Delhi Fashion Week 2026 brought Indian handlooms, Khadi and the cultural traditions of Northeast India into the spotlight at Bharat Mandapam, ITPO, New Delhi, with fashion presentations and cultural performances highlighting the country's diverse textile and creative heritage.

The fashion showcase was held on August 27 as part of Film Expo India. Organised by Delhi Fashion Club in collaboration with Film Expo India, in association with the North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC), the event brought together fashion, traditional craftsmanship, regional culture and contemporary design. 

Handloom and Khadi at the centre

A key focus of Delhi Fashion Week 2026 was the presentation of Indian handloom and Khadi through contemporary fashion. The event sought to demonstrate how traditional textiles and indigenous craftsmanship can be incorporated into modern designs while retaining their cultural identity.

The showcase was built around the broader theme “Naari Shakti – Weaving Viksit Bharat”, connecting fashion with women's empowerment, traditional craftsmanship and India's cultural heritage. 

Northeast India gets national platform

The Northeast was a major component of the fashion programme through International Reinvent Northeast – Season 8, which brought designers, weavers, artisans, entrepreneurs and performers from the region onto a national platform.

Representations from different parts of Northeast India highlighted traditional textiles, costumes and cultural practices, offering audiences an opportunity to see regional craftsmanship alongside contemporary fashion.

Manipur showcases cultural heritage

Manipur's participation included a special cultural presentation featuring Manipuri dance. The performance brought elements of Meitei cultural heritage to the Bharat Mandapam stage and added a performing-arts dimension to the fashion showcase.

The presentation demonstrated how fashion events can also provide space for traditional performing arts and cultural storytelling. 

Meghalaya presents Ryndia silk

Meghalaya's traditional textile heritage was represented through contemporary designs using Ryndia silk. Designer Batkyntilin Mawthou from Shillong and weaver Iaineh from Ri-Bhoi presented designs showcasing the textile traditions associated with the state's Garo, Khasi and Jaintia communities.

Other Northeast textiles, including Eri silk, were also featured through garments associated with NEHHDC's Purbashree brand. 

Fashion meets traditional craftsmanship

The event brought together designers, models, fashion students, weavers, cultural performers and other professionals from across India. The combination of contemporary runway presentations and traditional textiles provided a platform for indigenous craftsmanship to reach a wider audience.

The Northeast segment particularly focused on connecting regional creative communities with the national fashion and entertainment ecosystem.

Focus on emerging talent

Delhi Fashion Week 2026 also provided opportunities for emerging models and designers. Earlier auditions in Noida had shortlisted models for the event, while the overall programme included multiple designer segments combining fashion, culture and creative expression. 

The organisers positioned the fashion week as a platform for talent development as well as the promotion of Indian textiles and cultural diversity.

A showcase of India's cultural diversity

The Bharat Mandapam event highlighted the growing intersection of fashion, heritage and cultural representation. By bringing handlooms, Khadi and Northeast Indian traditions together with contemporary design, Delhi Fashion Week 2026 presented traditional craftsmanship in a format aimed at modern audiences.

The participation of Manipur, Meghalaya and other Northeast communities added a strong regional dimension to the showcase, underlining the role fashion can play in preserving, promoting and creating wider markets for India's indigenous textiles and creative traditions.

The actress shared her complaint through an Instagram Story, where she claimed that this was the third consecutive instance of receiving garments with the same issue. Her post quickly drew attention on social media, sparking conversations about quality control and product handling in the online fashion retail sector.

In her Instagram Story, Trisha directly tagged Zara and its customer care account while voicing her disappointment.

“Dear @zara @zaracare, a small request. The next time you send a home delivery, please make sure the clothes do not smell of body odour. This is the third time this has happened. It is a very bad experience. At least smell the clothes before packing them,” she wrote.

The actress did not mention the specific products involved or whether she had contacted the company through customer support channels before making the issue public. Zara had also not issued any public response at the time the post gained traction online.

Trisha’s remarks have triggered mixed reactions among consumers, with several social media users sharing their own experiences related to online apparel deliveries. Some users suggested that returned items may occasionally be repackaged and shipped to other customers, while others called on fashion retailers to strengthen their quality inspection processes before dispatching orders.

The incident has once again highlighted concerns around e-commerce fulfilment practices, especially in the fashion industry where product condition and hygiene play a significant role in customer satisfaction.

As one of the most prominent actresses in South Indian cinema, Trisha enjoys a massive fan following across Tamil, Telugu and other regional film industries. Her social media posts often attract significant attention, making even routine consumer complaints a topic of wider public discussion.

On the professional front, Trisha was recently seen in the film Karuppu. Over a career spanning more than two decades, she has established herself as one of the leading stars of Indian cinema and has worked in several commercially successful and critically acclaimed films.

While Zara has not publicly commented on the matter so far, Trisha’s complaint has reignited conversations about customer experience standards and product quality checks in online retail deliveries.