There is a reason every civilisation built a fort. Not to defend what it had, but to protect what it was becoming.

More than stone and structure, a fort was a meeting place for ideas. Traders arrived with unfamiliar materials. Craftsmen exchanged techniques that would become heirlooms. Soldiers brought uniforms that found new life in ceremony. Musicians carried songs across regions, while storytellers passed down qissas that evolved with every retelling. Layer by layer, generation after generation, traditions were shaped not by a single hand, but by countless influences gathered over time.

Rawalgarh begins with that idea. Presenting at FDCI Hyundai India Couture Week 2026, Rawalgarh is the most complete expression of the brand to date. Rather than introducing a new design aesthetic, it brings together the ideas that have consistently shaped Kunal Rawal over the past fifteen years. Military references. Hidden construction. Textile innovation. The ease of sportswear. The precision of architecture. The tactility of handcraft. This season, they converge within one world.

THE PERFORMANCE - CUSTODIANS OF RAWALGARH

The show opens with a monologue and glimpses into the world of Kunal Rawal, before revealing the sights, sounds and souls of Rawalgarh: its custodians. Keepers, protectors and the unmistakably Indian spirit of this imagined land, they stand like living nazar battus, welcoming the audience through its gates.

Dressed in Rawalgarh's interpretation of Indian Black Tie, they embody the spirit of the sangeet, where music, movement and celebration shape silhouettes engineered as much for performance as they are for occasion.

The performance unfolds through the ritual of Shubh Muhurat, as a symbolic baton passes from one custodian to the next, marking the beginning of an auspicious new chapter. In that moment, Rawalgarh comes to life.

THE FIRST-EVER MUSIC VIDEO // RAWALGARH DI JUGNI

Rawalgarh di Jugni marks a new chapter in Kunal Rawal's storytelling, introducing the brand's first-ever music video and original musical universe. Shot at the iconic Alila Fort Bishangarh, the film brings together couture, music and cinema against a landscape whose raw stone architecture mirrors the collection itself: structure meets fluidity, heritage meets modernity, and permanence meets reinvention. Guiding the audience into Rawalgarh is the crow, a timeless messenger that leads us through its fictional gates before disappearing into the world beyond.

Created by Kunal Rawal, Akshay & IP, the soundtrack builds on the brand's distinctive sonic identity, blending rock-and-roll grit with Punjabi folk rhythm. At its heart is Jugni, imagined as the rani of Rawalgarh and a symbol of individuality, energy and light. The story extends beyond a single release into a four-track original EP, with Rawalgarh di Jugni, Ve Sohneya, Laung Da Vacha and Jogi forming the complete soundscape of the collection.

THE COLLECTION - AN ALL-MENSWEAR CELEBRATION

Rawalgarh unfolds through more than 150 all-menswear looks, marking the brand's most expansive expression of menswear to date.

The collection begins with studies in ivory. Contemporary chikankari. Softened florals. Garments reduced to their essentials before gradually revealing the full design language of Kunal Rawal. From there, Rawalgarh unfolds across three chapters: Couture Festive, Eveningwear and Ceremonial, tracing the modern Indian man's journey from intimate celebrations to Indian Black Tie dressing, and finally, the groom.

Rawalgarh presents a complete philosophy of occasionwear. Construction is treated with the same importance as embellishment. Comfort becomes the highest expression of luxury. Military precision coexists with handcrafted textiles, while engineering, adaptability and functionality become as integral to couture as craftsmanship itself.

That philosophy extends into colour. Every shade is developed specifically for the world of Kunal Rawal, where depth, tonality and movement take precedence. Through layered threads, tonal embroideries, over-dyeing and signature techniques such as Dhup Chao, colour is engineered in-house, creating garments that shift subtly with light, texture and movement.

Above all, Rawalgarh reflects the enduring curiosity that has always defined the brand: a belief that tradition grows stronger when challenged, craftsmanship becomes richer through innovation, and the future of Indian occasionwear lies in bringing them together.

