Kunal Rawal has long built his menswear around thoughtful tailoring, ease of movement and versatility. For Hyundai India Couture Week 2026, he presents Rawalgarh — his largest collection to date, with over 140 looks that revisit the label’s earliest design codes through a contemporary lens. Modular silhouettes and military-inspired tailoring meet a new colour story developed through the brand’s in-house ‘Dhup Chao’ process, while the collection continues Rawal’s exploration of Indian Black Tie and the evolving wardrobe of the modern groom.
Ahead of the show, we spoke to the designer about the collection, the evolution of his design language, and the soundtrack that shaped its mood.
ELLE: Tell us about the collection you’re showcasing at India Couture Week. What inspired it?
Kunal Rawal (KR): This season is our most expansive menswear collection to date, with over 140 looks exploring the many occasions the Kunal Rawal man dresses for. We revisited some of the earliest codes of the brand and reinterpreted them through a more contemporary lens, bringing together Indian craft, engineered construction and functionality. You’ll see new explorations in textiles, colour and hardware, alongside our interpretation of Indian Black Tie and a fresh perspective on the modern groom. Like every collection, it’s crafted around three ideas that have always defined us: comfort, functionality and wearability.
ELLE: Can you tell us about the cuts, colours and silhouettes that define this collection?
KR: The silhouettes are cleaner, lighter and more adaptable than before. Military-inspired tailoring continues to influence the way we approach construction, while modular details allow garments to transform through the course of a celebration. We’ve also spent a lot of time developing an entirely new colour vocabulary for the brand, engineering shades in-house through our ‘Dhup Chao’ process and other experimentations. Alongside deeper charcoal, wines and mulberries, the groom’s palette also includes oyster, champagne, ivory and washed golds, offering a distinct expression of occasion wear.
ELLE: Having worked across both couture and prêt, what do you think keeps couture relevant today?
KR: Couture has become more personal than ever. People still value craftsmanship, but they also want couture that feels effortless to wear and authentic to who they are. That’s where couture is headed: tradition and handwork, engineered around the realities of how men celebrate today. The more personal it becomes, the more relevant it feels.
ELLE: After all these years, what still excites you most about creating couture?
KR: Curiosity. India has an extraordinary craft vocabulary, and every season feels like another opportunity to discover something new. Sometimes it’s a textile, sometimes it’s a construction technique, sometimes its a different way of looking at a familiar silhouette. Bringing those discoveries together with influences from military, sport, architecture and industrial design, while keeping the focus on the man we’re designing for, is what keeps the process exciting.
ELLE: Who would be the perfect muse for this collection, and why?
KR: I don’t design with one person in mind. It’s for the man who’s comfortable enough to define celebration on his own terms. Someone who respects tradition but isn’t bound by it, and sees style as an extension of his personality rather than a costume or a referenced look.
ELLE: What are five songs that belong on a playlist inspired by this collection?
KR: Over the last few years we’ve been building a sonic identity for the brand, so I would choose tracks that have become part of that journey: Ishq Mitta, Sehra, Vaari, Sangeet ‘24 and Rawal Da Kurta. They carry the same energy as the couture: celebratory, emotional and coded to be ours.
