Luxury couture designer Anjali Phougat brought a powerful message of women’s empowerment to LA Fashion Week on October 24, 2026. Her latest collection, Kintsugi: Devi Mended in Gold, celebrated strength, courage and transformation. Moreover, the showcase at Hollywood’s iconic Dolby Theatre Steps combined fashion with meaningful storytelling.
The collection featured eight striking red couture ensembles with intricate gold detailing. However, the designs represented more than luxury craftsmanship. Each look symbolised resilience and the beauty of rebuilding after adversity.
Furthermore, Phougat dedicated the presentation to acid attack survivors and women entrepreneurs who have rebuilt their lives through determination and courage.
Anjali Phougat Showcases Kintsugi at LA Fashion Week
Anjali Phougat presented her collection during Fashion Beyond Borders at Ovation Hollywood.
The event was organised by LA Fashion Closet, led by Shagun Gupta. Additionally, it brought together 12 designer showcases on an international platform.
Phougat’s luxury label, Designer Dream Collection, was among the selected participants.
Moreover, the event featured presentations alongside Karl Kani and Grammy Award winner Septimius The Great.
Nearly 200 models and more than 70 beauty professionals participated in the programme.
Dr. K. J. Srinivasa, Consul General of India, also attended the event.
Kintsugi: Devi Mended in Gold Celebrates Women’s Strength
The collection draws inspiration from the Japanese art of kintsugi.
This traditional technique involves repairing broken pottery with gold. Instead of hiding cracks, it highlights them as part of an object’s history.
Phougat adapted this philosophy to celebrate women’s resilience.
Furthermore, she combined it with the spiritual symbolism of Devi and Shakti from Indian traditions.
Through this concept, the designer explored how difficult experiences can become part of a person’s journey toward strength and self-acceptance.
Eight Red Couture Looks Carry a Powerful Message
The collection featured eight red couture ensembles with gold-accented seams.
Each design represented a different aspect of resilience and transformation.
Moreover, red symbolised feminine strength, confidence and spiritual energy.
Meanwhile, the gold detailing represented healing, renewal and inner courage.
Together, these elements created a striking visual identity.
Rather than using embellishments only for decoration, Phougat gave them a deeper meaning.
Consequently, every ensemble contributed to the collection’s message of empowerment.
Anjali Phougat Explains the Inspiration Behind Kintsugi
Speaking about her collection, Anjali Phougat shared the philosophy behind its designs.
“Kintsugi teaches us that breakage is not the end of the story; it is where the gold enters,” she said.
Furthermore, she dedicated the collection to women who have faced difficult experiences.
Phougat emphasised that adversity should not define a person’s identity.
“We are not what happened to us. We are what we create,” she added.
Her words reflected the collection’s central message of resilience and personal transformation.
Mohit Lalwani Opens the Showcase With a Flute Performance
The fashion presentation began with a flute performance by Mohit Lalwani of ML Records.
The musical opening added an emotional dimension to the evening.
Moreover, the performance was dedicated to acid attack survivors and women entrepreneurs rebuilding their lives.
This tribute connected the collection’s artistic inspiration with real experiences.
As a result, the showcase became more than a presentation of luxury couture.
It also created space for conversations about courage, dignity and empowerment.
Laxmi Agarwal and Monica Singh Honoured
The collection paid tribute to acid attack survivor and activist Laxmi Agarwal.
Her story inspired the Hindi film Chhapaak, which brought attention to the experiences of acid attack survivors.
Additionally, the showcase honoured fashion designer Monica Singh, founder of the Mahendra Singh Foundation.
Both women were recognised for their journeys of resilience and reinvention.
Furthermore, their inclusion highlighted the importance of celebrating survivors beyond the challenges they have faced.
Through these tributes, Phougat connected fashion with social awareness.
Designer Dream Collection Combines Fashion and Purpose
Anjali Phougat founded Designer Dream Collection, a luxury couture house based in Columbus, Ohio.
The label focuses on conscious couture that combines craftsmanship with storytelling.
Moreover, its designs often explore themes of spirituality, intention and personal meaning.
Rather than treating clothing as purely decorative, Phougat uses fashion to express emotions and cultural ideas.
Her latest collection reflects this creative philosophy.
Consequently, Kintsugi: Devi Mended in Gold reinforces the brand’s commitment to meaningful design.
Anjali Phougat Expands Her International Presence
Designer Dream Collection has previously showcased during Paris Fashion Week, according to the brand’s announcement.
Additionally, the label has received recognition at a Cannes short film awards event.
These appearances have contributed to its international visibility.
Meanwhile, the LA Fashion Week presentation offered another platform for Phougat’s creative vision.
By combining Japanese artistic philosophy with Indian spiritual symbolism, she presented a cross-cultural design concept.
Furthermore, the collection highlighted her interest in using couture to communicate meaningful stories.
Fashion Becomes a Platform for Social Awareness
Fashion can communicate ideas beyond seasonal trends.
Designers often use colours, fabrics and silhouettes to express cultural and personal narratives.
Phougat followed this approach with Kintsugi: Devi Mended in Gold.
Moreover, the collection challenged conventional ideas about perfection.
Instead of concealing imperfections, its gold detailing celebrated the process of rebuilding.
The tribute to acid attack survivors also strengthened the collection’s social message.
As a result, the showcase encouraged audiences to recognise strength, dignity and self-acceptance.
Anjali Phougat Makes a Meaningful Statement at LA Fashion Week
Anjali Phougat’s LA Fashion Week presentation combined luxury couture with a message of women’s empowerment.
Through eight red ensembles, the designer explored resilience, transformation and personal strength.
Furthermore, the tribute to Laxmi Agarwal, Monica Singh and other women rebuilding their lives added emotional significance.
The collection also highlighted the relationship between fashion, spirituality and storytelling.
Most importantly, Kintsugi: Devi Mended in Gold celebrated the belief that adversity does not determine a woman’s worth.
Instead, courage, identity and the ability to move forward deserve recognition.
What do you think about Anjali Phougat’s powerful Kintsugi collection? Share your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned for more international fashion, celebrity style and entertainment updates!
About the author
Neha Nikharge is Assistant Editor at Awesome TV and a writer for AWSM Times. Neha covers Bollywood, OTT releases, celebrity interviews and pop culture for South Asian audiences in the US and around the world, and has written more than 4,500 stories for Awesome TV. Story tips and corrections: hello@awesometv.com.
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