From legendary pioneers like Ritu Kumar, a veteran of Indian fashion since 1969, to emerging talents like Priyanka Ella Lorena Lama and Kanika Goyal, India produces enormously talented fashion designers that effortlessly blend respect for old-age traditions with forward-thinking aesthetics. Here are the ten names you should know.
10. Masaba Gupta
Born in 1989, Masaba Gupta is the daughter of Indian actress, Neena Gupta. She is famous for the
Her fashion style is bold and creative. It is a blend of contemporary and traditional with modernity taking the upper hand. She specializes in ethnic wear for women.
She is known for her choice of fabric material, colors
She’s so talented with her creativity that recently, in 2018, she launched a hijab-saree line targeting Muslim women who want to wear Indian high fashion.
Official Website – houseofmasaba.net
9. Anamika Khanna
Anamika Khanna was born in Jodhpur on July 19, 1971. She is an Indian fashion designer who is acclaimed for blended traditional Indian textiles and techniques with Western silhouette and tailoring. She is 9th on the list of top 10 fashion designers in India.
She has brought a modernization of Indian craft through her modern wear made from Indian textiles. Anamika has many firsts to her credit. She is the first Indian fashion designer to have an International label: Ana Mika.
Anamika is also the first female Indian designer to display her collections at the Paris Fashion Week which was held in 2007. She has designed collections for a number of Bollywood blockbusters like ‘Mausam’, ‘Fashion’, ‘Aisha’, and ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’, to name a few.
Also Read: Top Fashion Week of 2019
She has a collection of Trousseau, Prêt
Official Website – anamikakhanna.in
8. Rohit Bal
Rohit Bal was born on 8 May 1961 in Srinagar. He is a New Delhi based fashion designer, designing for both men and women. He started his own independent collection in 1990.
In 2006, at the Indian Fashion Awards, he won the ‘Designer of the Year‘ award. He was also the Lakme Grand Finale Designer in 2012. He is credited for designing of the show Kaun Banega Crorepati.
Rohit Bal has also ventured into jewelry designing. He is most famous for his use of lotus and peacock motifs. He often uses rich fabrics like velvet and brocade in his designs. His designs are elaborate and inspired by Indian grandeur and royalty.
Official Website – rohitbal.com
7. J.J. Valaya
J.J. Malaya was born on 8 October 1967. He is a noted Indian fashion designer and couturier from New Delhi. In 1992, he founded a luxury fashion and lifestyle house, the House of Malaya. He is 7th on the list of top 10 fashion designers in India.
For more than 20 years, he has been designing for men and women and has bridal and evening collections in addition to day-wear and ready-to-wear. He is also a fine art photographer. He 1993, he founded his first couture label, JJ Malaya.
In 2003, he launched his Prêt line. He retails under three brands: JJ Valaya, Studio Valaya
Official Website – perniaspopupshop.com
6. Manish Arora
Manish Arora is a Delhi based Indian fashion designer who was born in Mumbai, Maharashtra. In 1997, he launched his own label “Manish Arora” He is regarded as “the John Galliano of India“.
He is credited for the use of a rich palette of psychedelic colors and kitsch motifs in garments. He combines traditional Indian crafts like embroidery, appliqué
In 2001, he launched his second label, “Fish Fry“. Fish Fry is a colorful sportswear-styled line. This second label is in association with the athletic apparel manufacturer Reebok. Manish Arora also plunged into jewelry business in 2012.
He previewed his jewelry line in association with label Amrapali comprising a range of hand jewelry, neckpieces and pendants. He was conferred with the Best Women’s Prêt Designer Award at the first ever Indian Fashion Awards’ in 2004 which was held inches’ home town, Mumbai.
Official Website – manisharora.com
5. Ritu Kumar
She is 5th on the list of top 10 fashion designers in India.
