Madras checks grew out of India's long summers—hand-woven cottons once used for lungis, sarongs and everyday gamchas worn by women and men alike. Affordable, breathable, and beautifully irregular, these squares travelled far, moving from village looms to global wardrobes and eventually tailored into shirts, suits and jackets across Europe and America. Their quiet adaptability becomes the starting point for AFEW's Fresh SS26.
• Familiar • Reimagined • Evolving • Simple • Human •
• Familiar • Reimagined • Evolving • Simple • Human •
- Familiar — classic shirts, T-shirts, bombers, saris and humble textiles like Madras checks, Khadi cottons, muslin and organza form the ground. Everyday items are unfolded and detailed into entirely new avatars.
- Reimagined — familiar pieces shift—corsets cut from hand-loomed checks, T-shirts blooming with fabric petals, dragonflies pieced from Madras squares, hoodies with corset seams, balloon skirts where pleats trap and then release volume. Sequins and silver surfaces add unexpected light.
- Evolving — the checks travel again, from day to evening, cotton to metallic, cloth to embroidery forming flowers, insects and new textures, carrying the story of constant motion.
- Simple — despite intricate drape and construction, each look returns to clarity;
- volumes stay light, fabrics pure, and separates pared down to essential lines.
- Human — every weave and stitch bears the irregularity and quiet presence of the maker, keeping the human story alive in every garment.
AFEW's Fresh SS26 is a fresh take on what is shared and familiar—everyday cloth and shapes re-cut, pleated and reimagined into clothing that feels effortless, modern, and unmistakably touched by hand.
ABOUT AFEW RAHUL MISHRA
'AFEW Rahul Mishra' is Rahul Mishra's label of effortless, easy-to-wear luxury designed for a modern woman's wardrobe. It is rooted in the language of the award-winning couturier, and his commitment to celebrating his Indian roots with a global voice. Abbreviating four key elements of nature Air, Fire, Earth & Water, AFEW emerges from Rahul's creative inclinations towards nature, landscape, art and culture, AFEW articulates fashion that is current yet, timeless. Rooted in comfort and a strong sense of individuality, this brand is designed with an intent of cultivating interesting conversations around creativity, craft & community. Its collections of prét-â-porter, bags and accessories retail out of the Rahul Mishra flagship stores in Mumbai, New Delhi & Hyderabad in India and at select SAKS Fifth Avenue outlets in the United States.
