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