Until he’d showcased his collection at the grand finale Dubai Fashion Week 2025, you wouldn’t have been faulted for associating Manish Malhotra mostly with bridal couture. After all, when he’s not designing outfits for Bollywood movies (and the superstars who wear them!), the celebrated designer is busy dressing up brides and grooms across the world to perfection in embroidered lehengas and sherwanis.
But the designer must've clearly been in shape-shift mode when he started work on his newest work, The World Collection, or out to challenge that perception, because the ramp had an entirely different story than the usual one, he’s come to be admired for.
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Strutting down the runway were models in all things contemporary. Think structured necklines, capes, kaftans, pantsuits and power jackets. There were the signature Malhotra influences of course – sequins, brocades and pearl detailing – but everything looked modern and sophisticated. Double-breasted blazers met fluid, pleated trousers for a menswear look that’s old-world yet modernity defined. The sleek tailoring was accompanied by sharp cuts and classic looks, like an all-black suit, were given a decadent makeover.
Adriana Lima closing the show for Manish Malhotra at the grand finale of Dubai Fashion Week
The colours were predominantly gold and silver along with black and white, with a general sprinkling of mocha mousse and neon accents. The same flamboyance reflected in jewellery, which has come to be quite a signature Malhotra element in his shows. Necklaces and brooches were all in bold and regal flair.
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All that glittered was not just the clothes though. Supermodel Valery Kaufman opened the show in a sequin column gown while Adriana Lama namaste-d in all her glory to close the show in a pearl-draped column gown.
From left to right: Valery Kaufman, Manish Malhotra, Adriana Lima
It was a Manish Malhotra show unlike any other. As the name of the collection suggested, he really made one catered to ‘the world’.