COUTURE FESTIVE 

Rawalgarh opens in daylight, exploring the effortless ease of festive dressing through the lens of comfort, functionality and wearability. Military influences, artisanal craftsmanship and textile innovation come together to redefine the language of contemporary Indian occasionwear.

Textiles lead the conversation. Heritage fabrics are reconstructed through modern tailoring and engineered construction, creating an entirely new vocabulary for menswear. Chikankari is reimagined with raffia, knot work and contemporary surface treatments, while Banarasis, brocades and tissue silks are developed into lighter, more fluid constructions. Familiar fabrics take on unexpected qualities: silk behaves like seersucker, twills borrow the softness of silk, and traditional textiles are transformed through washes, over-dyeing, reconstruction and richly developed woven textures.

That same spirit of innovation extends to construction. Borrowing from the intelligence of performance wear, garments feature lightweight engineering, sweat-absorbing linings, technical panelling and refined pattern-making that challenge traditional notions of occasionwear. The result is couture that feels considerably lighter and more comfortable than it appears.

Military thinking continues to shape the collection through functionality. Cropped bandhgalas, shorter bundis, deconstructed sherwanis, reimagined kediyus, collarless jackets and military-inspired overshirts introduce fresh proportions, while hidden pockets, engineered interiors and modular construction reflect the brand's belief that true luxury is experienced as much by the wearer as it is seen by the observer.

Adaptability emerges as another defining code. Attach-and-detach elements, reversible constructions, removable epaulettes, interchangeable embellishments and bespoke hardware allow garments to evolve throughout an occasion, reinforcing the idea that contemporary luxury lies in versatility as much as craftsmanship.

Craft remains at the heart of the collection. Chikankari, French knots, Dhup Chao, Kantha, raffia, chattai work, custom Banarasis, brocades and intricate threadwork are brought together with military twills, washed linens and industrial textures, creating a conversation between heritage and innovation that has become synonymous with the world of Kunal Rawal.

The palette reflects the same philosophy. Washed military olives, rusts, burnt oranges, taupes, charcoal, mulberry, faded pinks and warm salmons replace conventional festive colour, while Tangaliya weaves, layered neutrals and engineered tonalities create unique depth.

Hardware and construction become signatures in their own right. Rivets, Morse code engravings, custom clasps, concealed fastenings and architectural detailing reinforce a design language where engineering and craftsmanship exist as one continuous thought.

Throughout Couture Festive, Rawalgarh reimagines Indian occasionwear with the precision of a uniform, the richness of Indian craft and the ease of contemporary dressing, proposing a wardrobe where function and emotion are never separate ideas.

EVENINGWEAR 

As day gives way to night, Rawalgarh enters the world of Indian Black Tie: Kunal Rawal's evolving vision for contemporary evening dressing. Rooted in precision, personality and ease, it reimagines formalwear for the way men celebrate today.

Bandhgalas become leaner and more architectural. Deconstructed sherwanis evolve through lighter construction and sharper tailoring, while pleated and pin-tucked kurtas, knot-neck details and richly textured brocades find new expression across jackets, shirts and kurtas. The result is a wardrobe that moves beyond rigid occasion dressing, allowing every man to build his own interpretation of eveningwear.

Military references remain integral to this part of the collection as well. Engineered cuffs, harness-inspired details, attached cummerbunds, tail-coat backs, high-low proportions and modular elements introduce adaptability into couture, while hidden functionality and considered interiors reinforce the brand's belief that luxury is defined as much by how a garment is experienced as by how it looks.

The palette deepens after sunset. Charcoal emerges as a defining proposition, joined by steel greys, petrol, aubergine, jamun, mulberry, dark wine and softened military neutrals. Rawalgarh explores tonal dressing, where texture, craftsmanship and subtle shifts in colour create depth and sophistication.

Throughout the chapter, tailoring becomes sharper, craft more refined and construction increasingly precise, while comfort remains constant. The result is a contemporary evening wardrobe that establishes a new language for Indian Black Tie: one shaped by functionality, craftsmanship and the evolving way men dress for celebration.

