Papa Don’t Preach by Shubhika Sharma is a renowned luxury fashion label that playfully reimagines Indian silhouettes through modernized forms, striking patterns, and unconventional materials. With creative rebellion at its heart, the brand has questioned conformist design rules by developing signature styles such as “half lehengas”. Tapping into a cultural appetite for fresh and playful styles, the brand employs inventive, intentional designs - inspired by everything that isn’t real. The brand places a strong emphasis on radical non-conformity and individuality and works with diverse models to subvert traditional size, race, and gender expectations of the industry.
Aisha Rao is a visionary fashion designer whose maximalist designs have crafted an iconic visual palette. With a design philosophy rooted in celebrating traditional Indian craftsmanship, her pieces often mimic rich tapestries by weaving intricate narratives into her garments. Her unique selling point has been upcycling patterns and motifs through appliqué work to craft eclectic, maximalist pieces. She places a strong emphasis on intricate handiwork through techniques such as Zardosi, aari, and macrame. Aisha Rao’s work embodies the sophistication of traditional heritage while lending an understated grace that customers have been flocking to get.
Abhishek Sharma is a dynamic designer melding urban style with rich, cultural tradition. Drawing from many art movements, Sharma views fashion as a canvas for the bold expression of his innermost thoughts. His past collections have drawn inspiration from nature, food, celebrations, religion, and art across myriad Indian regions, while taking care to ensure that the motifs are not overused and still fresh. He uses sumptuous fabrics and sensual drapes, often imbued in organic hues, to craft dynamic and visually iconic pieces. His strong appreciation for art, as evidenced by his art collection on his website, offer a unique opportunity to get ready to wear pieces that feel like they belong on the runway.
Rocky Star’s unwavering dedication to quality craftsmanship, fueled by his love for design, has resulted in a remarkable lifestyle portfolio. He passionately pursued his interests, turning them into a flourishing empire with significant contributions to the global fashion scene, particularly in representing Indian-inspired designs on international platforms. His unique approach to design, characterized by imaginative thinking and a curious disposition, reflects the brand’s determination to bring about a fashion revolution worldwide.
Zara Umrigar is a designer with a rich heritage who infuses glamour with a romantic and ethereal essence. She leans into old-world glamor while exploring the tension between femininity and strength in her works. Umrigar envisions the ideal "Zara Umrigar woman" as a fusion of bravery, passion, elegance, and glamour—a testament to the multifaceted nature of her designs. In her quest to convey compelling stories through her garments while maintaining a timeless appeal, she employs an array of hand embroidery techniques while keeping the cuts classic. This distinctive approach ensures that Zara Umrigar's creations are visually enchanting and embody a timeless and sophisticated allure.
Kamaali Couture, a venture by sisters Shruti and Kamaali Mehta, has an ethos rooted in merging the traditional and modern. Their journey began from a desire to craft impeccably fitted Western pieces, which they now infuse with an Indian allure. Now, their raison d'être is to design beautiful yet functional garments for the modern woman, often in the form of a balanced feminine silhouette. They embrace ornamentation through zari and pearlwork, and craft statement silhouettes through fringe, tassels, feathers, beads, and chains amongst other structural elements. Their pieces instantly evoke an ethereal yet stately appeal that is quickly garnering viral appeal globally.
Deme by Gabriella, a brand founded by Gabriella Demetriades, is best known for its elegant and alluring ready-to-wear garments. Renowned for its distinctive aesthetic, the brand captivates with its emphasis on sleek lines, vibrant hues, and exquisite silhouettes that exude sensuality. Not only are the silhouettes flattering on a variety of bodies, but the use of innovative materials and textures makes these pieces impossible to miss. Having already made waves among India's fashion elite, the brand is now setting eyes on conquering the global landscape, with Ōushq front on center in the US market.
At Little Black Bow, founders Boo and Annora, eschew trends to build timeless, quirky pieces. The two draw inspiration across eclectic sources, including film, literature, music and art, fashioning unique and whimsical pieces. Passionate about crafting garments that instill a sense of confidence, and amalgamate contemporary design, silhouettes and stories with Indian sensibilities and craft, they specialize in making pieces that seamlessly transition from innerwear to outerwear blurring the lines between functionality and allure. The brand is becoming a quick favorite with the fashion-conscious crowd, and we’re excited to bring them to the American market with Oushq!
Advani London Bombay, founded by Mumbai-born, London-based designer Abhishek Advani, is a menswear brand that offers unique interpretations of classic pieces. Using premium materials sourced mainly from Italy, including renowned brands like Loro Piana and Vitale Barberis Canonico, each piece is meticulously crafted in their London atelier with innovative treatment methods. Advani London Bombay’s pieces have such a standout appeal, that within just three weeks of launching the brand, Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne wore a piece to the Golden Globes in Los Angeles, quickly becoming a Hollywood Favorite! This was just the start of Advani’s recognition, the brand has since appeared at London Men’s Fashion Week, Pitti Uomo in Florence and Paris Men’s Fashion Week. Advani has also made quite a splash into the art world, a hallmark of high fashion, through a pop-up at Art Basel Miami and Frieze Art Fair in London.
Rhea Pillai Rastogi, the creative mind behind her eponymous label, is redefining contemporary fashion with her fluid silhouettes and form-flattering cuts. Established in 2015, the label is an ode to the design philosophy of its namesake, seamlessly blending high-end luxury with accessible style. Formally trained at India’s prestigious university NIFT Mumbai, Rhea launched her brand keeping intricate Indian embroidery techniques at the forefront, combining Ari and beadwork with modern, sensual pieces. The label quickly found a loyal following among Bollywood's A-listers, including Kiara Advani, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sobhita Dhulipala, Taapsee Pannu, and more. At the core of Rhea’s ethos lies a commitment to build an Indo-Western fusion wear brand that crafts garments embodying the essence of versatility, giving the wearer an unmissable allure, regardless of size or age. Her fundamental rule is to have fun in her pieces.
Swapna Anumolu, the driving force behind Mishru, envisioned a brand that marries subtlety with intricate embroidery to create timelessly elegant pieces. Mishru’s standout feature includes matte embroidery and monochromatic relief work, often incorporating off-white pearls and glass beads to infuse traditional Indian artistry into modern designs. The outcome is a subtle, unique piece creating versatility in a space saturated by opulence. The brand has encountered phenomenal success due to its wearability: it has been embraced by luminaries such as Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Kiara Advani, and Tara Sutaria, and even showcased at LFWxFDCI. Swapna’s story is an inspiring one: although always interested in design, she grew up in an “engineering household” and only pursued design post-college. After encouragement from her business partner and husband, she enrolled at NIFT Hyderabad, and the rest has been history. Swapna's journey underscores her unwavering dedication to design, craftsmanship, and the relentless pursuit of sartorial perfection.
Emerging from a rich legacy of hand-weaving and infused with contemporary glamour, ĀROHI stands out for its experimental silhouettes and rich textiles. Since its inception, the eponymous label has garnered attention from prestigious publications like Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, and L'Officiel, among others, solidifying its status as a trendsetter in the industry. The standout yet versatile pieces have also become a favorite with both celebrities and influencers globally. Each garment is meticulously crafted with precision and passion, embodying the brand's singular vision: to harmonize exceptional textiles and techniques of antiquity with bold colors and modern flair. With ĀROHI, every piece tells a story, inviting you to stand out and make a statement, one exceptional piece at a time.
