Falguni Shane Peacock Cut the Excess, Not Impact

Opulence, when done right, doesn't need to announce itself. But when you are Falguni Shane Peacock, you cannot help but make an entrance. For their latest showcase titled 'Raj Mahal Bijoux' at the ongoing India Couture Week in the Capital, the designers brought in Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar as the showstopper. This was a rare appearance for the actor, who hasn't been seen on a ramp in years. As for the last time he made such a public appearance - well, memory doesn't go that far back.

Akshay Kumar closed the show for Falguni & Shane Peacock's couture showcase at ICW 2025FDCI

Keeping in mind all of the above, the designer duo kept Kumar's look simple - a sharply tailored ivory sherwani paired with straight-cut trousers. The look was consistent with their 'Palace of Jewels' theme but executed with restraint.

This level of . . well, discipline - when they could have defaulted to, say, a heavy brocade - is exactly what makes the look land. "Luxury for the Indian man today isn’t just about grandeur - it’s about precision, personalisation, and presence. It’s about wearing identity. With 'Raj Mahal Bijoux', we’ve challenged the stereotypical codes of royal masculinity. We’ve taken the richness of bygone eras - brocades, regal embroidery, gem-like embellishments - and applied them with a cleaner, more modern hand. The silhouettes are sharper, the styling more nuanced," the designers told Esquire India in an exclusive interaction ahead of their show.

In 'Raj Mahal Bijoux', architectural elements have been translated into embroidery patternsFDCI

They don't hesitate when asked if some of the outfits on the ramp incorporated micro-motifs taken from Indian palaces - especially a soft-rose-ish sherwani that subtly echoed carved marble screens. "That’s exactly where the design challenge becomes exciting - taking something still and sculptural, and making it wearable and dynamic. In this collection, we’ve translated architectural elements like marble carvings and frescoes into embroidery patterns that feel light, layered, and mobile," they say.

But beyond the beautiful embroidery or structured tailoring or even the uncharacteristic restraint, Falguni and Shane Peacock state that the core of 'Raj Mahal Bijoux' was their desire to urge more Indian men to embrace their culture with pride. "We come from a land of Maharajas, of grandeur and elegance - where silhouettes like the Jodhpuri and intricately bejewelled ensembles, among other things, were born. This rich legacy we can reinterpret and make our own today. Whether you wear it in a minimal or maximal way, cultural Indian elements deserve a place in your wardrobe," Shane Peacock says emphatically.

The designers showcased Indian wear for men drawn to understated glamourFDCI

As for whether there is a quintessential FSP man - a muse they design for - they state that their process of creation begins with one simple question: Would I wear this? If the answer is no, the sketch never makes the cut. So yes, the man they design for does exist - except he's not someone specific, but a composite of the men they've admired over the years. "It’s less about fantasy and more about aspiration - grounded in reality, but pushing the envelope of how Indian masculinity can express itself through fashion," they say, signing off.