Kolkata: The Indian Institute of Fashion and Design (IIFD) Kolkata presented its latest student showcase, “ROOT CODE – Rooted to the Culture: Design for the Future”, at the prestigious Calcutta Times Fashion Week 2026, where the institute also served as the Title Partner.
The event took place in one of the most premium hotels of Kolkata, conceptualized and designed by the emerging designers of IIFD Kolkata, the ROOT CODE collection explored the evolving dialogue between India’s rich cultural heritage and contemporary fashion sensibilities. The showcase highlighted how traditional craftsmanship, motifs, and textile traditions can be reinterpreted to create designs relevant for a modern global audience.
The runway presented a striking blend of Indo-Western silhouettes, where structured Western tailoring merged with Indian drapes and artisanal surface detailing. Layered jackets paired with fluid skirts, corset-inspired blouses crafted with hand-textured fabrics and asymmetrical cuts reflected the designers’ experimental and forward thinking approach.
Adding glamour to the evening, actress Madhumita Sarcar attended the showcase as the VIP guest while several Kolkata-based fashion and lifestyle influencers were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, Vimi Vansil, Chairperson of IIFD said:
“IIFD has always stood for nurturing originality, confidence, and global perspective in young
designers. Seeing our students present their work at a platform as prestigious as Calcutta Times
Fashion Week reflects the culture of creativity and empowerment that defines IIFD.”
Adding to this, Shikha Agarwal, Campus Director of IIFD Kolkata, shared:
“At IIFD, we believe design education is not only about creating garments but about shaping
creative thinkers who respect tradition while innovating for the future. Platforms like Calcutta
Times Fashion Week give our students the opportunity to translate their ideas into powerful
visual stories and present them to the industry.”
As Title Partner, IIFD Kolkata’s presence at Calcutta Times Fashion Week 2026 highlighted
the institute’s role as a catalyst for emerging talent and industry-ready designers. The showcase
of ROOT CODE reinforced the institute’s philosophy — that the future of fashion lies in staying
deeply rooted while designing for a rapidly evolving world.
Through this collaboration and runway presentation, IIFD Kolkata continues to strengthen its
vision of empowering the next generation of designers with creativity, technical
excellence, and a strong connection to cultural identity.
