Khadi Beyond Borders
New Zealand Fashion Week launches partnership with Fashion Design Council of India for reciprocal showcases.
New Zealand Fashion Week presented by Giltrap Group (NZFW) will welcome one of India's most celebrated textile traditions to the Auckland runway this August, as the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) presents Khadi Beyond Borders as part of a landmark partnership between the two organisations.
Taking place on 18 August during NZFW 2026, the showcase marks the first major initiative under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between FDCI and NZFW during the New Zealand Prime Minister's trade mission to India earlier this year. The agreement creates an ongoing reciprocal platform for emerging and established designers from both countries to showcase their work internationally and will strengthen creative and commercial ties between New Zealand and India.
At the heart of the showcase is Khadi, India's iconic handspun and handwoven textile. Once a symbol of India's independence movement and self-reliance, Khadi has evolved into a globally recognised fabric celebrated for its craftsmanship, heritage and sustainable production. Khadi Beyond Borders reimagines this historic textile through the work of four of India's leading contemporary designers, demonstrating its versatility for today's global fashion landscape.
The addition of Khadi Beyond Borders reflects New Zealand Fashion Week's continued commitment to building a globally connected fashion platform that celebrates diverse voices, cultures and creative perspectives. Through international partnerships like this, NZFW is creating new opportunities for cultural exchange while introducing New Zealand audiences to world-leading designers and craftsmanship.
"Khadi on an Auckland runway — for me, that is the moment the idea of creating the Fashion Design Council of New Zealand (FDCNZ) was born. When Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Minister Piyush Goyal witnessed the signing of our MOU with FDCI, we made a promise to both nations: that this partnership would produce something the world would notice. Khadi Beyond Borders is that promise kept. Rajesh Pratap Singh headlining NZFW is a statement. Samant Chauhan, Shruti Sancheti and Pawan Sachdeva joining him is a movement. Together, they will show Auckland — and the global fashion community watching — that Khadi is not simply heritage. In the hands of India’s finest designers, Khadi is the future. In creating FDCNZ, we are placing New Zealand firmly on the map of global fashion diplomacy. August 18 is just the beginning."
- Feroz Ali, New Zealand Fashion Week Owner.
Acclaimed designer Rajesh Pratap Singh will headline the presentation with a dedicated solo showcase. Widely recognised for redefining contemporary Indian fashion through precision tailoring, understated elegance and meticulous craftsmanship, Singh's work has earned international acclaim for its refined silhouettes and timeless aesthetic.
His presentation will be followed by a collaborative runway showcase featuring Samant Chauhan, whose collections reinterpret heritage craftsmanship through contemporary silhouettes; Shruti Sancheti, who brings a philosophy of understated luxury and modern femininity; and Pawan Sachdeva, whose experimental, street-inspired menswear demonstrates the versatility of Khadi through a fresh, youthful lens.
Commenting on the collaboration, Fashion Design Council of India Chairman Sunil Sethi said the partnership represents an important milestone in bringing Indian design and craftsmanship to new international audiences.
Speaking to the partnership, Sunil Sethi says;
"FDCI signed an MOU in the presence of the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Rt Hon Christopher Luxon, the Hon'ble Minister of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, Piyush Goyal, and Feroz Ali, Chairman of New Zealand Fashion Week. This collaboration will further strengthen Khadi's position on the global fashion map. During my tenure as Advisor to Khadi and Village Industries Commission, I have consistently worked towards showcasing the limitless potential of this extraordinary fabric to discerning audiences worldwide. We are delighted to bring the essence of Khadi to New Zealand and present its rich heritage, versatility and contemporary relevance to a new international audience."
Public tickets to Khadi Beyond Borders at New Zealand Fashion Week 2026 are on sale now via nzfashionweek.com.
L - R: Piyush Goyal (Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry), Feroz Ali (Owner, New Zealand Fashion Week), Sunil Sethu (Chairman, Fashion Design Council of India), Rt. Hon Christopher Luxon (New Zealand Prime Minister).