Lakmē Salon x Verandah by Anjali Patel Mehta presented ‘Indigene’ at Lakmē Fashion Week

Lakmē Salon x Verandah by Anjali Patel Mehta presented ‘Indigene’ at Lakmē Fashion Week, bringing together hair artistry and fashion in a vibrant runway showcase 

Diana Penty closes the show for Verandah 

Mumbai, 21 March 2026: With a legacy spanning over four decades, Lakmē Salon has remained at the forefront of India’s beauty industry, shaping trends through innovation and a deep understanding of diverse hair textures and skin tones. In a striking coming together of fashion and beauty, Lakmē Salon partnered with Verandah by Anjali Patel Mehta to present Indigene at Lakmē Fashion Week, where its Cut & Colour Collection 2026 was showcased alongside Verandah’s Summer 2026 collections, Bejewelled and Ammama, at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai—bringing together contemporary hair artistry and artisanal, memory-driven silhouettes in a seamless runway that celebrated modern Indian beauty as rooted, radiant and effortlessly global. 

For Summer 2026, Verandah- India’s first Butterfly mark certified global conscious luxury brand showcased Ammama and Bejewelled, continuing its narrative-led approach inspired by Anjali’s childhood memories of her south Indian grandmother, Susheela Iengar- the woman who shaped her idea of beauty, all things nature and heritage brought to life through nostalgia, and heirloom elegance. 

Lakmē Salon’s Indigene is a modern ode to Indian beauty — sun-warmed, textured and quietly luminous. Inspired by the innate depth of Indian hair and the natural glow of Indian skin, the Cut & Colour Collection explores warm, dimensional colour paired with fluid, contemporary cuts designed to enhance natural movement. The palette focuses on luminous, wearable shades tailored to diverse Indian skin tones, while drawing from global trends in colour and styling. 

Actor Diana Penty, who embodies the values of the brand and has been close to the brand journey, closed the showcase as the showstopper for Lakme Salon X Verandah dressed in a fluid, hand-beaded kaftan crafted in sustainable Ecovero, featuring delicate sequin work and a signature magnolia print from the Ammama collection, an ode to designer Anjali Patel Mehta’s grandmother, inspired by the cherished tree at her Bangalore home. Rendered in rich midnight blue to evoke the tree’s beauty under the night sky, the look balanced sentiment with laid back glamour, effortlessly elegant and elevated statement summer dressing for Goa to St Tropez, St Barths to Bora Bora. 

The Spring Summer 2026 collection by Verandah, Ammama, unfolded as a tender tribute to Anjali’s maternal grandmother, Susheela Iengar, whose gardens and travels formed the designer’s earliest world of wonder. Models walked in flowing silhouettes and breezy separates featuring botanical motifs inspired by magnolia blossoms, Nilgiri flora and traditional rangoli patterns, crafted in soft linens, silk-cottons and airy fabrics. Hand-illustrated prints in leaf greens, aqua blues, sunlit pastels and delicate florals brought alive the ease of tropical summers, capturing the romance of gardens, travel and slow living as the looks moved effortlessly down the runway. 

Adding a rich cultural dimension to the showcase was a live musical and dance performance in collaboration with the LEAP Foundation, a Chennai-based non-profit, that Verandah is supporting

through this showcase in commitment to their conscious luxury approach to design and storytelling. Founded in 2016 by Professor Srinivas Krishnan and mentored by A. R. Rahman, Leap Foundation focuses on “Leadership Engagement through Artistic Performances,” LEAP uses music and movement as tools for personal transformation, fostering creativity, confidence and cultural awareness among children through immersive arts education. 

The performance featured globally acclaimed percussionist B. Shree Sundarkumar, widely known as KanjiraMan, alongside esteemed artists including Srinivas Krishnan and Embar S. Kannan, bringing together a powerful confluence of rhythm, tradition and contemporary expression. Their evocative presentation, complemented by dancers from Rudraksha from Odisha, created a deeply immersive moment on the runway—celebrating the intersection of music, dance, heritage and history that inspired the collection. 

On the runway, the Indigene collection showcased a series of distinctive looks, each defined by a unique colour story, styling technique and complementary makeup. Chai Bronde, a warm beige-gold tone inspired by Indian chai, was styled in voluminous, bouncy curls with a lifted half-up shape, paired with luminous skin and champagne-gold eyes for a soft-glam finish. Cinnamon Brown, enriched with subtle red undertones, was worn with intricate braided detailing flowing into long textured lengths, complemented by glowing skin, diffused smokey eyes and natural nude lips. Hibiscus Blush, a rich chocolate-cherry hue, was styled with fluid movement and matched with bronzed shimmer eyes and radiant, fresh skin. Kappi Latte, a creamy coffee-toned shade bridging blonde and brunette, was presented with soft, modern layers and sun-kissed makeup that enhanced the warmth of the look. Completing the showcase was Terra Dust, a deep burnt-copper tone styled to highlight natural texture, paired with warm, luminous makeup featuring bronzed eyes, subtle freckles and softly defined lips. Together, the looks combined contemporary colour, expressive cuts and glowing, skin-focused makeup, creating a runway showcase that felt warm, modern and effortlessly in tune with the season. 

