Jalandhar October 4 (Jaswinder Singh Azad)- Apeejay College of Fine Arts, Jalandhar under the aegis of Rajeshwari Kala Sangam, Jalandhar proudly hosted its much-awaited and magnificent fashion showcase – Lavanya: Couture Carnival – under the esteemed patronage of Mrs. Sushma Paul Berlia, Chairman, Apeejay Education. The event turned out to be even more special as it was the part of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of ACFA on the occasion of birth anniversary of Founder Chairman Dr. Stya Paul Ji.
A signature event of the institution, Lavanya provides a distinguished platform for the budding designers of Apeejay to translate their innovative, distinctive, and trailblazing ideas into reality. This grand celebration of fashion is not merely a show but a vibrant confluence of creativity, talent, and vision, bringing together designers, models, makeover artists, anchors, and fashion connoisseurs in a memorable evening of elegance and artistry. With models gracing the ramp in captivating ensembles, radiating sophistication and grace, the event left the audience spellbound and transformed the evening into an unforgettable celebration of design and style.
The gala evening was graced by Mrs.Ila Gupta (Managing Director, Universal Carbons, Hoshiarpur), Mr. Gaggun Bedi (Renowned Dancer & Choreographer), Ms. Sana Gupta as Guest of Honours. The evening also witnessed Mr. Nirmal Mahajan (Member, Board of Governors, Apeejay Education) and Dr. Sucharita Sharma (Director, Apeejay Education, Jalandhar) amongst others.
Dr. Neerja Dhingra extended a warm welcome to the distinguished guests
Dr. Neerja Dhingra, Principal of Apeejay College of Fine Arts, extended a warm welcome to the distinguished guests and highlighted that Apeejay continues to thrive and soar because its foundation was laid by a visionary deeply rooted in culture and art – the Founder Chairman, Dr. Stya Paul. She emphasized that the strong principles envisioned by him continue to guide the institution on its creative journey. This rich legacy, she emphasised, is being carried forward with equal dedication and vision by his daughter and the present Chairman, Mrs. Sushma Paul Berlia, whose dynamic leadership and unwavering support make evenings of such artistic celebration possible.
The evening was elevated by the virtual presence of Dr. Neha Berlia, Co-Owner & Director, Family Business Board, and Lead of the Education Vertical – Apeejay Stya & Svran Group. In her virtual address, she congratulated everyone for the gala evening and highlighted that such events not only celebrate creativity but also inspire young talent to push boundaries and embrace excellence.
The grand evening was further graced by the presence of celebrity artists – Mr. Yuvraj Hans, a celebrated Punjabi actor-singer and proud alumnus of ACFA; Mrs. Mansi Sharma, acclaimed actor and model; and Dr. Anadi Mishra, a renowned singer and alumnus of the college. Their dynamic presence and performances lit up the stage, filling the atmosphere with joy and enthusiasm. The audience was thrilled to witness them in person, which added an extra charm to the evening.
Mr. Yuvraj Hans and Dr. Anadi Mishra credited ACFA for being the launchpad of their artistic journey
Expressing their heartfelt gratitude, alumni Mr. Yuvraj Hans and Dr. Anadi Mishra credited ACFA for being the launchpad of their artistic journey, affirming that the college instilled in them the confidence, vision, and strength to turn their passion into celebrated achievements. “Whatever we are today, the roots were sown here at ACFA – this institution gave us the wings to dream and the courage to fly,” they remarked, leaving the audience inspired and proud.
Lavanya 2025 unveiled a spectacular showcase of creativity and artistry, where each collection told its own unique story through fabric, form, and design, beginning with Canvas 001, inspired by the formidable spirit of Maha Durga, merging structured western formals with strength, poise, and timeless elegance, brought to life by Sukhmeen Kaur, Gunika Sethi, and Harpriya Saini.
The Bronze Shift translates the cosmic rhythm of the Yugas into fashion, where golden hues, fluid silhouettes, and dramatic layers weave philosophy and artistry into wearable expressions, envisioned by Kashika Anand and Mehr Dhillon. Ibtida unfolds the designers’ journey through the poetry of Persian carpets, blending heritage with contemporary fashion in flowing silhouettes and intricate macramé details, masterfully created by Anmol Sharma and Harleen Kaur.
Tahyab celebrates purity and resilience, drawing inspiration from Yemen’s tribal culture
Bandhej Black Tie reinterprets Indian textile heritage, transforming Ajrak motifs into bold, contemporary tuxedos for the modern man, with deep hues and subtle embellishments reflecting a dialogue between tradition and global menswear, realized by Rohan Kapoor, Simran, and Mohammad Quasim. Tahyab celebrates purity and resilience, drawing inspiration from Yemen’s tribal culture through flowing sarees, pleats, metallic motifs, and vibrant tribal hues, elegantly crafted by Pragati and Simranjit Kaur. Blazer Bazaar channels the grandeur of the Ottoman Empire, fusing sharp lines, tweed fabrics, and metallic accents to balance heritage with modernity, envisioned by Devanshi Malhotra and Ananya.
Wabi Sabi honours the beauty of imperfection, where flowing gowns, delicate drapes, and golden-seamed embroidery transform flaws into art, brought to life by Chaitanya Gupta. Sea & She, a resort wear collection championing sustainable fashion through the use of surplus fabrics, flows with the rhythm of the ocean in breezy silhouettes, vibrant florals, and bold digital prints celebrating the bond of three generations, elegantly designed unitedly by students from Department of Design.
The jury members, Mr. Gaggun Bedi, a renowned Choreographer; Ms. Priyanna Thapar, Senior Fashion Designer and Stylist; and Ms. Shivani Thakur, Creative Head evaluated the designers and models on the ramp bringing their expertise and discerning eye to judge the creativity, innovation, and execution of each collection.
In Lavanya 2025 Ibtida won the title of Best Design, created by Anmol Sharma and Harleen Kaur
In Lavanya 2025 Ibtida won the title of Best Design, created by Anmol Sharma and Harleen Kaur and the runners-up for Best Design were Kashika Anand and Mehr Dhillon for The Bronze Shift. Blazer Bazaar was awarded Best Innovative Design done by Divanshi and Ananya. Canvas 001 won the award for the best surface ornamentation done by Harpriya, Sukhmeen and Gunika and the runners-up for the same were Pragati and Simranjit for their creation Tehyab. Ms. Simran was crowned Best Female Model, while Vaibhav received the Best Male Model title.
Dr. Sunit Kaur, Head of the Department of English, delivered the formal Vote of Thanks, expressing gratitude to the distinguished guests, alumni, representatives from the fashion and textile industries, and the enthusiastic audience for making the evening a grand success. She specially acknowledged the dedication and meticulous efforts of Mr. Akshaydeep, Curator of Lavanya 2025, for orchestrating the event seamlessly.
Principal Dr. Neerja Dhingra also appreciated the outstanding contributions of Ms. Rajni Gupta, Head of the Department of Design, along with Ms. Rajni Kumar and Ms. Monika Anand, for their pivotal roles in bringing the show to life.
Best Designer: Harleen & Anmol Sharma for Ibtidaa
Runner up Best Designer: Kashika Anand and Mehar dhillon for Bronze shift
2nd Best Surface Ornamentation: Pragati & Simranjeet Kaur for Round Tahyaab
Best Surface Ornamentation: Gunika, Sukhmeen Kaur, Haripriya Saini for Round Canvass 001
Best Male: Vaibhav
Best Female Model: Simranjeet Kaur
Best innovative design for Blazer Bazaar bagged by Ms Divanshi and Ananya