I AM
Photography-Shazid Chauhan
Shahin Mannan presented I AM at Lakmē Fashion Week x FDCI 2026, exploring identity, individuality and the freedom to exist beyond expectations. The collection examined the tension between who we are taught to be and who we choose to become, translating this journey into a contemporary wardrobe that embraced instinct and self-expression. Sharp silhouettes met relaxed proportions, while jersey, suede, denim, Swiss poplin and cotton silks created a play of contrasting textures, weights and movement. Denim emerged as a defining element, grounding the collection in everyday familiarity even as unexpected proportions and material combinations challenged convention. Moths, insects, abstract forms and graphic text appeared as intricate embroidered artworks, transforming familiar garments into expressive, almost illustrative statements. Rather than serving as mere embellishment, these motifs reinforced the collection’s celebration of imperfection and individuality. Moving between precision and nonchalance, structure and ease, I AM proposed clothing as a personal language, one that allows identity to evolve without the need for approval or explanation.
SHOWSTOPPER: SANJANA SANGHI
Sanjana Sanghi brought a contemporary edge to Shahin Mannan’s I AM collection at Lakmé Fashion Week 2026 in a denim-led ensemble featuring sharp tailoring and quirky insect embroidery. Blending classic denim with distinctive detailing, the look captured the collection’s spirit of individuality and self-expression.
The collection’s statement lay in its graphic embroidered artworks, where moths, insects, abstract forms and text brought an instinctive, individualistic edge to contemporary silhouettes. Set against denim and contrasting textures, these details gave familiar wardrobe staples an unexpected character, reflecting Mannan’s vision of dressing without prescribed rules.
Mood: Instinctive, individual and unapologetically yourself
Fabric: Denim, jersey, suede, Swiss poplin, cotton silks
Key Details: Graphic embroidery, moth and insect motifs, abstract forms, unexpected proportions, contrasts in structure and ease
What Caught Our Eye
01 Identity in Motion: A collection that questions inherited expectations and celebrates the freedom to define yourself.
02 Denim, Disrupted: An everyday staple reworked through unexpected proportions and contrasting materials.
03 Embroidered Expression: Moths, insects, abstract forms and graphic text become intricate artworks across the garments.
04 Imperfection as Individuality: A balance of sharp tailoring and relaxed ease that makes space for instinct, personality and self-expression.
