R|elan™ × Huemn reimagine the language of modern athleisure at Lakmē Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI

 
At the heart of the collection was beauty and terror, a recurring duality within HUEMN’s design philosophy. Known for drawing inspiration from the social, political and cultural landscapes of the times, the label translated this contrast into a collection defined by archival craft techniques, original prints, experimental surfaces and contemporary sportswear silhouettes.

Through its collaboration with R|Elan™, HUEMN explored the intersection of performance, craftsmanship and high fashion, taking athleisure beyond its conventional codes. The showcase also reflected HUEMN’s evolution over its 14-year design journey, presenting a contemporary wardrobe in which functionality and visual expression existed in equal measure. Each look brought together the label’s distinctive creative approach with R|Elan™’s advanced textile technologies, demonstrating how material innovation could influence both the construction and aesthetic possibilities of fashion.

A key highlight of the collection was the integration of seven R|Elan™ fabric technologies, including Kooltex, GreenGold, Cotluk, EcoTherm, AllClima, EcoGold and AirTherm. These innovations introduced different dimensions of breathability, comfort, adaptability, thermal functionality and responsible material development, allowing performance-led textiles to become an integral part of HUEMN’s design vocabulary. Among the standout pieces was an oxblood denim jacket crafted using R|Elan™ EcoGold, elevated with intricate Chikankari embroidery. The piece brought a traditional Indian craft technique into dialogue with contemporary construction, reflecting the collection’s interplay between heritage and innovation. HUEMN also introduced an original snakeskin print, adding another dimension to its exploration of texture, visual contradiction and unconventional design.

Experimental silhouettes further defined the runway, including a distinctively draped “mummy top” developed using R|Elan™ Kooltex. Inspired by the wrapped and layered forms of Egyptian mummies, the garment translated an unexpected visual reference into a contemporary fashion statement. Kooltex also featured in a hand-illustrated dusty-print jacket, bringing HUEMN’s graphic sensibility together with the fabric’s performance characteristics.

The collection extended its exploration of functionality through cargo pants developed using R|Elan™ EvaSoft, a next-generation fibre engineered for a soft touch, enhanced moisture management and superior wet strength. Together, these pieces presented an approach to everyday dressing in which comfort, movement and craftsmanship were considered alongside contemporary design. Beyond the runway collection, the evening witnessed the unveiling of R|Elan™’s renewed brand identity, marking an important chapter in its eight-year journey.

Reflecting the brand’s commitment to innovation and its ambition to develop smarter, more purposeful textile solutions, the refreshed identity was introduced through the creative lens of HUEMN. The collaboration demonstrated how advanced fabric technologies could move beyond functionality to actively shape the visual language and creative possibilities of contemporary fashion.

Mr. Hemant D. Sharma, President – Polyester, Reliance Industries Limited, commented, “This showcase marks a defining moment for R|Elan. As we enter our eighth year, we are unveiling a renewed brand identity that captures who we have become — a brand that never stands still. We chose Lakmē Fashion Week for this reveal because the true measure of textile innovation is how it comes alive in design. Our collaboration with HUEMN brings seven of our fabric technologies into a single design language, uniting performance, sustainability and craft, and reflecting our ambition to create better, smarter and more purposeful textiles.”

Pranav Kirti, Co-founder & Creative Director, HUEMN, said, “For over a decade, our design journey has been an unapologetic exploration of contrasts, where the rawness of destruction meets the elegance of creation. Partnering with R|Elan allows us to elevate this narrative. By spotlighting our thought-provoking prints and a heritage technique, like Chikankari, in cutting-edge, eco-conscious fabrics like Eco Gold and EvaSoft, we are engineering a resilient, elevated uniform for modern living. This approach seamlessly marries traditional craftsmanship with advanced material science, taking athleisure out of the ordinary and firmly planting it in the realm of high fashion.”

Speaking on the collaboration, Jaspreet Chandok, Group Vice President, Reliance Brands Limited, said, “Lakmē Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI continues to be a space where design, craft and innovation come together to shape new possibilities for Indian fashion. The R|Elan™ × HUEMN collaboration reflects this spirit by bringing advanced textile technologies into conversation with HUEMN’s distinctive approach to contemporary design and craftsmanship. As R|Elan™ enters its eighth year and unveils a new brand identity, the showcase also marks an important moment in its journey, demonstrating how material innovation can find meaningful expression through fashion. We look forward to seeing this collaboration come alive on the runway this season.”

The R|Elan™ × HUEMN showcase at Lakmē Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI brought together textile technology, traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design in a collection that challenged conventional perceptions of athleisure. With its renewed brand identity and continued focus on material innovation, R|Elan™ reinforced its commitment to enabling new possibilities in fashion, while HUEMN presented a distinctive vision of modern dressing where performance, comfort and creative expression came together.