Rimzim Dadu turns mother-of-pearl into couture at ICW 2026

A bit steely. A bit shimmery. A bit unconventional too. It gives metal, but is completely wearable. That's Rimzim Dadu.

For almost 19 years, she has been turning steel into textiles and metal into garments that somehow shimmer, bend and move like cloth. This season at the Hyundai India Couture Week 2026, she pushed that experiment even further, drawing inspiration from the centuries-old art of Mughal inlay work and jewellery-setting techniques for her collection, 'Inlae'.

There were structured sarees, metallic gowns and sculptural silhouettes that looked rigid but flowed like fluid drapes. And that contrast is the signature design language of Dadu, achieved using her steel-wire textiles and metallic cords.

At first glance, certain pieces resembled mirror work as they reflected light. But that's the catch. It's not mirror. This time, the designer used a rather unique material that no one saw coming — mother-of-pearl.

"The idea came to me after months of research. How mother-of-pearl reflects light, plays with light and I have always been fascinated by the play of light," Dadu said while addressing the media. She further shared how this natural material comes in different shapes and sizes, and that no two pieces are the same.

Tiny pieces of the material were individually cut, buffed and hand-set into her signature metallic textiles, creating surfaces that looked somewhere between jewellery and fabric.

There were approximately 45 looks on the runway. The models walked in mini dresses, body-hugging sculpted gowns, metallic sarees and lehengas.

But one feature that dominated the collection was the sleek draping. Deep jewel tones, metallic greys and rich burgundies replaced predictable bridal palettes, while sculptural pallu treatments and bandeau blouses gave the classic silhouette an entirely new personality.

The collection also made a compelling case for menswear.

It leaned into clean tailoring elevated with metallic textures. Cropped bandhgalas, elongated as well as short jackets, and layered separates were crafted with the label's signature steel-wire textiles and metallic cords.

One standout look featured a gunmetal jacket in shades of grey, while another one boasted an ivory jacket hand-set with mother-of-pearls in an intricate, jewellery-like pattern.

There was a lot for grooms-to-be looking for options beyod sherwanis and kurtas.

Each piece took over a month to complete, with teams of artisans working on a single garment.

And once again, Dadu proved that steel doesn't have to feel cold, structure doesn't have to sacrifice movement, and couture can still surprise even after years of innovation.

A bit steely. A bit shimmery. A bit unconventional too. It gives metal, but is completely wearable. That's Rimzim Dadu.

For almost 19 years, she has been turning steel into textiles and metal into garments that somehow shimmer, bend and move like cloth. This season at the Hyundai India Couture Week 2026, she pushed that experiment even further, drawing inspiration from the centuries-old art of Mughal inlay work and jewellery-setting techniques for her collection, 'Inlae'.

There were structured sarees, metallic gowns and sculptural silhouettes that looked rigid but flowed like fluid drapes. And that contrast is the signature design language of Dadu, achieved using her steel-wire textiles and metallic cords.

At first glance, certain pieces resembled mirror work as they reflected light. But that's the catch. It's not mirror. This time, the designer used a rather unique material that no one saw coming — mother-of-pearl.

"The idea came to me after months of research. How mother-of-pearl reflects light, plays with light and I have always been fascinated by the play of light," Dadu said while addressing the media. She further shared how this natural material comes in different shapes and sizes, and that no two pieces are the same.

Tiny pieces of the material were individually cut, buffed and hand-set into her signature metallic textiles, creating surfaces that looked somewhere between jewellery and fabric.

There were approximately 45 looks on the runway. The models walked in mini dresses, body-hugging sculpted gowns, metallic sarees and lehengas.

But one feature that dominated the collection was the sleek draping. Deep jewel tones, metallic greys and rich burgundies replaced predictable bridal palettes, while sculptural pallu treatments and bandeau blouses gave the classic silhouette an entirely new personality.

The collection also made a compelling case for menswear.

It leaned into clean tailoring elevated with metallic textures. Cropped bandhgalas, elongated as well as short jackets, and layered separates were crafted with the label's signature steel-wire textiles and metallic cords.

One standout look featured a gunmetal jacket in shades of grey, while another one boasted an ivory jacket hand-set with mother-of-pearls in an intricate, jewellery-like pattern.

There was a lot for grooms-to-be looking for options beyod sherwanis and kurtas.

Each piece took over a month to complete, with teams of artisans working on a single garment.

And once again, Dadu proved that steel doesn't have to feel cold, structure doesn't have to sacrifice movement, and couture can still surprise even after years of innovation.