Barbie pink meets ’70s nostalgia: péro opens Lakmé Fashion Week 2026 with a playful twist

What happens when Barbie’s iconic pink world meets the free-spirited fashion of the 1970s? Think bows, crochet, lace, playful prints and clothes that refuse to fit neatly into one category. That was the mood at Lakmé Fashion Week in partnership with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), where Indian designer label péro opened the main runway programme on October 14 with a collection that celebrated dressing up without rules.

Presented at Taj Palace in New Delhi, the showcase introduced designer Aneeth Arora’s Spring/Summer 2027 collection, Dream Dress-Up, alongside péro’s global collaboration with Barbie. The show combined the label’s handcrafted aesthetic with Barbie’s colourful universe, but its message went beyond a familiar shade of pink: fashion should allow people to explore who they are, rather than tell them who to be.

péro’s Dream Dress-Up collection brings the 1970s back

The collection leaned into a distinctly retro mood. Crochet, lace, bows and playful prints appeared across layered outfits, while relaxed silhouettes gave the looks an easy, almost carefree quality. Rather than relying on matching pieces or polished uniformity, the designs brought together contrasting textures, styles and moods. Softness met strength, and traditionally feminine details sat alongside more masculine elements. The result was a wardrobe that felt playful without being confined to one idea of how someone should dress.

Handcrafted details remained central to péro’s identity. The label, known for its craft-led approach, used texture and layering to give the collection a lived-in character. Barbie pink was prominent, but it was not presented as a colour reserved for women or a particular kind of femininity.

Why péro and Barbie reimagined the iconic pink box

The collaboration’s central idea was captured in Barbie’s familiar pink box. Usually, a box defines what belongs inside it. For Dream Dress-Up, péro turned that idea around: the box became a symbol of expectations that people can step outside. In comments reported by The Times of India, Arora said Barbie represented the freedom to dream beyond expectations, experiment with identity and imagine different ways of being. She described this spirit as close to péro’s own belief that clothes should leave room for curiosity, joy and individuality.

The partnership was facilitated in India by Dream Theatre, Mattel’s licensing agency. The collection is scheduled for a worldwide release in Spring 2027, according to Indian Retailer.

Lakmé and Tira bring beauty trends to the runway

Fashion was only part of the opening showcase. Presented by Lakmé and Tira, the event also featured the Lakmé 9to5 HYA Glam range, bringing colour and glow into the overall styling. Sunanda Khaitan, chief marketing officer for beauty and wellbeing at Hindustan Unilever Limited, said returning to Arora’s creative world felt special after the label’s previous showcase with péro in March. Tira co-founder and CEO Bhakti Modi also highlighted how makeup and changes in texture can add another dimension to personal style, according to Indian Retailer.

péro sets the tone for Lakmé Fashion Week 2026

The opening show builds on péro’s established relationship with the fashion week. The label opened the October 2024 edition and closed the March 2026 edition. This time, the message was less about dressing to fit an image and more about having fun with the possibilities. With its 70s-inspired styling, handcrafted details and Barbie collaboration, Dream Dress-Up offered a reminder that personal style need not settle on a single identity. Sometimes, the most interesting look is the one that breaks out of the box.

(With inputs from ANI)