BB Desk
Whistling Woods International hosted Aiyanna 2026, the annual graduation showcase by its School of Fashion & Costume Design, celebrating a decade of nurturing emerging fashion talent through creativity, collaboration, and industry-driven learning.
Held at the institute’s Mumbai campus, the showcase featured graduating students presenting original collections that blended couture, conceptual storytelling, and contemporary fashion narratives. This year’s edition placed strong emphasis on identity, emotion, culture, and evolving forms of self-expression through fashion.
A distinguishing highlight of Aiyanna 2026 was the presentation of four original fashion films created by the graduating batch. The showcase reflected WWI’s interdisciplinary approach, offering students an opportunity to present not only runway collections but also their storytelling abilities through cinematic fashion narratives — a unique format that continues to differentiate the institute’s fashion programme.
The collections explored diverse creative themes, ranging from Gen Z-inspired fluid identities and interconnected realities to reinterpretations of femininity, power, dreams, chaos, and transformation through layered silhouettes, textures, and evolving palettes.
The jury panel for Aiyanna 2026 included Anurag Bahri (Chief of Design, Style Union), Garima Singh (Manager Design, Style Union), Deepit Chugh (Creative Director, Lineoutline), and Shweta Agarwal (Creative Director, ĀROKA).
Winners Across Categories
- Best Collection – Shreya Aarthi Dhareshwar
- Academic Excellence – Himadri Garg
- Jury’s Choice – Reshma Bhimmappa Potalkar
- Commercially Viable Collection – Riya Nirmal Parmar
- Creative Innovative Award – Pankhul Shadani
- Textile / Surface Development – Sakshi Kishore Mantri
Sharing her thoughts on the showcase, President of Whistling Woods International, Meghna Ghai Puri said, “Aiyanna represents the moment where education transforms into expression. Every collection presented tonight reflects originality, craft, and the confidence to tell meaningful stories through fashion.”
Head of Department, School of Fashion & Costume Design, Jewellyn Alvares added, “This graduating batch has showcased exceptional creativity, research, and honesty in their work. Their collections reflect both technical excellence and strong individual perspectives.” Aiyanna 2026 continues to reinforce WWI’s commitment to shaping future-ready creative professionals by combining fashion education with innovation, storytelling, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
