Gaurav Gupta was forced to cancel last season’s couture show in Paris after a devastating fire set off at a party he attended in Delhi. His life partner, Navkirat Sodhi—a poet and performer he refers to as his twin flame—suffered severe burns and underwent multiple surgeries. The traumatic event sparked a profound spiritual journey, with shamans and healers helping the recovery. “We came back from the other side,” Gupta reflected. “This show is part of our healing.” Drawing from the pain of loss, the gratitude for survival, and the celebration of resilience, he presented a deeply personal collection titled Across the Flame.
Sodhi opened the show barefoot, wearing a sheer pale dress that deliberately revealed the scars on her leg. She recounted her experience, her voice accompanied by the rhythmic beats of tabla musicians. What followed was a parade of sculptural creations, some bordering on the outlandish—lean silhouettes amplified by voluminous, structured jutting plays of draping and pleating, heavily embroidered bodices, long trailing skirts and sweeping capes. A blue lacquered breastplate, hiding half of a model’s face, hinted at the designer’s fascination with armors as symbols of protection and strength against the odds, adding a further layer of drama to the collection’s intense vibe.
The ordeal Gupta endured with Sodhi inspired him to create the Twin Flame dress—a deep-orange silk design draped around the bodies of two identical models, enfolding them in an embrace that symbolized a profound spiritual bond. A brocade woven in Benares featured an ancient Sanskrit chant embedded in the fabric, that was also painted on a model’s face. Touching and flamboyant, the show was intended as a powerful affirmation of love. Said Gupta: “From pain comes resilience, rebirth and hope.”
