Let’s face it, no one does glitz and glam better than Indians. Thanks to Bollywood movies for introducing the world to the most colorful mecca of fashion. Dresses including sarees, lenghas, and Indian Inspired gowns caught the attention of more than just other desis. Indian embroidered prints with delicate lace, thread, and stone work have become increasingly popular globally. With a strong presence at award shows and premieres, we tend to overlook those who perform right alongside big name celebrities. We are talking about the outfits that captivate everyone’s attention at the red carpet. These four top Indian designers have made big debuts globally dressing up big celebrities and representing Indian fashion.
1. Falguni Shane Peacock
The designer couple duo is based in Mumbai and have been creating avant garde outfits for 15 years. Their signature style is traditional and contemporary that includes feathers, sequins and prints. They are known for their unique silhouettes which caters to all body types with bold and edgy designs and flawless detailing. The designer’s ability to blend western silhouettes with Indian embellishments has been very successful as the designer duo has styled some of the most iconic celebrities on the red carpet and on stage both in India and globally. Some of the show stoppers that love wearing the designer’s extravagant creations include Shipla Shetty, Priyanka Chopra, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. The designer’s most recent work is showcasted on the Sex and the City reboot where the main character, Sarah Jessica Parker is spotted wearing a Falguni Shane Peacock lengha.
2. Sachin & Babi
The designer duo is based in New York and their fashion house was founded in 2009. Their designs are known for their impeccable Indian embroidery, texture and colors. In the early days, the couple worked behind the scenes for top designers like Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, and Manolo Blahnik until they went on to start their own brand. The designs are produced in their family owned factory in Mumbai. They are known for their unique and contemporary evening wear. The Sachin & Babi brand caters to all body sizes and has a diverse list of clients that include Alia Bhatt, Mindy Kaling, Michelle Obama, Sofia Vergara and Octavia Spencer. After the pandemic started, the brand launched the Good Kloth company that includes personal protective equipment (PPE), uniforms and loungewear.
3. Naeem Khan
Born and raised in India, Naeem Khan moved to the U.S. in 1978 for apprentice with the famous designer, Halston. As a young boy, he cultivated a vast knowledge of design and textile from his father and grandfather who designed formal wear for Indian royal families. Naeem Khan designs are known for their melitcous beading, rich embellishment, shimmering sequins, elegant and timeless silhouettes. He has become the most sought out designer for western bridal wear as his collections goes above and beyond the western traditional style and include florals, unique geometric patterns, lace, hand embroidery, sequins, fringe and feathers. Naeem Khan’s luxury gowns are adorned and worn by high profile celebrities such as Deepika Padukone, Michelle Obama, Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middelton, Queen Noor of Jordan, Beyonce, and Taylor Swift.
4. Sabyasachi Mukherjee
Originally from Bengal, Sabyasachi is the most sought out for Indian bridal wear. He is one of the most celebrated designers in India. Sabya’s is known for his traditional designs with personalization and celebration of Indian culture and heritage especially of his hometown, Kolkata. His clothes have gained a cult following for their vibrant color combinations, luxury fabrics and eclectic designs. Sabya is the most wanted designer for real life Bollywood weddings and has dressed the following for their nuptials, Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma, Priyanka Chopra and Bipasha Basu. In 2017, Sabya did a collaboration for a limited edition shoe capsule collection with the world famous red sole owner, Christian Louboutin. Recently, Sabyasachi collaborated with H&M to showcase Indian textiles and prints. The Sabyasachi x H&M collection was sold out globally within hours after launching.
Indian designs have been a long time muse to global fashion. Global luxury brands like Christain Dior and Gucci have been inspired by Indian craftsmanship, artisanal weaving, embroidery and embellishment methods. The variety and influences that designers can draw from every region in India is massive, and no other country can top that.