Akshat Bansal is a Delhi-based fashion designer and founder of prêt and couture fashion label Bloni whose understanding transcends the stereotypical approach towards fashion. Through his unique design sensibilities, Bansal has quickly emerged as one of the rare designers with Indian roots to have successfully put gender fluidity at the forefront of fashion and on international runways. By employing regenerative and unconventional materials such as glossy rubber and Econyl, he aims to discover a common ground between two distinct aesthetics - ensembles that embrace the art of tailoring and yet have a certain individuality that does not blend into the crowd. Several other collections of Bansal’s have also included materials that are tech-driven such as marine plastic, recyclable metal, and more. A NIFT and Central Saint Martins alumnus, Bansal is often hailed as a fashion innovator who blends a sharp understanding of textiles with his inherent talent, rooted in his heritage handlooms family store. His debut collection at Paris Fashion Week 2022, for Bloni, made several headlines for its avant-garde and futuristic silhouettes - challenging the fundamentals of material construction and innovation. Amongst such odd yet striking and bold pairings between materials and aesthetics, tailoring, and textiles, Bansal stands out as an innovator whose designs envision the future rather than cajoling the current generation - substantiating his own beliefs that in addition to functionality and creativity, design should also usher fresh perspectives.