My family weren’t the type that took regular summer trips, but every trip that we did take has influenced and inspired me, whether it was a train ride to my aunts', or a drive to a nearby waterfall. When I encountered CORD’s latest collection, ALBUM ‘91, I was immediately brought back to fighting over the last mango and days of playing Antakshari into the wee hours with my siblings, cousins and other loved ones, and of course, donning my favourite summer cotton outfits.

​This latest collection from CORD first made its presence known to me through the co-founders’, Neha Singh and Pranav Ghugliani’s profile. They had made a trip to my now home, Fort Kochi and as a fan of the label, I immediately made note that the pieces that Neha was wearing while visiting the Kochi Muziris Biennale was not from their collections so far; the colourways were new, and the techniques and silhouettes were too. The blues, yellows, and pinks of CORD’s Spring Summer 2026, according to the brand is an ode to the core memories that formed summer memories or as they put it - “the simple, sweet joy of being somewhere new with the people you love most. The feeling of doing whatever your heart desires. Of running freely. Of being fully in the moment. Of discovering that the smallest moments carried the greatest happiness.”

​There is a lot of childlike joy and beauty that has been brought into this collection, with vibrant colours, layered prints that clash with fun patterns, and each piece conveying a sense of joyful movement. There is also a Wes Anderson-esque whimsical nature to the campaign imagery and movements; familiar acts of reading a newspaper, or children playing games on the upper berth of a train felt unfamiliar, but reminded one of how much times have changed. But through this collection,a colorful ode to moments goneby, CORD is reminding us of a collective memory that many like me had long forgotten. While in conversation, the founders, Neha Singh and Pranav Guglani, started talking about how their summer vacations growing up were always about the journey as much as the destination. They shared, “Those trips were simple, but they were filled with a sense of anticipation and freedom. You had nowhere to be except exactly where you were. That feeling of carefree exploration and togetherness became the emotional starting point for this collection.”

​In the clothes, the nostalgia of childhood summer journeys translates into a sense of movement and joy; thinkg playful prints layered together, vibrant colours inspired by the celebratory palette of India, and silhouettes that feel relaxed and easy, almost like something you would run around in during a summer holiday. Pranav and Neha shared, "Techniques like patchwork, appliqué and embroidery also echo the idea of memories being stitched together over time. For the campaign imagery, we aimed to recreate the spirit of discovery and spontaneity - moments that feel candid and alive, almost like fragments from a summer album. The visuals capture the warmth of being with loved ones, the excitement of arriving somewhere new, and the carefree energy that defined those holidays.”

​But true to form, craft is at the crux of the collection as always. But with this collection, they have deepened their material exploration by incorporating techniques that comprise hand embroidery, appliqué, smocking, and patchwork add texture and depth. Expanding on this, the founding duo shared, “One of the key shifts in the Album ‘91 collection is the introduction of more dynamic silhouettes, pieces that feel lighter, freer and designed to move. We also leaned into a much bolder colour story than before, drawing inspiration from the vivid landscapes and celebratory spirit of India. The palette is intentionally bright and unapologetic, allowing prints and patterns to interact in playful ways.”

For Neha and Pranav, Album ‘91 is marking an evolution in CORD’s journey, both creatively and technically. Craft has always been central to their work with the label, but with this season, they explored new ways of expressing it through more experimental combinations of colour, texture and form. The same thread of whimsy that is signature to the brand is also blended with the founders’ personal memories and their homegrown cultural identity to give a collection that is as novel as it is rooted. 

Follow CORD here. 

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