Noida, April 2, 2026 — The corridors of Marwah Studios, Film City Noida, are set to buzz with an energy unlike anything a routine Wednesday morning could promise. Nervously adjusted hemlines, last-minute pins, whispered affirmations, and the unmistakable scent of freshly pressed fabric — Day 1 of the 10th Global Fashion and Design Week 2026 is here, and with it, a landmark moment in the history of academic fashion worldwide.
Recognised as the biggest academic fashion week in the world, this milestone 10th edition is no accident of the calendar. It is the result of a decade of unwavering belief, the belief of one man who dared to imagine that Noida could be a global fashion capital.
Dr. Sandeep Marwah, President of AAFT and ICMEI, has long championed the idea that creativity is the most powerful currency a young nation can possess. In his own words, “Global Fashion and Design Week Noida has become a powerful platform for young designers and creative minds from across the globe. It is not just a fashion week, but a celebration of innovation, culture, and artistic excellence.” That philosophy is palpable in every stitch, every stride, and every spotlight that will fall on the runway today. His vision, to give Indian students a stage as grand as any in Paris or Milan, has over ten years quietly, stubbornly, gloriously come true.
But visions need hands to bring them to life. And those hands, in large part, belong to-
Dr. Himani Choudhary, Campus Director, Sector 5, whose tireless, behind-the-scenes orchestration is making the impossible feel seamless. From curating country themes to coordinating hundreds of student designers, managing rehearsals, mentoring anxious first-timers, and ensuring every show runs like clockwork, her dedication is the invisible spine of this entire event. Around 300 professionals have been working tirelessly for more than three months to bring this to life, and it is the relentless spirit that has held that effort together
The day is structured around three spectacular shows. Show 1, at 11:30 AM, will open the week with collections representing countries including India, Slovakia, Comoros, Panama, Algeria, Lesotho, Palestine, Sri Lanka, and Venezuela. The Peruvian Embassy will lend a special diplomatic grace to the proceedings, a reminder that fashion, here, is also diplomacy. The afternoon Show 2, at 2:30 PM, will see designers channelling the identities of Fiji, Nigeria, Gambia, the Philippines, Uruguay, Bosnia, Myanmar, Peru, Sudan, and Kazakhstan. The evening crescendo, Show 3 at 4:30 PM, will bring collections inspired by Georgia, Azerbaijan, Lebanon, Japan, Egypt, the Czech Republic, South Korea, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and India once more.
With around 100 countries expected to participate across the three days and 250 designers presenting their work, the scale is staggering. But it will be the individual moment that makes the day unforgettable, a student trembling slightly before stepping onto the ramp, only to walk out transformed; the collective gasp from the audience when a particularly inventive silhouette catches the light; the quiet pride on a faculty member’s face as months of mentorship materialise in one perfect walk.
For the honorary guests and delegates expected today, ambassadors, cultural attachés, industry professionals, and international dignitaries, the takeaway will be clear: Indian fashion education has come of age. The collections on display will not be mere student exercises. They will be statements, rooted in cultural research, refined in execution, and global in ambition. The diversity of countries being represented on the runway will remind every guest that this platform is, at its core, a celebration of the world’s shared aesthetic soul.
For the students, the lessons will run far deeper than technique. Today, they will learn what it means to be seen, truly seen, on an international stage. They will learn that a garment tells a story no words can, that a runway is both a test and a gift, and that excellence, when earned, feels like nothing else. They will carry onto that runway not just fabric, but months of sacrifice, guidance, and growth.
The runway is expected to come alive with contemporary themes, rich textures, innovative cuts, and a perfect blend of traditional and modern aesthetics, a fitting tribute to a decade of dreaming big.
As the lights dim after Show 3 and applause rolls through the halls of Marwah Studios, one thing is certain: Day 1 of the 10th Global Fashion and Design Week will not merely open a festival. It will open a new chapter.
Two more days will follow. The world is watching.