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. The showcase, the second collaboration between the two at the platform, combined advanced textile innovation, traditional craftsmanship and HUEMN’s provocative design language to present a new expression of elevated athleisure.
The evening also marked a milestone for R|Elan™, which entered its eighth year and unveiled a renewed brand identity reflecting its evolution across fashion, performance and sustainability. The refreshed identity was introduced through the creative lens of HUEMN, in line with the brand’s ambition to develop smarter, more purposeful textile solutions.
The collection was built around beauty and terror, a recurring duality in HUEMN’s design philosophy. The label, known for drawing inspiration from the social, political and cultural landscapes of the times, translated this contrast into archival craft techniques, original prints, experimental surfaces and contemporary sportswear silhouettes. The showcase also reflected HUEMN’s 14-year design journey, presenting a wardrobe where functionality and visual expression existed in equal measure.
Seven R|Elan™ fabric technologies were integrated into the collection: Kooltex, GreenGold, Cotluk, EcoTherm, AllClima, EcoGold and AirTherm. Together they brought different dimensions of breathability, comfort, adaptability, thermal functionality and responsible material development into HUEMN’s design vocabulary.
Among the standout pieces was an oxblood denim jacket made with R|Elan™ EcoGold and elevated with intricate Chikankari embroidery, bringing a traditional Indian craft into dialogue with contemporary construction. HUEMN also introduced an original snakeskin print, adding to its exploration of texture and visual contradiction.
Experimental silhouettes defined the runway, including a draped “mummy top” developed using R|Elan™ Kooltex and inspired by the wrapped and layered forms of Egyptian mummies. Kooltex also featured in a hand-illustrated dusty-print jacket that paired HUEMN’s graphic sensibility with the fabric’s performance characteristics. The collection’s cargo pants were developed using R|Elan™ EvaSoft, a next-generation fibre engineered for a soft touch, enhanced moisture management and superior wet strength.
Leadership Commentary
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.”
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.”
R|Elan™ is the next-gen fabric created from specially engineered fibres and yarns, using cutting-edge technological expertise, state-of-the-art R&D and the robust testing systems of Reliance Industries. These smart fabrics are designed to enhance comfort and aesthetics and are increasingly sought after by renowned domestic and global brands, retailers and apparel manufacturers.
HUEMN (pronounced: human) is a ready-to-wear fashion label, homegrown in India in 2012. Its product line of contemporary, handcrafted, unisex clothing creates relevant fashion informed by the social, political and cultural landscapes of our times.