Continuing the narrative, Bejewelled for High Summer 2026 brought a sense of heirloom elegance and timeless femininity to the showcase, inspired by the distinctive personal style of the designer’s grandmother — vintage South Indian jewellery, kanjeevaram silks and an effortless blend of tradition and individuality. Intricate prints reinterpreting antique jewellery motifs shimmered under the runway lights, while embroidery and handcrafted detailing added richness and ornamentation to fluid resort silhouettes, statement capes and versatile summer layers that balanced glamour with ease as the models glided across the runway. 

Across both collections, Verandah presented a versatile, day-to-night summer wardrobe that moved seamlessly from beach to bar and city to vacation. Fluid, easy silhouettes including draped gowns, mini dresses and relaxed daywear were crafted in sustainable fabrications, alongside consciously developed swimwear handcrafted in Italy and designed in India. Signature hand-beading, artisanal detailing and a standout macramé piece added texture and depth, while recurring jewellery-inspired and floral motifs carried memories of the designer’s grandmother through each look. Designed for versatility and ease across body types, the collection reflects Verandah’s signature approach to conscious luxury—effortless, elevated and rooted in storytelling.

Mr. Vipul Chaturvedi, CEO – Lakmē Salon said, “Indigene is our ode to modern Indian beauty, created with a deep understanding of Indian hair, skin tones and lifestyle, while interpreting global trends in colour and cut through an Indian sensibility. With over four decades of expertise, Lakmē Salon has consistently focused on translating runway trends into looks that feel relevant and wearable for the Indian consumer, and this collection reflects that philosophy. Indigene has been thoughtfully crafted for Indian textures and tones while staying aligned with international techniques and fashion influences. Presenting the collection at Lakmē Fashion Week with Verandah allowed us to bring our signature runway excellence to life, where contemporary fashion and hair artistry came together seamlessly to create a showcase that felt rooted in India yet global in its appeal. Our constant endeavour is to take inspiration from the runway and make it accessible to our customers through personalised colour, modern cuts and techniques suited to Indian hair.” 

Anjali Patel Mehta, Founder & Designer – Verandah, said, “I’m deeply touched to see so many people who are close to me, the brand, and its philosophy come together for this show—it truly feels like a full-circle moment. This collection is rooted in nostalgia, inspired by my grandmother and the home she created, where music brought every morning to life, florals filled everyday spaces—even kitchen vessels—and a deep sense of warmth and belonging shaped everything around her. With Diana Penty as our showstopper—someone I’ve long admired for her elegance and her innate sense of conscious luxury—we found a beautiful embodiment of these values. Bringing together music, dance, and artisanship through our collaboration with the Leap Foundation and these incredible performers was our way of honoring that world and its cultural richness. I’m grateful to Lakmé Fashion Week and Lakmé Salon for partnering with us, and to everyone who joined us to celebrate.” 

Audrey D’Souza, National Creative Director-Hair, Lakmē Salon said, “For this showcase, the looks were designed especially for the runway, with a strong focus on fashion-forward styling and hair artistry that stands out on stage. We worked with warm, dimensional shades like Chai Bronde, Cinnamon Brown, Hibiscus Blush, Kappi Latte and Terra Dust, pairing them with statement hairstyles including voluminous curls, braided details, soft layers and natural textured movement to bring each look alive under the runway lights. Each look was designed to feel radiant, wearable and in harmony with Indian skin tones, while using global colour techniques to add versatility, shine and natural movement on the runway.” 

Together, Lakmē Salon and Verandah created a runway that felt warm, expressive and deeply personal — a celebration of contemporary Indian beauty where fashion, hair, music and movement came together in harmony, reflecting individuality, memory and modern style. 

