If this weekend at The Wedding Collective’s third edition in Mumbai was any indication, the wedding wardrobe is loosening up. Of course, there were plenty of extraordinary lehengas, handloom saris, and serious jewels, but the things that stopped us in our tracks were a bit unexpected: zardozi on denim, a bubble-hem skirt in Benarasi brocade, and sculpted abs you could simply fasten onto your waist.
Without further ado, below, some of the coolest things we spotted at the exhibition over a weekend of looking, zooming in, and mentally adding things to our wishlists:
A fashionable game of spot-the-animal
How many animals can you spot on this sari? A standout from Ashdeen’s new ‘Divine Kingdom’ collection, the ‘Sacred Forest’ sari takes its cues from Persian Shikargah design. However, there’s no hunting going on here. Look closely and you’ll find bunnies, deer, elephants, monkeys, tigers, and even tortoises in the landscape rendered in Parsi Gara embroidery, all done by hand.
Misho’s shortcut to a six-pack
No time to hit the gym and cry over crunches? No problem. Misho’s torso belt comes with defined abs. The sculptural piece fastens at the back with a 24-carat gold-plated chain and is lined with velvet on the inside for comfort. At the Wedding Collective, it was styled with a satin draped skirt, strapless sweetheart-neck bustier, and an asymmetric shoulder piece. Wear it with all the accoutrements, or just on its own over a pre-draped sari or trousers for the next event on your calendar.
A lagoon on your finger
There are cocktail rings, and then there’s DiA’s cocktail ring featuring a whopping 15.86-carat Brazilian Paraiba tourmaline that looks like it’s glowing from within. The blue-green stone surrounded by a halo of diamonds isn’t just another pretty piece of jewellery. The vivid, almost liquid-like colour feels like having a private water body on your person.
Mayyur Girotra’s shaadi-appropriate denim
Denim at a wedding? The brides have spoken. Zardozi-embellished barrel-leg, straight-leg, and wide-leg jeans from Mayyur Girotra’s ‘Collectables Series 2’ reportedly sold like hotcakes over the weekend, with brides snapping them up for welcome lunches and even mehendis. Don’t be surprised if you see a bride in jeans soon.
Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas’s veil-as-jewellery
Creative director Yash Agarwal has history with the jewelled veil: his grandmother wore one to her wedding decades ago, and in 2021 the house created the pearl veil that stylist Rhea Kapoor wore for hers. This particular piece, crafted in silver mesh and scattered with rubies and natural pearls, is destined to be a cool-bride favourite.
A lehenga with a little bounce
Spotted at the Artisans Audit curated by Jaina Lalbhai, That Antiquepiece’s brocade bubble-hem skirt offered a fun twist to the usual lehenga. Paired with a corset and a short koti vest embroidered with sun and moon motifs, the set found fans across the board. Brides picked it up for wedding-adjacent functions, a sister of a groom picked it up for the pheras, and another shopper even got it for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.
Trousers fit for a bride
Sarah & Sandeep are best known for their impeccably tailored menswear, but what caught our eye was a white embroidered off-shoulder suit from the brand’s ‘Sartorial Festive’ collection. Featuring the brand’s signature pintuck detailing along the lapel and subtle embroidery all over, it’s a fabulous pick for a bride who wants something unexpected for a courthouse wedding, church ceremony, cocktail or reception.
A fresh take on the tutti frutti
The tutti frutti necklace has been interpreted plenty of times, but Virchand Govanji’s take feels refreshingly modern, thanks to its contemporary plunging silhouette. The set (including the earrings) brings together approximately 32 carats of diamonds, 23 carats of emeralds, 28 carats of tanzanites, and 69 carats of tourmalines, amongst other precious gemstones, all set in 18-carat gold. Yummy.
Jeans that gave us the munchies
At the Honeymoon Edit, Mirchi by Kim’s one-of-one ‘Kimmy’ jeans came covered in some of our favourite snacks: blue Lay’s, Maggi, TakaTak, Wai Wai, and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, amongst others, all rendered in sequins, cutdana, and brocade work. Founder Kimaya Singh tells us the inspiration came from her own very relatable everyday snacking habits.
The teeny-tiny blouse at Aangiwali
Sometimes, the smallest part of an outfit can pack the most personality. Aangiwali’s vibrant angis came with sequins and gota patti, each one stitched and embellished by hand by artisans in Shekhawati. They may be tiny in proportion, but the impact is maximal.
Jewels for your waist
Bedazzling is having a moment. If everything can be bedazzled, why not the waist? Réik’s Navratan corset belt featuring multicoloured stones and beads set against brocade makes the perfect case for it. Wear it over a skirt, a sari, a dress, trousers, or even jeans—we suspect this hardworking piece is going to be a festive season favourite.
Second-life garments inspiring double takes
Under her new initiative ‘Renew’, Urvashi Kaur is collecting and rescuing old saris and textiles, overdyeing them, and turning them into new garments for special occasions. This Jamuni lehenga and bralette were constructed from reclaimed vintage brocades and painstakingly patchworked by hand—proof that sustainable can be sexy too.
If you missed the Mumbai edition, The Wedding Collective heads to Hyderabad next, on August 29 and 30. Register here
