the signified celebrities primarily from the books of Bollywood on one end. Additionally, other high-profile artists worldwide were setting the stage on fire not only with their live concerts but also with their seamless traditional adaptation into lengthy lehenga outfits with braided hair styling. To conclude, the event is remarkably a benchmark in the territory of wedding fashion and styling which will continue to inspire aspiring fashion enthusiasts, & event organisers in the coming years.

September 1 to 5: Indian tapestry levelled up: Dubai Fashion Week

Dubai’s fashion week can be given a consolidated one-line sum up of ‘Fashion’s lane of diversity’ being captured in all the runways. Mostly, the event stood on par with the excellence of many global fashion events where the uniqueness here witnessed was the elevated styling adorned by the Asian community of designers. The event’s beginning for the three days forayed into the haute couture followed by the showcase of ready-to-wear garments from more than 30 different brands from across the world.
However, the show stealer of such a grand event was more inclined towards a lot of eye-catching moments that happened with the Indian home-grown designers signalling there is always something for everyone. The sudden surge in Indian applications can only reflect the reimagined idea of Dubai eventually getting transformed to be the next focal point respective to global fashion and its worldwide appeal to other international designers.
Setting apart from the theme-fashioned show of ready-to-wear outfits, the event is well-recognised for harnessing the power of digital mediums like Instagram thread talks to elevate their popularity. From striking shareworthy conversation series on the future of fashion between the Arab Fashion Council, distinguished creators, and other industry experts the digital coverage spilled detailed insights and predictions for every fashionista.

September 3 to 7: ‘Conscious fashion is perfectly on with streetwear section- Korean Fashion Week

Laying its 24th edition, the Korean fashion show is a five-day rendition of fashion being revamped with focus being recentered on innovation and sustainability. From 21 runway shows, followed by eye-rolling trade shows and presentations displaying close to 92 established fashion labels imparting around six newcomers with fresh design perspectives. The stage opened with 37 dazzling displays of the designer, Lee Moo-Yeol’s Youser’s collections inspired by the Korean sub-cultures emphasising deconstructionism.
Some of the other key highlights of the brand correspond to the renaissance of neckties in a loosely tied dimension as a multi-purpose accessory accompanying oversized shirts or a leather track followed by the effortless blend of sportswear in high-street fashion. On the other hand, K-fashion also stayed in tandem with the sustainable fashion ceremony wherein designers like Im Seonoc stood tall with their solid exhibit made of a single fabric neoprene as a contribution towards achieving zero waste.
In line with that, brands like Hyosung TNC had their splendid display of eco-friendly materials and fabrics which are even made out of fishing nets. Thereby, the upbeat enigma of Korean fashion was quite a spread-out enamouring culture, ethnicity converging towards a sustainability tradition.

October 1 to 8: Designer’s one-stop destination-Paris Fashion Week

‘The medley of fashion’- Paris fashion week went superfluous with stellar spring/summer showcases by eminent fashion brands from New York, Milan, London and Paris exhibiting 66 runways and 40 presentations. Some of the brands crushing hard on each other through their dynamic repositories of collections were Dior, Loewe, Chanel, Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen, Miu Miu, and Valentino.
. Upon shedding light on the highlights, the showstopper was Dior embracing the idea of the Olympics through its opening act of the multidisciplinary archer Sagg Napoli who arrowed in to line up the models. It is followed by Alexander McQueen’s initiative to revisit Celtic mythology announcing the coutures seizing a harmonious blend of contemporary aesthetics and their sensibilities.
On the whole, Paris Fashion Week was an outburst of emerging fashion trends buzzing in with sheer fabrics, high heels sophistication, and runways conducted with oversized silhouettes. Furthermore, the event was also earmarked in the fashion calendar as it registers the remarkable 100-year celebration of French fashion starring over 100 plus models, artists and athletes.

November 18 & 19: Huge step into high-end luxury conveying timeless elegance- Hi-Life exhibition at Vijayawada

It was a reaffirmation that luxury speaks through convenience and accessibility in today’s world. Hi-Life’s exhibition in India has been constantly venturing into every possible city of India with their curated sets of handcrafted couture, custom-made designer collections and exquisite jewellery assortments.
. As fashion preferences are increasingly dynamic, Hi-Life aims to address the gap by offering something for everyone, an unmatched shopping experience to address the fashion needs of the discerning audience. A two-day grand exhibit at Vijayawada encompasses a distinguished display of designer garments, and embellished jewellery collections interplayed with traditional craftsmanship and authentic emerging design labels.
Alongside, the venue at Vijayawada was thoughtfully penned and crafted with pulsating vigour complementing the glorious expose of all the fashionables which further aided in settling the audience to have a memorable shopping experience. The event garnered its major attraction from jewellery connoisseurs, style fanatics, fashion influencers and brides-to-be across Vijayawada due to the fused-up intent of being a fashion and lifestyle exhibition.
Thus, the November edition of the Hi-Life exhibition has proven its standing as the premier destination to unravel and bridge connections with the creative spirits of exceptional craftsmanship. With the jam-packed schedules of upcoming exhibitions in India, Hi-Life exhibitions are a definite road runner winning many hearts across the Indian heartlands.

December 29 & 30: Emerging fashion spotlighting cultural enrichment - Cape Town Fashion Week

The year 2024 has supposedly planned to end with a landmark event which was priorly earmarked in the African fashion calendar titled ‘The Edit Spring Summer 2024’. It is considered to be a rise to awake moment where it displayed the talents across the continent inclusive of both the emerging and the well-established designers. More than a traditional showcase of fashion runways, this two-day event was viewed as an African creative commemoration filled with breathtaking designs, a showcase of exquisite collections from the talented community, and a platform to make purchases right away.
It also served right by bridging connections between emerging & established designers, buyers, style mavens, and wardrobe wizards. Despite the event being known for its dynamic fashion deliverables, it was also much anticipated for the iconic return of the legendary designer Craig Jacobs after fourteen years, whose fashion sense is reminisced for his design label FUNDUZI. Conclusively, the Cape Town Fashion Week is considered to be a cultural hub layered with bespoke couture and solidifying its reputation for sustainable fashion subtly speaking for its creative abilities to offer the fashion world.
In the year 2024 – while walking through the roundabout, fashion truly renamed itself as it embraces innovation, cultural heritage, and conscious styling in every way possible. Each event had carved a niche for itself on a global stage embarking the gradual movement of the fashion and lifestyle exhibitions from the Asian and African communities to the limelight. With special mentions about the exhibitions in India like Anant Ambani’s wedding, Hi-Life’s couture grand showcase at Vijayawada and many more upcoming exhibitions to come in the following year, the fashion world is yet to make a timeless impact in 2025.