There are many things India is best known for, including grand weddings with elephants, larger-than-life Bollywood movies, and a culture that fully embraces self-expression. As it happens, Manish Malhotra is intimately familiar with all of them. Within India’s film industry, he’s a household name after having designed memorable wardrobes that graced the screen.
Then, he established his namesake couture house, leading to this moment: his Paris Haute Couture F/W26 debut, where he revealed his collection called Maa.
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Inspired by the memory of his late mother (the title translates literally to “Mother” in Hindi), his new lineup follows the cycle of life and motherhood across four chapters—Cocoon, Bond, Becoming, and Abundance.
Let no one say that Malhotra lacks an eye for detail. Alongside exaggerated proportions, sculptural shoulders, and dramatic back constructions, his exquisite embroidery was perhaps the undisputed crowd favorite.
With Maa, Manish Malhotra shares his personal story while bringing his signature devotion to Indian craftsmanship to Paris Haute Couture Week. All roads lead back to the woman who started it all, it seems, and one can only guess what he will deliver next season.
Photos: MANISH MALHOTRA
Frequently Asked Questions
Manish Malhotra is an Indian designer best known for costuming iconic Bollywood wardrobes before founding his namesake couture house. His Paris Haute Couture F/W26 presentation, Maa, marked his debut on the official Haute Couture calendar, extending his career from Indian cinema into global couture.
Maa, which translates to “Mother” in Hindi, is inspired by the memory of Manish Malhotra’s late mother. The collection follows the cycle of life and motherhood, translating that personal narrative into embroidery, silhouette, and construction across the runway presentation.
Maa is structured across four chapters — Cocoon, Bond, Becoming, and Abundance — each tracing a different stage of the maternal cycle, from early formation to eventual fullness, as expressed through the collection’s silhouettes and embroidery work.
The collection features exaggerated proportions, sculptural shoulders, and dramatic back constructions, with intricate embroidery emerging as the standout element. These techniques reflect Malhotra’s signature devotion to Indian craftsmanship within a haute couture context.
Yes. Maa marked Manish Malhotra’s debut presentation at Paris Haute Couture Week, following his decades-long career designing for Bollywood and running his own namesake couture house in India.