CEREMONIAL 

Rawalgarh culminates in the ceremonial wardrobe, reimagining the groom for the entire journey of celebration. Here, craftsmanship is balanced with movement, adaptability and ease, offering a contemporary perspective on Indian groomswear.

Leading the chapter is one of the collection's defining innovations: the Magnet Stole, a new signature developed by Kunal Rawal that rethinks one of ceremonial dressing's most iconic elements. While the stole has long been synonymous with the Indian groom, it has equally been accompanied by the choreography of constant readjustment. Through an engineered magnetic construction, it remains effortlessly in place while allowing the garment to evolve throughout the celebration. Detachable drapes, modular collars, hidden fastenings, bespoke hardware and engineered clasps give the groom the freedom to transform his silhouette as naturally as the rituals themselves unfold.

The collection also introduces the Jamewar shawl into the world of Kunal Rawal, reinterpreting a timeless heirloom through the brand's contemporary design language.

Craftsmanship continues to evolve through oxidised zardozi, French knots, bespoke brocades and signature textile techniques, where embroideries are intentionally softened to evoke the patina and character of heirloom garments passed through generations.

The palette reflects the same restraint. Oyster, champagne, ivory, washed gold and white gold replace overt opulence with tonal richness, allowing texture, craftsmanship and construction to take centre stage.

Silhouettes expand the language of groom dressing beyond the traditional sherwani, introducing riding breeches, slim breeches, dhotis, contemporary pehmats, Patialas, the return of the brand's signature kaddis and new interpretations of tailored cargos. Military-inspired boots, riveted mojaris, two-tone Chelsea boots and bespoke hardware continue the dialogue between ceremony and utility.

A new language of motifs completes the collection. Micro embroideries replace grand ornamentation, while prosperity symbols, architectural geometries, fragmented Patola, Chikankari florals, Indian foliage and abstract textile studies create a layered visual narrative that honours heritage without becoming nostalgic.

Throughout Ceremonial, every element is designed to transition, adapt and evolve with its wearer. Construction becomes ceremony, function becomes luxury, and tradition is reimagined for the modern groom confidently into what comes next.

Sunil Sethi, Chairman, FDCI, said: "Kunal Rawal has consistently brought a contemporary perspective to Indian couture, combining craftsmanship with a modern design language. We are delighted to present his showcase at Hyundai India Couture Week. Our continued partnership with Hyundai enables us to celebrate designers who are shaping the future of Indian fashion while honouring its rich craft traditions."

Tarun Garg, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd, said: "At Hyundai Motor India Limited, we believe that innovation and design have the power to inspire, connect and shape the future. Our continued association with FDCI for Hyundai India Couture Week reflects Hyundai's commitment to celebrating creativity in all its forms. Kunal Rawal's contemporary interpretation of Indian menswear, driven by precision, innovation and timeless craftsmanship, embodies values that resonate with Hyundai's own design philosophy. Together, we are delighted to create an immersive experience that seamlessly blends cutting-edge mobility with the artistry of Indian couture."

RAWALGARH IN SIX CODES

Rawalgarh is less a seasonal collection than a continuation of the ideas that have consistently shaped the world of Kunal Rawal. It refines the brand’s enduring design aesthetic through new materials, sharper construction and a more expansive approach to modern Indian occasionwear for men. Across more than 150 all-menswear looks, the collection unfolds through three distinct chapters, tracing the journey from intimate celebrations to evening dressing and finally the ceremonial wardrobe. The collection expands six defining codes:

01 — Reimagined Textiles Heritage fabrics reconstructed through innovation, engineering and contemporary tailoring.
02 — Intelligent Construction Military-inspired functionality, modular design and engineered versatility.
03 — Engineered Colour
A colour language developed from within. Layered threads, tonal embroideries, over-dyeing and textile manipulation create shades with depth, movement and dimension, resulting in colours engineered as precisely as the garments themselves.
04 — Indian Black Tie A new proposition for evening dressing, balancing precision with personality.
05 — Evolving Craft Traditional techniques reinterpreted through modern construction and material experimentation.
06 — The Contemporary Groom A ceremonial wardrobe reimagined through movement, adaptability and innovation.
The end.