Dhingaun’s vision brings together two influential creative platforms—Indian cinema and international fashion—as avenues for cultural diplomacy, artistic collaboration and the promotion of India’s diverse heritage.
His appeal follows his participation in the 31st Admiralty Needle International Fashion, Art and Design Festival, held in St. Petersburg, Russia, from 19 to 23 October 2026. Representing Delhi Fashion Week’s international segment, Dhingaun served as International Fashion Director and show director for the presentation associated with International Reinvent Northeast Season 9. He also served as a jury member for the festival’s designer competition.
Through the initiative, he brought attention to Northeast India’s indigenous textiles, Manipur’s handloom traditions, Meghalaya’s Ryndia silk and contemporary sustainable fashion from Delhi.
Bollywood and Fashion: Two Powerful Bridges Between India and Russia
According to Dhingaun, Bollywood has long offered international audiences a window into Indian stories, music, traditions, emotions and lifestyles. He believes fashion can complement cinema by bringing Indian textiles, designers, craftsmanship and regional identities to international runways and creative platforms.
He sees opportunities for future collaborations involving Indian and Russian filmmakers, fashion designers, models, production houses, cultural organisations and event entrepreneurs.
“Bollywood has a unique power to connect people across borders. Indian cinema has introduced international audiences to our stories, music, traditions and emotions. Fashion can take this connection further by showcasing India’s designers, textiles, craftsmanship and cultural diversity. I believe fashion diplomacy, together with cinema, can create new opportunities for cultural exchange and creative collaboration between India and Russia,” says Dhingaun.
He believes joint fashion events, film-inspired showcases, designer exchanges, cultural festivals and creative-industry partnerships could help audiences in both countries discover one another’s artistic traditions.
For Dhingaun, the objective is not simply to organise fashion shows abroad, but to create meaningful platforms where culture, creativity and international relationships can grow together.
Delhi Fashion Week Takes Northeast India’s Heritage to Russia
A major highlight of the international presentation was the collection “THREADS OF MANIPUR – A LEGACY OF HERITAGE & ELEGANCE,” by designer Lairenlakpam Lily Chanu of Shiroi Lily Closet, Imphal, Manipur.
The collection celebrated Manipur’s handloom heritage, cultural identity and traditional craftsmanship, drawing inspiration from the distinctive Shiroi Lily associated with the Shirui Hills of Ukhrul district.
Presented through the Delhi Fashion Week international initiative, the collection introduced the richness of Manipuri design and textile traditions to an international fashion audience. The wider cultural presentation also highlighted traditional Rongmei Naga attire, reflecting the diversity of Northeast India’s indigenous heritage.
The showcase sought to demonstrate how traditional textiles and regional cultural narratives can find a place in international fashion while retaining their distinctive identities.
For Dhingaun, presenting Northeast Indian heritage internationally is an important step towards creating greater visibility for regional designers and opening new opportunities for indigenous textiles in the global fashion industry.
Meghalaya’s Ryndia Silk Takes Centre Stage in an International Masterclass
The programme extended beyond the runway with an international masterclass at Saint Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design.
Titled “India: The Land of Diversity, Ryndia – The Fabric of Peace,” the masterclass focused on Meghalaya’s indigenous Ryndia silk, a form of Eri silk associated with the state’s textile traditions.
The presentation introduced participants to the cultural significance of Ryndia and its potential within contemporary fashion and sustainable design. It also highlighted the importance of preserving traditional textile knowledge while creating opportunities for Indian materials and craftsmanship to reach international audiences.
The initiative received moral support from the Meghalaya Textile Department, with advisory support from Shri Fredrick Roy, IAS.
By combining a runway presentation with an educational masterclass, the programme connected fashion with textile heritage, design learning and cultural exchange.
Sustainable Indian Fashion Gets an International Platform
The international presentation also featured Kamari, a sustainable fashion brand from Delhi, adding a contemporary design perspective to the programme.
Dhingaun represented the brand and contributed to the show’s choreography and direction, bringing together creative presentation and the promotion of Indian design.
The inclusion of contemporary sustainable fashion alongside traditional textiles reflected the initiative’s broader vision: connecting India’s cultural heritage with evolving international conversations about responsible design, craftsmanship and fashion innovation.
The programme positioned Indian fashion as a meeting point between tradition and modernity, where indigenous materials and cultural identities can inspire new creative expressions.
Harshit Dhingaun’s Vision for Fashion Diplomacy
Speaking about the significance of the international participation, Dhingaun said:
“For me, fashion is much more than a runway. It is a language through which we can tell the stories of our people, our traditions and our country. Representing Delhi Fashion Week at an international festival in Russia gave us an opportunity to bring Indian creativity and the textile heritage of Northeast India to a wider audience.
“I see tremendous potential in connecting Bollywood, fashion and cultural exchange. Indian cinema already has a powerful international identity. If we bring filmmakers, designers, artists and cultural institutions together, we can build new creative partnerships between India and Russia. My vision is to use fashion as a bridge between cultures and create more international opportunities for Indian designers, handloom communities and young creative talent.”
Through Delhi Fashion Week and International Reinvent Northeast, Dhingaun aims to develop platforms that connect regional Indian designers and traditional textile practices with international fashion communities.
His approach places cultural representation alongside professional fashion production, with the aim of helping Indian designers and indigenous craftsmanship gain wider recognition.
From the Runway to International Cultural Collaboration
Dhingaun’s participation at the Admiralty Needle festival represents an international extension of his work through Delhi Fashion Club and VOY Media & Events.
As Chairman of Delhi Fashion Club and Director of VOY Media & Events, he works across fashion show production, designer platforms, event management, media and public relations, and cultural initiatives.
His vision for the future is to encourage more international fashion presentations, Indian textile showcases, designer exchanges and collaborations connecting the creative industries of India and Russia.
He also sees potential for Bollywood-related fashion showcases and film-inspired cultural events that could bring cinema, costume design, textiles and runway presentation together.
The broader objective is to create opportunities for Indian designers and cultural practitioners to engage with international audiences while celebrating the country’s diversity.
From Manipur’s handloom traditions to Meghalaya’s Ryndia silk, and from Bollywood’s storytelling power to sustainable fashion from Delhi, Dhingaun’s message is that India’s cultural diversity can become a powerful foundation for international creative collaboration.
For him, Bollywood can help tell India’s story, fashion can bring that story to life, and cultural exchange can help build lasting connections between nations.
About Harshit Dhingaun
Harshit Dhingaun is the Chairman of Delhi Fashion Club and Director of VOY Media & Events. His work includes fashion show production, event management, designer development, media and public relations, and initiatives promoting Indian fashion, indigenous textiles and cultural heritage.
Through Delhi Fashion Week and International Reinvent Northeast, he works to create opportunities for Indian designers and regional textile traditions to reach national and international audiences.
Media Contact
Harshit Dhingaun
Chairman, Delhi Fashion Club
Director, VOY Media & Events
New Delhi, India
Website: www.delhifashionweek.in
Instagram: @delhifashionclub
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