INDIA: NEXA and Lakme Fashion Week, in association with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), have announced the winner of the sixth edition of ‘NEXA presents The Spotlight’. After a competitive selection process, the label ‘Countrymade’ by designer Sushant Abrol has been declared the winner of the initiative that aims to spotlight and nurture new and emerging talent in the fashion industry.
An array of designers from across the country presented their collections and show concept designs to an esteemed jury of industry experts at the Fashion Design Council of India headquarters in New Delhi. The winning designer, Sushant Abrol, will receive a fund of INR 8 lakhs from NEXA towards the set design and showcase at the upcoming edition of Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI being held between 11th-15th October 2023.
The acclaimed jury that helmed the compelling process included Shashank Srivastava – Senior Executive Director of marketing and Sales at Maruti Suzuki India Limited, Ram Suresh Akella – Executive Director of marketing at Maruti Suzuki India Limited, Sunil Sethi – Chairman of FDCI, Jaspreet Chandok – Group Vice President, Reliance Brands, Ashish Soni – Fashion Designer, Dhruv Kapoor – Fashion Designer, and Sanjana Batra – Senior Fashion Stylist.
Sushant Abrol’s concept for the collection embarks on an extraordinary journey of transcending boundaries and embracing the profound essence of unity. Inspired by the odyssey of a soldier, this collection unfolds a narrative of oneness that emerges from the aftermath of a war, where the soldier relinquishes all material desires in search of solace and enlightenment. The collection weaves a captivating tale of transformation, as silhouettes intertwine like threads, blurring the confines that divide our world. Through a harmonious blend of earthy hues, fabrics infused with stories from handwritten letters, and a seamless fusion of styles, the collection becomes a poignant representation of healing and hope with a seamless blend of NEXA’s theme of Veracity. Rooted in a resounding call for peace, “No Man’s Land” encapsulates a transformative voyage that ignites the universal spirit of humanity within every garment.
Sunil Sethi, Chairman, of FDCI, said, “Lakme, FDCI, and RISE Worldwide have always been committed to nurturing emerging talent within the fashion realm. In its sixth season now, the ongoing initiative of NEXA Presents the Spotlight reaffirms this commitment. There was an array of innovative presentations from participants across the country, but Sushant Abrol’s presentation notably stood out. Anticipation surrounds the Sushant’s upcoming runway presentation, and we remain enthusiastic about our role in inspiring the upcoming designers in the industry.“
Jaspreet Chandok, Group Vice President, Reliance Brands, said, “It is a pleasure collaborating with NEXA to introduce another edition of ‘NEXA presents The Spotlight’ at Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI. Our initial intent, six seasons ago, was to provide emerging talent in the industry with a stage to exhibit their design sensibilities to a wide-reaching global audience. With each passing season, we make strides toward realizing this goal. Sushant Abrol of Countrymade has captivated us with his creativity, and we are keen to witness the showcase of his presentation on this season’s runway.“
The winner was declared from a line-up of 5 shortlisted designers – Countrymade by Sushant Abrol, Graine by Mannat Sethi & Harshana Kandhari, NoughtOne by Abhishek Paatni, Pieux by Pratyush Kumar, and Shriya Khanna of her namesake label who introduced their brands through a competitive creative expression in line with NEXA’s spirit of ‘create, inspire’.
NEXA’s “Create. Inspire” philosophy has given emerging designers an opportunity to freely express themselves and push the boundaries in fashion. The initiative has been credited for bringing forth some of the brightest and most creative minds in the fashion industry to showcase their work at Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI.
In conclusion, the sixth edition of ‘NEXA presents The Spotlight’ has been a resounding success, and the winner, Sushant Abrol of the label Countrymade, will showcase his winning collection at the upcoming edition of Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI in New Delhi.
