The 2025 edition of Harper’s Bazaar Experience brings together some of the best talent in the world of luxury fashion, design and culture. From a heartwarming retrospective celebrating Rohit Bal’s legacy to panel discussions with top designers, architects and more, it was a day packed with everything.
One of the highlights of the evening was the candid conversation between Tarun Tahiliani and Italian designer Pierpaolo Piccioli during the session ‘Couture Tradition and Its Purpose’. The two icons discussed key moments in the Italian designer’s career, how inclusivity has reshaped fashion, the influence of Indian culture and craftsmanship on international design houses, and more .
For Piccioli, a former creative director at Valentino, fashion is a form of self-expression, reflecting an individual’s feelings, ideals and sense of self. “Fashion is a language to express your own feelings and the values you stand for. So everything (your life and work) overlaps more.”
Piccioli’s work proves his words. An advocate of inclusivity in fashion, Piccioli brought together a spectacularly diverse cast of models for one of his signature shows as Valentino’s sole creative director, the AW22 Haute Couture show (also known as the Spanish Steps show). presented a kaleidoscope-like collection. He believes that in the times we live in, inclusivity is not an option and must go beyond tokenism. “I feel like today, as opposed to just thinking about inclusivity and acting on it, we need to act on it. big girl 1 I don’t believe in doing one show. At this moment, the beauty is in the uniqueness. We have to break the rules, but in very subtle ways, that’s the only way to progress. As designers, we have a voice, and when it’s loud, we have to stand up for those who don’t have a voice.”
Piccioli and Tahiliani’s conversation at Harper’s Bazaar Experience 2025 reaffirmed that fashion is much more than clothing, and is a powerful tool for self-expression, inclusivity, and change. As the industry continues to evolve, the voices of designers like Piccioli are ushering in a more diverse future for fashion.
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