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Goyal’s Pivot spins heads at Lakmé Fashion Week, a sartorial butterfly effect
MUMBAI: Somya Goyal’s Pivot collection, a veritable fashion fandango, pirouetted its way to victory at Lakmé Fashion Week, bagging the “Nexa Presents The Spotlight” award. Goyal, a design dynamo fresh from Pearl Academy and Central Saint Martins, London, showcased a collection that wasn’t just clothes; it was a manifesto on metamorphosis.
Inspired by the butterfly effect – that tiny flap of wings causing a style tsunami – Goyal’s designs were a masterclass in versatility. Reversible silhouettes flirted with modular constructions, while gradient dyeing techniques painted the runway like a psychedelic sunset. Her 3D cord hand embroidery added a tactile kick, and colour-changing details kept the audience guessing, proving that this designer doesn’t just follow the beat, she remixes the entire track.
Goyal, who launched her eponymous label in 2019, is a champion of sustainable chic, favouring natural and recycled fabrics. Her “Pivot” collection, however, was a bold experiment in reinvention, with garments that morphed and moved like a well-choreographed dance. “I wanted to explore how even the smallest design decisions can create a ripple effect,” she said, “transforming not just garments but the way we perceive fashion itself. The collection is a dialogue between precision and evolution—where modularity, reversibility, and fluid craftsmanship redefine versatility. For me, fashion is never static; it’ s an ever-changing expression, and Pivot is a testament to that constant transformation.”
“We are honoured to support initiatives such as ‘Nexa e Vitara Presents the Spotlight,’ which not only recognizes and celebrates emerging design talent, but also fosters innovation within the fashion industry. This season’ s theme has provided designers with a unique opportunity to explore the profound intersection of emotion, creativity, and storytelling through fashion. Somya Goyal has masterfully embodied the spirit of this theme with a bold and visionary collection,” said Maruti Suzuki India senior executive officer marketing & sales Partho Banerjee.
Meanwhile FDCI chairman Sunil Sethi stated, “We were impressed by the diverse and innovative presentations from participants nationwide, with Pivot by Somya Goyal’s showcase, particularly catching our attention.”
In essence, Goyal’s “Pivot” wasn’t just a collection; it was a wink and a nudge to the ever-evolving nature of style, proving that even the subtlest design shift can create a full-blown fashion earthquake. This designer didn’t just turn heads; she spun them.
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HSBC names Gautam Anand to head global India private banking unit
The bank taps a 25-year veteran to run its franchise as the war for wealthy NRI clients heats up
MUMBAI: HSBC has handed Gautam Anand the keys to its global India private banking business, betting that a seasoned operator can squeeze more out of one of the world’s most lucrative pools of offshore wealth.
Anand, who joined HSBC Private Bank in December 2023 as global co-ordinator for Global India, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe, steps up to lead the franchise outright. He will run the operation across India and its key international outposts in Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Kingdom, putting him squarely in the middle of the corridors through which Indian money flows abroad.
The appointment is a signal of intent. HSBC only launched its global private banking business in India in 2023, pitching hard at high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients as part of a broader assault on Asian wealth management. The bank now wants Anand to turn that beachhead into a fortress.
He comes well-armed. Before HSBC, Anand clocked time at UBS, Credit Suisse, ANZ and ABN Amro, a CV that reads like a roll-call of the banks that have long competed to manage the fortunes of India’s affluent diaspora.
With Indian wealth exploding at home and spreading fast across global financial centres, the race to capture it is only getting fiercer. HSBC is backing Anand to make sure it does not finish second.
