Paris Fashion-Gaurav Gupta’s wife Navkirat Sodhi displays

One of the greatest life-changing incidents for designer Gaurav Gupta and his wife Navkirat Sodhi occurred about eight months ago, when they found themselves trapped in a fire caused by a candle. When they tried to contain the flames, Gaurav burned one of his hands, while Navkirat was severely burned and spent two and a half months in the intensive care unit. “The doctor gave her a 50% chance of survival. She is a fighter and survivor…she is a goddess,” Gupta says in a touching video.

According to news reports, Navkirat underwent eight separate procedures during her medical treatment. It is from this personal tragedy, the talented couturier’s latest collection for Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2025, titled, “Across the Flame” was born. Navkirat opened the powerful show by revealing her burns as it paid homage to the destructive and purifying properties of fire.

Emerging from a deeply personal loss, Gaurav Gupta’s collection for Paris Fashion Week showcases the hues of fire, echoing the idea of a phoenix rising from the ashes

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Flames of fire provide warmth and serve as a source of purification. In Hinduism, fire is regarded as the ‘mouth of gods’ during havans and various ritualistic practices. It carries a profound importance, as those about to become husband and wife circle it seven times while exchanging their vows. However, it can also bring destruction, as seen recently with the wildfires in LA. These fires raged like an inferno, disrupting the city’s normal activities, causing water shortages, and enveloping the area in a thick blanket of smoke.

But the tragedy also served as a unifying factor as people banded together to rebuild the city and help in rehabilitation. In past times, the destructive power of fire emerged in terms of dowry death caused by it. Gaurav Gupta’s Across the Flame, tells a story of love, resilience, and transcendence. This collection is a journey to healing, seen through the lens of a shared cosmic odyssey. It is a testament to the strength found in vulnerability, the wisdom of the stars, and the light that emerges from the darkest flames.

Speaking about it, Gupta, in a statement, shared, “This collection is not just a showcase of couture for us, it is a deeply personal testament to the power of resilience, transformation, and the infinite light within all of us.”

Gaurav Gupta’s powerful collection also imagines ‘Twin Flames’ sartorially

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Among its standout creations is the Twin Flame ensemble, a metaphor for fire that symbolizes a powerful, intense, and almost instantly recognizable connection between two people. The twin flame ensemble here, representing Gaurav and Navkirat, embodies the transformative flames that once enveloped their spirits, shaping them into resilient beings. Next up is the season’s most sought-after accessory, midnight blue metal breastplates, embodying a sense of armor and safeguarding, showcasing resilience in the face of fragility.

“Another exploration this season is brocade, hand-woven from Banaras, with chants that served as mantras of solace and strength for Gaurav and Navkirat during their passage through this crucible,” the statement notes.