By Krishna Thacker
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that just one year into design school, I would be showcasing my collection at Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI. It felt surreal. I’ve spent years watching iconic designers light up the ramp, secretly manifesting that one day I’d be among them. I just didn’t know that day would come so soon.
This year’s theme was Urban Nomad, and I found myself drawn to the migratory journey of the Arctic Tern—a bird that travels across the globe, defying limits and adapting to every environment it passes. Much like the modern nomad, it carries resilience and purpose through movement. Inspired by this, I created my collection, “Arctic Voyage,” an ode to exploration, adaptability, and elegance in motion.
I had always dreamt of walking the ramp at a major fashion week, and this was my first time doing so—not just as a designer, but also wearing something I had created myself. That made it even more special. To reflect the essence of Arctic Voyage and the Urban Nomad theme, I designed my outfit as a personal expression of the story behind the collection. Inspired by the Arctic tern’s migration, it featured embroidered birds, flowing lines, and structured city grids—capturing movement, adaptability, and the contrast between freedom and structure. The blue embroidery symbolized the spirit of exploration, while deep burgundy accents tied it back to the heart of the collection.
Designing it was my way of celebrating this milestone and honoring the path that led me to the runway.
As a first-year student, the journey was both beautiful and incredibly stressful. I lacked experience, and to make things more chaotic, my house was shifting during that exact time. But I had a vision, and I refused to let anything shake it. I was determined to bring “Arctic Voyage” to life. Those two months were packed with sleepless nights, long hours of fittings, second-guessing my choices, and celebrating every small win that kept me going.
But no amount of planning could prepare me for what happened next.
It was a mix of disbelief, happiness, and panic. My garment was at the steam iron place at that time, so I rushed to get it back and took everything I had to her home that very night. Nushrratt tried on two of my garments and couldn’t decide between them, so we scheduled a second fitting for the next morning. On the day of the show, I made her final alterations at her home, right before rushing to the venue.
The show was scheduled for 2 PM, and I left her place at around 12:40. I reached the venue just in time—around 1:30. Everything was a blur. I missed the ramp walk choreography practice, and I was a bundle of nerves. To make things even more intense, my family had my heels, and they hadn’t arrived yet. I was so anxious they would miss the show. But in a flash, it all happened—the adrenaline, the backstage rush, the energy—and suddenly, it was showtime.
And when I saw Nushrratt walk the runway in my creation, everything just paused. That single moment was pure magic. Watching my garments come alive on that runway, with all the lights, music, and movement—it was overwhelming in the best possible way. My heart was full. Every sketch, every stitch, every sleepless night—it all led to that moment.
I’m also endlessly grateful to the people who stood by me—my mentors, friends, my partner in this journey Aanya and most special my family who stood by me in each and every step.
To every design student reading this: your dreams are valid. You may be in your first year or just starting out, but don’t let that hold you back. Trust your ideas. Trust your pace. And trust that every small step you take brings you closer to that runway.
Because truly—the runway is closer than you think.
