It’s hard to believe that it’s only been 7 years since the homegrown streetwear brand Almost Gods came into being. Their growth can be studied in many ways, considering which school of thought in the realm of fashion you subscribe to - of brands taking their sweet time to establish themselves and sink into their iconic status, or of them becoming overnight successes and continuing to innovate continuously to stay abreast of the fast-changing industry. Almost Gods by Dhruv Khurana, founded in 2018 in Delhi straddles the earlier mentioned divisive line and found loyalists soon after their debut, and has continued to evolve with authenticity with each new launch.
In this day and age, where art, fashion and technology have become so intermingled, it is not surprising that a brand like Almost Gods keeps a close eye on the changing cyberculture. For their second collaboration with the Young Collectors' Programme at the India Art Fair 2025, they are partnering up with Kunel Gaur. This multidisciplinary artist draws on Brutalist architecture, and maybe a tinge of Bauhaus inspiration as well, to uncover new meanings through the ordinary objects around us. Through his assemblages, he examines structure by evolving form and therein changes the reading of the object by challenging the expected materiality. Almost Gods has always drawn inspiration from brutalist architecture and storytelling through structure, so Kunel’s work feels like a natural fit. His approach to reconstruction and reinterpreting materials aligns with how Almost Gods thinks about fashion — as a medium for new ideas.
“We wanted this collaboration to be more than just a collection — it had to be an experience. With Kunel, we knew we could bring together art, fashion, and immersive storytelling in a way that felt seamless. Both Almost Gods and Kunel believe in pushing boundaries and finding new ways to engage with design, making this partnership an exciting and organic collaboration.”Dhruv Khurana, Founder, Almost Gods
According to the brand, "Building on Kunel’s ideology of the 'Post-Future Era', which examines the intersections of historical and future timelines, Almost Gods has created a capsule collection that translates his artistic language into a new medium.” While the collaboration is featuring an immersive projection room showcasing Kunel Gaur’s works at the Almost Gods Dhan Mill store till the 16th of February 2025, they are also hosting a panel discussion on Brutalism Reimagined: Divergent Narratives in Art & Fashion, featuring the brand’s Founder, Dhruv Khurana and exclusively revealing the collaborative drop Assemblage. The capsule collection features a signature Almost Gods Tee featuring design inspired by Kunel Gaur’s artwork among other pieces inspired by Kunel Gaur’s deconstructed approach to art.
When talking to Homegrown India about the collaborative collection, Dhruv Khurana of Almost Gods talked about how Kunel Gaur’s work — taking ordinary materials and reshaping them to find new meaning and is assemblage practice, which combines wood, concrete, resin, metal, and glass with text and screen printing, inspired them to think about fashion in a similar way. Dhruv Khurana went on to share how “with this collaboration, we wanted to create pieces that felt structured, raw, and layered—just like Kunel’s art. The Almost Gods capsule collection takes elements of Kunel’s Post-Future Era philosophy, where past and future collide, and translates it into wearable pieces. Just as he challenges material expectations, we have played with textures, form, and construction to create garments that feel like they belong in both worlds—fashion and art.” Dhruv added how facets like panelling as a form of imposing structure, drawing from the idea of folding packaging/ cut up panels in patterns, the using of words- joint obsession of the structures of language and explore new layering of contexts have been done through collaboration; Kunel through curation of images has created one context and through Almost Gods, the collaborator has created another new layer of context to be considered.
The show, panel discussion, and reveal of the collaborative collection at the Almost Gods Flagship store in Dhan Mill starting on February 6 is an event that the brand hopes starts off artistic dialogue and deeper questions about the potential intersectionality of art, technology, and fashion at the India Art Fair Young Collectors Programme 2025, and beyond.
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Experience A Confluence Of Art & Culture: A Homegrown Guide To India Art Fair 2025
An Exhibition At India Art Fair 2025 Aims To Map India's Indigenous Fashion Futures
Delhi, Attend An Almost Gods x Young Collectors' Program Exhibition Fusing Art & Fashion.