“We came back from the other side… This show is part of our healing,” exclaimed designer Gaurav Gupta, showcasing his Spring Summer 25 collection titled ‘Across the Flames’. This show held profound meaning, reflecting a traumatic incident that he and his partner experienced last year. In 2024, Gupta’s atelier in Delhi was engulfed in flames and his partner, poet Navkirat Sodhi, was severely injured. Though the tragedy deeply impacted them, their resilience and healing journey ignited an artistic flame.
‘Across The Flame’
In a recent Instagram post, Gupta and Sodhi shared the solemn story behind his latest collection. “One of the most life-changing experiences happened with us about 8 months ago. We were in a fire accident…” Sodhi suffered 55% burns and was in the ICU for 2.5 months. Doctors gave her a 50% chance of survival. “She is a fighter and survivor…she is a goddess,” he expressed.
In another Instagram post, Sodhi shared a selfie and wrote, “There’s nothing more precious than to be alive… and that is enough.” Gupta’s Paris Couture Week show opened with Navkirat Sodhi baring the burn scars on her limbs and sporting a cream-coloured draped corset gown. She walked the ramp barefoot, giving the look a more raw and stimulating feel.
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Describing the collection, Gupta embodied fire and burning through unique silhouettes that replicated dancing flames, and colours like orange, gold, black, and violet. One all-white gown represented the bandages that Sodhi was covered in after the accident. The collection was an ode to different stages in her recovery process.
The closing look presents an avant-garde embellished black gown. It features a sculptural drape that cascades to the floor. The form-fitting silhouette is complemented by a high slit, adding a sense of movement and fluidity. The black represents the scars from the fire accident, yet the encrusted crystal body peeking through represents a renewal and a second chance at life.
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See the collection here:
