On 20th August, 2026, Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna return to Mumbai with an intimate presentation introducing Noir Botanica, their new capsule for the upcoming season.
More than a conventional runway, the evening is conceived as a world after dark – part fashion presentation, part theatre, part late-night salon. Music, movement, guests and clothing come together to create a night of fashion, music and decadence.
Hosted at Galeries Lafayette Mumbai, the evening brings the designers’ distinctive aesthetic into a space envisioned as a meeting point for fashion, culture and experience. The store transforms after dark into an intimate setting for the presentation, bringing together high glamour, style, music and craftsmanship.
At the centre of the evening is Noir Botanica, a focused menswear and womenswear capsule that brings together the signatures of RGRK: precise tailoring, sculptural silhouettes, intricate embroidery, distinctive textures and a strong understanding of the form.
This is a collection designed not only to be seen, but to be worn.
BACK TO THE ESSENCE OF RGRK
For Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna, this Mumbai presentation is also a return to something fundamental.
After years of exploring increasingly elaborate worlds through their collections and presentations, the designers wanted to come back to the essence of what they love most- making clothes.
Clothes with a point of view. Clothes with strong silhouettes, beautiful surfaces, exceptional handwork and a sense of occasion, but ultimately clothes made for people.
“We wanted this to come from the heart. At this point, we wanted to come back to what we really love; making clothes. Clothes that people want to wear, with a strong silhouette, beautiful texture and handwork, but which still feel relevant to real life. In a way, it is about going back to making real clothes for real people.”
The capsule brings together Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna’s core vocabulary across both menswear and womenswear. Evening dressing is reinterpreted through sharper tailoring, unexpected proportions, fluid forms, sheer elements, corsetry and sculptural construction.
THE ROHIT GANDHI + RAHUL KHANNA LANGUAGE
Noir Botanica takes its visual cues from architectural ornament, botanical forms and the human body, but translates them into a contemporary wardrobe.
The collection plays with contrasts: softness against structure, transparency against density, fluidity against precision.
Signature Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna molten textures sit alongside sheer surfaces, while zardozi, hand-thread embroidery and handcrafted lace meet contemporary techniques such as laser cutting, embossing and metallic detailing.
Textures become almost architectural. Embroidery is not simply decorative; it has weight, relief and dimension. Fabrics including textured silk, velvet, crepe, cashmere wool and chiffon are manipulated through appliqué, surface construction, fringing and the house’s signature braided techniques.
The palette remains deliberately nocturnal: oxidised silver, charcoal, gunmetal, chalk white and black-on-black and the new love for Olive, allowing the surface work and silhouettes to emerge through movement and light.
A NIGHT AT GALERIES LAFAYETTE
For this special presentation, Galeries Lafayette Mumbai becomes more than a venue; it becomes an integral part of the evening’s narrative.
The designers imagined the store after dark: a Parisian room filled with music, people dressed for the evening and the energy of a night that could continue long after the clothes have left the runway.
The presentation draws on the nostalgia of jazz and the glamour of 1930s evening culture without attempting to recreate a particular period. Instead, it captures the feeling of it, the heat, intimacy, mystery and decadence of a night worth remembering.
“We didn’t want to simply put a runway inside the store. We wanted to imagine what it would feel like if Galeries Lafayette became this slightly mysterious Parisian room; jazz playing, people dressed for the evening, and the clothes becoming part of that atmosphere.”
The result is deliberately immersive. The audience is close to the clothes, allowing the craftsmanship, texture and construction to be experienced rather than simply observed.
The presentation culminated with actor Vijay Varma closing the show, adding a striking final moment to the evening and bringing the designers’ vision for Noir Botanica to life on the runway.
The evening brought together a distinguished mix of actors, creators and cultural voices, including Kajol, Babil Khan, Mahima Makwana, Pragya Jaiswal, Stebin Ben, Jonita Gandhi, Sukriti Kakar, Prakriti Kakar, Samiksha Pednekar, Shubhra Vaity, Ruhee Dosani, Diya Joukani, Ankush Bahuguna, Akshita Bhanjdeo, Mrinalika Bhanjdeo, Gurfateh Pirzada, Vishal Jethwa, Sophie Choudhry, Sarah Jane Dias, Shalini Passi and Zayed Khan.
“Galeries Lafayette Mumbai has always been envisioned as a space where fashion, culture and experiences come together and hosting Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna’s Noir Botanica is a beautiful expression of that. The presentation brings together the designers’ distinctive aesthetic with the energy and character of our space, creating an evening that is as much about the experience as it is about the fashion. We are delighted to partner with the designers on this special presentation and to see Galeries Lafayette become the setting for such a distinctive expression of contemporary Indian fashion.” Apeksha Gupta, Chief Marketing and Growth Officer, Galeries Lafayette India (ABFRL)
A CAPSULE FOR THE SEASON
Importantly, this is not a one-night-only fashion statement.
The capsule being presented at Galeries Lafayette has been created for the upcoming season and will be available after the presentation.
It represents a more immediate expression of Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna; a concentrated edit of the house’s signature silhouettes, textures and embroideries translated into clothes that can become part of a real wardrobe.
Noir Botanica was presented at Galeries Lafayette Mumbai on 20 August 2026. Following the presentation, the capsule will be available at Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna stores and Galeries Lafayette Mumbai.
For Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna, the evening is ultimately about returning to the reason they began: the emotion of clothes, the pleasure of dressing and the magic that happens when craftsmanship, people and an unforgettable night come together.
The presentation was complemented by jewellery from Mahesh Notandass and Vandals, the official jewellery partners, and supported by Volvo, the luxury automobile partner, and MAC, the beauty partner.
