Forecut flat
Short kurtas with jeans
RisingHip-length kurtas worn with denim for everyday wear.
Festive 26RisingSummer 27RisingFestive 27PeakingSummer 28PeakingFestive 28FadingDesign Capsule · India 2026–28
Design Capsule: Gen Z fusion
Kurtas with jeans and sneakers, sarees with trainers, oversized fits and co-ords: India's young shoppers mix it all.
Forecut Editorial · 11 October 2026
Download PDF ↓Mood and colour
Indigo
19-3864 TCX
#2F3F7A
19-3864 TCX
#2F3F7A
Sage
15-6414 TCX
#9FAE8F
15-6414 TCX
#9FAE8F
Rust
18-1248 TCX
#B5522B
18-1248 TCX
#B5522B
Ivory
11-0104 TCX
#F3ECDC
11-0104 TCX
#F3ECDC
Pantone TCX (cotton) codes are the nearest match to the screen colour; confirm against a physical Pantone book and lab dips before production.
Why? Gen Z makes up 40–45% of India's online shoppers and drove almost half of new orders in 2025. They discover styles on social video and buy fast, often through quick commerce.
What? Gen Z mixes ethnic and street: short kurtas over jeans, sarees with sneakers, jackets over lehengas, oversized tees, baggy denim, athleisure co-ords and gender-fluid boxy tailoring.
Who's showing it?
- Gully Labs: Everyday leather sneakers with Indian colour stories
- Payal Pratap and Jubinav: Embroidered jackets and sporty knitwear
Key pieces
Forecut flat sketches with reference photos, ready to brief into design.
Sarees with sneakers
RisingSarees worn with clean sneakers for day events.
Festive 26RisingSummer 27RisingFestive 27PeakingSummer 28PeakingFestive 28FadingForecut flat
Jackets over lehengas
RisingCropped or denim jackets layered over lehengas.
Festive 26RisingSummer 27PeakingFestive 27PeakingSummer 28PeakingFestive 28FadingForecut flat
Baggy and wide-leg jeans
PeakingRelaxed, wide denim for comfort.
Festive 26PeakingSummer 27PeakingFestive 27FadingSummer 28FadingFestive 28–Forecut flat
Athleisure co-ord sets
RisingMatching jogger and sweat sets for hybrid campus days.
Festive 26RisingSummer 27PeakingFestive 27PeakingSummer 28PeakingFestive 28FadingForecut flat
Varsity jackets
RisingRetro varsity jackets for campus wear.
Festive 26RisingSummer 27PeakingFestive 27FadingSummer 28FadingFestive 28–Price guide (India)
| Key garment | Value | Mid | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short kurta | ₹499–999 | ₹1,200–2,500 | ₹5,000+ |
| Baggy or wide-leg jeans | ₹799–1,499 | ₹1,800–3,500 | ₹6,000+ |
| Athleisure co-ord set | ₹999–1,999 | ₹2,500–5,000 | ₹9,000+ |
Cost to make: Low. Simple shapes and fast fabrics keep costs low. Win on speed, size range and social-ready styling.
How to build the capsule
- Style every ethnic hero piece with sneakers and denim in imagery.
- Launch small, fast drops and watch social signals weekly.
- Make sure products are listed on quick-commerce and marketplace apps.
Sources: Outlook Business on Gen Z and e-retail; Pearl Academy Gen Z trend reports; Lakmé Fashion Week 2026 coverage.