The essence of life is vibrant and ever-evolving, resembling an energetic dance. Playfulness  encapsulates this fluidity, honouring the transient and transformative aspects of existence. It goes  beyond mere action, embodying the most authentic human expression, symbolizing freedom,  happiness, and unrestrained exploration of both our external environment and our inner selves.  Through play, we interact with life in a creative manner, breaking away from rigid routines and  structures. In a world increasingly filled with stress and anxiety, infusing playfulness into our daily  routines is more essential than ever. 

In Hindu mythology, the concept of ‘Lila’ (divine play) signifies the playful and creative deeds of the  gods in establishing and maintaining the universe without a specific purpose. Lila embodies the  charm of cosmic humor, illustrating the joyful and spontaneous facets of existence, reminding us that  life is a delightful game meant to be enjoyed and valued. The various realities are transformable,  blurring the lines between divine play and non-play, akin to a divine game of hide and seek. This  blurred boundary reflects the cheerful and spontaneous elements of existence, emphasizing that life  itself is a magnificent game to relish. 

As creators, Kanika and the KGL team looked back at their initial interaction with colours and  drawings and the beauty of these simple acts. You are not aiming to achieve perfectly coloured  drawings and in fact you love colouring outside the lines. Just how life should be. Recognising these  absurdities can sometimes lead to humour, introspection, or a deeper appreciation for the  unpredictable nature of life. 

The brand also took inspiration from the playfulness found in nature - from the aerial views of the  terrains, exteriors of buildings (a lot from Le Corbusier’s Bauhaus and brutalist buildings in Kanika  hometown of Chandigarh) as well as geometry that’s there in nature around us. Movement was key  and combined with a lot of opposites in the collection to create a unique language. 

These elements were incorporated into childlike scribbles in pieces through surface embroidery and  embellishments and added a lot of movement and dynamism in the collection through uneven  drapes flowing out of rigid shapes. The collection introduced newer textures via bonded and pleated  fabrics with contrasting elements that make it unique. There is comfort in incompleteness and  irregularity that’s depicted via odd embellished motifs, distressed and ombre denim with dissipating  graphics and layered graphic engineered shirts that lets your imagination run wild! 

A majority of the cottons and denims are sourced from their network of vendors that have surplus  stock. KGL embrace circularity by using materials that are less resource-dependent and that have  longer life cycles. Implementing a circular mindset in every step of their production cycle guides their  customers to responsibly care for their garments, wear them in multiple ways, and eventually loop  them back into their re-wear cycle. Additionally, they treat denim pieces in effluent treatment plants  to reduce water wastage and are gradually transitioning to eco-friendly chemicals. 

The brand used a lot of different materials and have experimented with embellished appliqués this  season along with engineered embroideries like last time, which can be seen in key pieces such as  the “Mimosa” Embellished Top and the Whipped Ombré Laser Print Denim.

The soundtrack was curated in collaboration with April27 for the presentation. April27 (Dhruv K) is a  South Indian artist based in London. He crafts a supernatural sound that explores the tunnel  between a temple and a nightclub. His debut song “prayer1” features dark, atmospheric production  and samples his grandmother praying. He is inspired by surrealist cinema, video game soundtracks,  and characters such as Jibaro, Chandramukhi, and undercover/mm runaway. 

For KGL’s second showcase at London Fashion Week, the brand has found home in London’s iconic  ICA.