Fashion Week 2025 in Gurugram Mixes High-End Style with Grassroots Vibes
In a groundbreaking partnership, eight upcoming thread-spinners from India's countryside, nicknamed the 'Dream Stitchers', were supported by the M3M Foundation, as they embarked on an extraordinary opportunity to work alongside ace designers, such as the renowned Neeta Lulla, at the Times Lifestyle Style Week in the bustling city of Gurugram. From attending to models to coordinating outfits, these village ingenues, who last year received training from Jaipur-based startup Jaipuri Banno, stepped with confidence into the world of high fashion.
The runway at Grand Hyatt Gurugram blazed with panache and purpose as the Times Lifestyle Style Week presented a spellbinding evening of elegance and imagination. Featuring a powerhouse of nine of India's most dynamic designers—Neeta Lulla, Shweta Aggarwal, Anjalee and Arjun Kapoor, Charu Parashar, Prarena Grover, Rajdeep Ranawat, Reynu Taandon, Samant Chauhan, and Varija Bajaj— the event wasn't simply a display of fashion, but also a celebration of empowerment and diversity. For this installment of the Times Fashion Week, the spotlight wasn't solely on the runway; it also shone brightly on the talented young girls from M3M Foundation's Dream Stitchers program, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to support all our designers with unwavering dedication, inventiveness, and dexterity.
Their involvement breathed life into every creation, and their journey serves as a powerful testament to how fashion can empower and uplift.
Aishwarya Bansal, Trustee of M3M Foundation and Co-founder of Smart World Developers, was present at the event.
Dr Payal Kanodia, Chairperson and Trustee of M3M Foundation, declared, "This is what true influence looks like, where artistry meets purpose. Giving these girls a behind-the-scenes pass to India's top fashion event is not merely about exposure; it's about equity, empowerment, and blending innovation with social transformation. We need more interdisciplinary collaborations like this, championing the marginalized and redefining what opportunity appears to be."
The 'Dream Stitchers' campaign serves as a beacon of hope and metamorphosis, illuminating what is feasible when rural talent is nurtured and provided with a platform to grow. At a time when rural empowerment plays a pivotal role in India's inclusive development, this initiative stands as a compelling example of how grassroots potential can smoothly merge with urban, cosmopolitan platforms, not as an afterthought, but as an equal, celebrated entity.
The presence and participation of the eight young women backstage with leading designers didn't just enhance the event; it redefined what empowerment looks like. Walking away with self-assurance, expertise, and a newfound faith in themselves, these girls now bear within them the bravery to envision dreams once deemed unattainable, yet now stand within reach, thanks to the foresight and perseverance of the M3M Foundation.
Alongside their contributions in garment preparation, wardrobe assistance, styling, and accessory management, the young Dream Stitchers took a heartfelt move further, personally presenting couture shawls to each designer as keepsakes of their craftsmanship and gratitude.
This exposure forms a significant milestone in the Dream Stitchers' journey. Last year, they amazed spectators by compiling a 16-piece assortment of traditional Indian wear, which was modelled by top national and global talent. This year, they broadened their understanding by gaining backstage experience with some of India's most eminent fashion figures, reflecting the M3M Foundation's dedication to grassroots transformation through skill-building and creative empowerment.
As flashbulbs flashed and the runway reverberated with applause, it wasn't merely the designers' collections that made a statement, it was the spirit of inclusion and the vision for change.
- The Dream Stitchers, supported by the M3M Foundation, found themselves backstage at the Times Lifestyle Style Week in Gurugram, integrating their skills with renowned designers like Neeta Lulla.
- With a lifetime of memories crafted, the Dream Stitchers presented scarves as keepsakes to each designer, marking their journey from rural thread-spinning to working in the bustling city's fashion-and-beauty industry.
- The involvement of the Dream Stitchers in the event wasn't just about fashion education and self-development, it was a testament to how rural talent can uplift lifestyles and contribute to the development of urban, cosmopolitan platforms.
- As the Dream Stitchers embarked on their next chapter, they did so with self-assurance and a newfound faith, having redefined empowerment by working alongside leading designers in the fashion and beauty industry, all made possible by the M3M Foundation.
