India, July 27 -- From brocade to geometry, this couture season becomes a compass, charting silhouettes, heritage and the shifting directions of Indian fashion, writes SAKSHI PRIYA

In the carefully curated theatre of couture, where garments are designed not only to clothe but to communicate, the showstopper remains a powerful punctuation mark in the visual narrative of fashion. Often portrayed by celebrities rather than models, the showstopper's role outshines glamour or star value. It represents aspiration, symbolism and storytelling at its most distilled.

Unlike models who are trained to serve the silhouette, celebrities come with cultural capital. They carry memory, mass appeal and meaning. Their presence on the runway becomes a perf...