India strengthens its creative dialogue with the MENA region as it continues as Guest Country for Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA) in 2026. Marking this ongoing partnership, New Delhi–based label Kartik Research will present a special showcase at Lakmē Fashion Week x FDCI this March — the brand’s first-ever runway presentation in India.

Founded in 2021 by Kartik Kumra, Kartik Research has swiftly emerged as one of India’s most compelling new-generation labels. Rooted in the idea of restoring humanness to clothing, the brand centres handwork at its core. Wovens are produced on handlooms, embroideries are executed entirely by hand, and each garment carries the imprint of artisan collaboration.

Drawing from India’s layered subcultures, Kartik Research explores heritage through a contemporary lens. References range from the psychedelic optimism of 1960s rock movements to the Indo-modernist art wave of the 1980s, creating collections that examine how craft and cultural aspiration evolve together. The label works closely with master artisans across India, reviving overlooked techniques and repositioning them within a global fashion conversation.

The showcase at Lakmē Fashion Week x FDCI signals a defining homecoming moment for the brand. While Kartik Research has built an international following through its nuanced storytelling and artisanal integrity, this will be its first official presentation on an Indian runway - a milestone that underscores the growing synergy between India’s craft ecosystem and global luxury markets.

Kartik Kumra, Founder, Kartik Research shares “Being recognised by Fashion Trust Arabia as the India Winner is both an honour and a responsibility. Kartik Research was built on the belief that craft is a living language, one that carries memory, labour and identity within it. Presenting at Lakmē Fashion Week x FDCI for the first time in India feels like a meaningful homecoming. It allows us to celebrate the artisans we collaborate with while placing their work within a larger global dialogue,”

Tania Fares, co-founder and co-chair, Fashion Trust Arabia said, "Fashion Trust Arabia is proud to see Karthik Research present his work at Lakmé Fashion Week this season. His distinctive vision and thoughtful craftsmanship truly embody the spirit of emerging talent we aim to champion. Karthik was the winner of our Guest Country category in November 2025, when we partnered with the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre to celebrate India as our guest country. Seeing him now showcase his work on this stage feels like a natural continuation of that collaboration and of our shared commitment to supporting the next generation of designers on an international platform."

Fashion Trust Arabia, now in its 7th edition, remains the first initiative of its kind in the Arab world dedicated to discovering, funding and mentoring emerging design talent across the MENA region. Launched in 2018 under the patronage of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, with Co-Chairs HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani and Tania Fares, FTA awards six annual prizes across design categories, alongside the recently introduced Fashion Tech Award.

As India continues as a Guest Country, the partnership reinforces a broader commitment to cross-cultural exchange, creative mobility and long-term industry development between India and the Arab world. Kartik Research’s showcase becomes both a celebration of craft and a strategic bridge - one that connects regional heritage with a global stage.