Step into fashion world, where every thread celebrates summer elegance, says SAKSHI PRIYA
Summer fashion calls for lightness, freshness, and poetry in form and that’s precisely what Payal Jain’s Enchanted Forest delivers. From the first glance to the final thread, this couture collection feels like stepping into a storybook.
The colour palette in the collection is designed to stir the senses. From the moonlit glow of ivory to the forest-floor depth of emerald green, every shade feels intentional. Sapphire blues echo still waters, while amber reds and burnt oranges crackle with autumn’s warmth. Blush pinks bloom like wildflowers and touches of silver and gold flicker like fireflies at dusk. It’s storytelling through colour — poetic, precise and effortlessly couture.
This collection invites the viewer into a dreamscape. It explores the balance between the real and the imagined, the strong and the soft.
Payal Jain’s Vision On light and texture
“The vision was inspired by the ever-changing moods of a forest, how light shifts from twilight to dawn. I tried to recreate that mystery through sheer and opaque layers, surface textures, and metallic accents like the glow of fireflies under moonlit nights.”
On craftsmanship and slow fashion
“My deepest passion is textile development. I’ve never liked fast fashion. Each piece must have meaning and timelessness. Fashion isn’t a trend, its identity. Art is timeless, and I hope my designs are too.”
On silhouettes and storytelling
“I start with a story. The silhouettes, colours, and details evolve from that. For ‘Enchanted Forest,’ I imagined power and delicacy - corsets with flowing skirts, exaggerated shapes. Textile manipulation took months - its magic meeting inspiration.”
On what she wants people to feel
“Like they’re stepping into a magical realm. The runway was a forest, trees, rustling sounds, glowing lights. The entire experience was to evoke wonder and the timeless power of nature.”
On wearable summer pieces
“Though it’s a Couture collection, there are versatile pieces - sheer wrap tops, silk blouses, short capes, jumpsuits, wide-leg pants, layered skirts - all can be styled for elegant summer looks.”
Nature shapes style
Summer calls for clothing that breathes, that moves with you, that reminds you to live gently and boldly. The heart of it all is Enchanted Forest, a collection that celebrates nature in its most fantastical form. Inspired by an imaginary woodland realm, where flowers glow under twilight and shadows whisper stories, this collection invites the viewer into a dreamscape.
Payal shares, “I have grown up reading books by Enid Blyton, one of my favourites being the Faraway Tree, where the idea of the enchanted woods took shape in my imagination. This magical world of enchantments fascinated me and I created a make believe world of friends and comrades around me in these woods.”
A black gown stands out for its elegance, Perfect for a moment that may come unannounced, but never forgotten. The ivory gown, in contrast, is light as air. Off-white tones create an almost dreamlike effect, detailed with floral textures that recall a calm, cloudless sky. It’s quiet, but powerful, a gown that walks softly and still commands a room.
The summer collection celebrates intricate labour and fluid elegance. Every corner of the space shows intent, cutting tables occupied by sharp-eyed artisans, embroidery hoops catching glimmers of gold and silver and sewing machines crafting pieces so delicately that they mimic the finesse of hand-threading.Whether it’s the soft drape of a fabric or the balance between structure and ease, each design feels considered personal. There’s a presence in the clothing, one that can only come from the countless hours spent behind the scenes, perfecting every inch.
The larger narrative comes to life in the Enchanted Forest series itself. It draws inspiration from the wildness of untamed woods, translating the textures of nature into fabric and form. The forest speaks through colour: the glint of ivory moonlight, deep emerald undergrowth, the rich depth of sapphire water and autumn’s warming notes. Gold and silver thread work dance across fabric, recalling early morning light and the quiet shimmer of dusk.
The silhouettes shift between grandeur and subtlety, sweeping ball gowns, body-skimming forms, exaggerated shoulders, corseted waists and skirts that move like breeze through leaves. Velvet, chiffon, organza and silk taffeta are layered and shaped with precision. 3D floral appliqués and embroidery bloom on the surface. Techniques like laser-cutting and ombré dyeing pull the forest’s ever-changing light into the garments.
This is fashion that celebrates nature while reimagining its spirit through elegance and design. A season captured in thread, a memory sewn into form. Every gown becomes more than what it wears, it becomes what it means.