Her designs focus on traditional printing and natural fabrics and weaving techniques. Her clothes have been worn by celebrities such as Priyanka Chopra, Princess Diana, Deepika Padukone, Lara Dutta, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Kalki Koechlin, Dia Mirza, Madhur Jaffrey, Soha Ali Khan
She has her labels in the name and style of ‘Ritu Kumar’, ‘Ri’, and ‘LABEL Ritu Kumar’. She has been conferred with the country’s most prestigious Padma Shri award for her work in 2013.
Official Website – ritukumar.com
4. Sabyasachi Mukherjee
Sabyasachi Mukherjee was born on 23 February 1974. He is an Indian fashion designer hailing from Kolkata. He is one of the Associate Designer Members of Fashion Design Council of India.
Sabyasachi Mukherjee has designed costumes for Bollywood superhits like Guzaarish, Baabul, Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, Raavan, and English Vinglish.
He draws inspiration from deserts, gypsies, prostitutes, antique textiles and cultural traditions of his home town, Kolkata. He personifies one’s intellect through one’s clothing.
His work involves the use of unusual fabrics, texturing and detailing, the fusion of styles, patch-work with embellishments in vibrant colors. He is most famous for Indian Bridal Wear.
Sabyasachi believes in international staying with an Indian touch. He has started a project for the upliftment of the Indian weavers. It is called the ‘Save the Saree’ where he retails hand-woven Indian sarees on a non-profit basis and then gives the entire proceeds to the weavers.
3. Sandeep Khosla
New Delhi based Sandeep Khosla was born in a Punjabi family in Kapurthala. He is the co-founder of the label Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla. He has an iconic signature style where he combines traditional aesthetics with modern design. He is 3rd on the list of top 10 fashion designers in India.
Sandeep Khosla is most famous for his ability to infuse Indian craftsmanship and textile heritage with European tailored silhouette. In 1986, he launched a boutique, Mata Hari. He is one of the five designers to join Tarun Tahiliani for his multi-brand boutique Ensemble in 1987.
He is the designer of the Devdas fame, a movie directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. His clientele includes notable celebrities like Dimple Kapadia, Jaya Bachchan, Parmeshwar Godrej.
Official Website – abusandeep.com
2. Tarun Tahiliani
Tarun Tahitian was born in Mumbai in a Sindhi family. He is an Indian fashion designer and co-founder of Ensemble which was established in 1987. Ensemble is India’s first multi-designer boutique.
In 1990, he also founded a studio by the name Tahiliani Design Studio. He is credited for his ability to infuse Indian craftsmanship and textile heritage with European tailored silhouette.
Of late, he has shown his talents in interior designing and has taken up few interior designing projects of hotels like The Sofala, Goa, Aish in the park, Hyderabad, etc.
He has also started designing events for Indian weddings. On the social welfare front, Tarun has worked with Save the Children India to urge the government to increase the health budget.
Official Website – taruntahiliani.com
1. Manish Malhotra
Manish Malhotra was born on 5 December 1966. He is an Indian fashion designer and Bollywood stylist. He gained recognition by styling for actress Urmila Matondkar in Rangeela for which he also won the coveted Filmfare Costume Award.
Failed as a model, his designing couturier talent brought fame to him. His couture label MANISH MALHOTRA which he founded in 2005, offers bridal, couture, diffusion and men’s wear collections.
He opened his award-winning innings with Rangeela and it has been scoring high since then, which includes Bollywood blockbusters like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Veer Zaara, Mohabbatein, Om Shanti Om, Bodyguard, 2 States, Thugs of Hindostan to name only a few.
Manish has styled great superstars like Sridevi, Tabu, Juhi Chawla, Madhuri Dixit, Kajol, Aishwarya Rai, Shahrukh Khan, Jaya Bachchan, etc. He is associated with various social welfare programs and NGOs like Pratham, Save The Tiger Telethon, Mijwan Welfare Society, Save the Girl Child and many more.
Official Website – manishmalhotra.in
