New Delhi : R|Elan™, the next-generation fabric brand from Reliance Industries Limited,
joined forces with contemporary Indian fashion label HUEMN for a runway showcase at Lakmē Fashion Week
in partnership with FDCI, held at Taj Palace, New Delhi, on 16 October 2026. Marking the second collaboration
between R|Elan™ and HUEMN at the platform, the showcase brought together advanced textile innovation,
traditional craftsmanship and HUEMN’s provocative design language to present a new expression of elevated
athleisure. The evening also marked a significant milestone for R|Elan™ as the brand entered its eighth year and
unveiled its renewed brand identity, reflecting its continued evolution across fashion, performance and
sustainability.
At the heart of the collection was beauty and terror, a recurring duality within HUEMN’s design philosophy.
Known for drawing inspiration from the social, political and cultural landscapes of the times, the label translated
this contrast into a collection defined by archival craft techniques, original prints, experimental surfaces and
contemporary sportswear silhouettes. Through its collaboration with R|Elan™, HUEMN explored the intersection
of performance, craftsmanship and high fashion, taking athleisure beyond its conventional codes. The showcase
also reflected HUEMN’s evolution over its 14-year design journey, presenting a contemporary wardrobe in which
functionality and visual expression existed in equal measure. Each look brought together the label’s distinctive
creative approach with R|Elan™’s advanced textile technologies, demonstrating how material innovation could
influence both the construction and aesthetic possibilities of fashion.
A key highlight of the collection was the integration of seven R|Elan™ fabric technologies, including Kooltex,
GreenGold, Cotluk, EcoTherm, AllClima, EcoGold and AirTherm. These innovations introduced different
dimensions of breathability, comfort, adaptability, thermal functionality and responsible material development,
allowing performance-led textiles to become an integral part of HUEMN’s design vocabulary. Among the
standout pieces was an oxblood denim jacket crafted using R|Elan™ EcoGold, elevated with intricate
Chikankari embroidery. The piece brought a traditional Indian craft technique into dialogue with contemporary
construction, reflecting the collection’s interplay between heritage and innovation. HUEMN also introduced an
original snakeskin print, adding another dimension to its exploration of texture, visual contradiction and
unconventional design.
Experimental silhouettes further defined the runway, including a distinctively draped “mummy top” developed
using R|Elan™ Kooltex. Inspired by the wrapped and layered forms of Egyptian mummies, the garment translated
an unexpected visual reference into a contemporary fashion statement. Kooltex also featured in a hand-illustrated
dusty-print jacket, bringing HUEMN’s graphic sensibility together with the fabric’s performance characteristics.
The collection extended its exploration of functionality through cargo pants developed using R|Elan™ EvaSoft,
a next-generation fibre engineered for a soft touch, enhanced moisture management and superior wet strength.
Together, these pieces presented an approach to everyday dressing in which comfort, movement and
craftsmanship were considered alongside contemporary design. Beyond the runway collection, the evening
witnessed the unveiling of R|Elan™’s renewed brand identity, marking an important chapter in its eight-year
journey. Reflecting the brand’s commitment to innovation and its ambition to develop smarter, more purposeful
textile solutions, the refreshed identity was introduced through the creative lens of HUEMN. The collaboration
demonstrated how advanced fabric technologies could move beyond functionality to actively shape the visual
language and creative possibilities of contemporary fashion.
Mr. Hemant D. Sharma, President – Polyester, Reliance Industries Limited, commented, “This showcase
marks a defining moment for R|Elan. As we enter our eighth year, we are unveiling a renewed brand identity that
captures who we have become — a brand that never stands still. We chose Lakmē Fashion Week for this reveal
because the true measure of textile innovation is how it comes alive in design. Our collaboration with HUEMN
brings seven of our fabric technologies into a single design language, uniting performance, sustainability and craft,
and reflecting our ambition to create better, smarter and more purposeful textiles.”
Pranav Kirti, Co-founder & Creative Director, HUEMN, said, “For over a decade, our design journey has
been an unapologetic exploration of contrasts, where the rawness of destruction meets the elegance of creation.
Partnering with R|Elan allows us to elevate this narrative. By spotlighting our thought-provoking prints and a
heritage technique, like Chikankari, in cutting-edge, eco-conscious fabrics like Eco Gold and EvaSoft, we are
engineering a resilient, elevated uniform for modern living. This approach seamlessly marries traditional
craftsmanship with advanced material science, taking athleisure out of the ordinary and firmly planting it in the
realm of high fashion.”
Speaking on the collaboration, Jaspreet Chandok, Group Vice President, Reliance Brands Limited, said,
“Lakmē Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI continues to be a space where design, craft and innovation come
together to shape new possibilities for Indian fashion. The R|Elan™ × HUEMN collaboration reflects this spirit
by bringing advanced textile technologies into conversation with HUEMN’s distinctive approach to contemporary
design and craftsmanship. As R|Elan™ enters its eighth year and unveils a new brand identity, the showcase also
marks an important moment in its journey, demonstrating how material innovation can find meaningful expression
through fashion. We look forward to seeing this collaboration come alive on the runway this season.”
The R|Elan™ × HUEMN showcase at Lakmē Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI brought together
textile technology, traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design in a collection that challenged conventional
perceptions of athleisure. With its renewed brand identity and continued focus on material innovation, R|Elan™
reinforced its commitment to enabling new possibilities in fashion, while HUEMN presented a distinctive vision
of modern dressing where performance, comfort and creative expression came together.