About Lakmē Salon: 

Lakmē Lever Pvt. Ltd (Lakmē Lever) is a 100% subsidiary of HUL. It operates India’s first and leading chain of Lakmē Salons that offer expert services in Hairstyling, Skin, and Beauty care. With nearly 40 years of experience and a footprint of over 500+ Lakmē Salons across 160 cities, Lakmē Salon has a deep understanding of the beauty industry. Lakmē Salon is dedicated to the contemporary Indian woman’s exploration of the fine art of beauty. Known for its Runway Secrets of stunning make-up, fabulous hair, and excellent skin services, Lakmē Salon brings the backstage expertise and experience of Lakmē Fashion Week to modern Indian women through a team of over 5000+ highly trained professional stylists. With professionally trained hair and makeup experts with countless shows under their belt and outstanding skin services, Lakmē Salon offers customers a distinct portfolio of services and backstage rituals presented in a unique Runway Secrets menu. Continuous innovation in the portfolio is at the centre of Lakmē Salons’ growth philosophy. More than 300 entrepreneurs have partnered with Lakmē Lever as franchisees to own Lakmē Salons across the country. Backed by a comprehensive franchisee support model, expansion is one of the key focus areas for the company where a master franchisee and multi-store franchisee are provided special support and benefits. In 2015, Lakmē Lever formalized a strategic alliance with Aptech – a global leader in vocational training to set up beauty academies to train aspiring stylists across India and equip them to start their careers in the beauty industry. 

About Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI): 

A non-profit organization, the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), is the apex body of fashion design in India, represented by over 400 members. Founded on the premise of promoting, nurturing, and representing the best of fashion and design talent in the country; its prime objective is to propagate the business of fashion. FDCI stays true to its commitment to promote the ‘Make in India’ label as handlooms take centre stage, in a country, who’s heritage is soaked in the flavors of indigenous crafts. For more information, please visit: www.fdci.org

About Lakmē: 

Lakmē, is India’s no.1 color cosmetics and leading premium skincare brand from Hindustan Unilever Ltd. Lakmē has been the pioneer of the make-up and color cosmetics in India since 1952 by launching numerous trends leading and high-performance products. Combining international cosmetic technology with an in-depth understanding of the Indian woman’s needs, Lakmē offers women a comprehensive beauty experience through its extensive product portfolio as well as contemporary services at Lakmē Salons, India’s no.1 salon chain. For Further Information log on to www.Lakmēindia.com 

About Rise Worldwide: 

RISE Worldwide is India’s largest independent Sports, Lifestyle and Entertainment company. Its portfolio includes Sports & Sponsorship Consulting, Fashion & Sustainability Platform Building, Athlete Talent Management, Licensing, Broadcast Production, Lifestyle and Entertainment with owned or managed key properties such as: Lakmē Fashion Week, India’s premier Fashion platform; Indian Super League, country’s premier football league; Tata Open Maharashtra, South Asia’s only ATP World Tour event; Jio Wonderland; The Voice of Fashion and SU.RE Sustainable Resolution. 

About The Designer 

Anjali Patel Mehta is the founder, designer and creative director of Verandah, a conscious luxury travel label known for its story-driven prints, artisanal craftsmanship and effortless resort silhouettes. The daughter of an artist, an alumna of Wellesley College, the Indian School of Business, the Stanford Graduate School of Business (Seed), Anjali began her career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs, Fortress and Deutsche Bank before launching Verandah to fill a personal gap in the market for chic, fuss-free luxury travel wear crafted from soft, artisanal fabrics. Drawing inspiration from her travels, art, architecture and the sensory richness of India, she has built Verandah into a globally recognised luxury vacation brand that blends Indian craft with contemporary design. Based in Mumbai, Anjali, a mum, active golfer and traveler, divides her time across Europe and the United States with showroom showcases between Milan, Paris, Miami, New York and London and continues to shape Verandah as a joyful expression of conscious luxury for the modern traveller. 

About Verandah 

Verandah is a conscious luxury travel inspired label founded by designer Anjali Patel Mehta, celebrated for its story-driven prints, artisanal craftsmanship and effortless resort silhouettes. Drawing inspiration from travel, art, architecture and the sensory richness of India, the brand blends Indian craft with contemporary design to create chic, fuss-free luxury vacation wear for the global traveller. 

Anjali made her first debut internationally with her designs on Moda Operandi and Neiman Marcus in 2017 and since relaunching globally in 2021. Verandah has rapidly expanded its international footprint, debuting at the iconic Bergdorf Goodman in New York and growing into a globally recognised resortwear brand. Today the label is stocked across 140+ partner stores worldwide, including leading luxury retailers such as Harrods London, Harvey Nichols, Bloomingdale’s Middle East, Revolve, Moda Operandi, Saks and Joseph Fashion London amongst others. Verandah’s holds a strong luxury retail footprint at marquee luxury hospitality properties including Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Rosewood, Auberge Resorts, The Four Seasons,

Ritz Reserves, Roccoforte, Santa Catarina, Mezzotore, Eden Roc St Barths, Rock House, the Amanyara, Agora Ibiza and Montage most recently the Vineta at Palm Beach.