7 Indian Fashion Brands and Designers You Need to Know
Indian fashion brands and designers are bringing tradition into all parts of fashion. Down the red carpet, A-listers Zendaya and Gigi Hadid have turned heads in stunning saris by Rahul Mishra and Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla. On set, costume designer Manish Malhotra has redefined Bollywood style for a new generation of fans across the globe. And while ‘90s-influenced silhouettes like skirt-over-pants remind many of one specific Disney premiere outfit, to South Asians who wear kurtis over jeans, the look is nothing new and embraces experimentation.
Elements of South Asia’s traditional style can be found on all facets of today’s cultural landscape, and with the onset of new initiatives such as South Asian New York Fashion Week, designers have kept the dialogue between Indo-Western clothing alive and breathing.
Ahead, we’ve compiled a list of Indian fashion brands and designers who should be on your radar. From shimmering, larger-than-life embroidery to vibrant prints of the natural world, these seven labels are celebrating – and reimagining – their cultural legacies through fashion.
Below, watch Teen Vogue's Editor-in-Chief Versha Sharma talk through all the ways to incorporate Indian designers into your wardrobe.
Anita Dongre1/7Anita Dongre
Since founding her eponymous label in 1995, Anita Dongre has become one of India’s leading fashion designers, with past clients like Beyoncé, Hillary Clinton, and Kate Middleton (just to name a few). Though the global fashion house has vastly grown in its nearly three decades of operation, core commitments to sustainable luxury and equity have remained, reflecting its founder’s environmentalist beliefs. Further, the Anita Dongre Foundation has led numerous initiatives to promote wildlife conservation and community tailoring programs in rural regions of the Indian state Maharashtra.
Deva2/7Deva
During the pandemic, husband-and-wife duo Sahaj Patel and Shreya Ghoshal observed Indian brides and families struggling to find luxury South Asian accessories in America. In an effort to make the work of Indian designers more accessible, the couple established Deva in 2022 as a marketplace for all-things jewelry. The brand has wide-ranging pieces, including glitzy hoops for everyday wear; festive necklaces made of repurposed Ajrakh textiles; and gemstone jewelry sets in kundan, meaning “pure gold” in Sanskrit.
Harleen Kaur3/7Harleen Kaur
Driven by a desire to meld her American, Punjabi, and Thai identities, designer Harleen Kaur Chhabra founded her brand in 2017 to bring Indian wedding attire to brides, grooms, and guests in the United States. Harleen Kaur offers attire for various occasions, from lightweight kurtas for pre-wedding Mehendi ceremonies to jacquard halter tops for celebrations. The brand sources materials globally and produces its ready-to-wear, custom, and couture pieces in New York City, where its showroom is also located.
HoliCHIC4/7holiCHIC
As a first gen Indian-American, co-founder Megha Rao spent her childhood mixing pieces from her mom’s traditional wardrobe with those of her own. These dual identities lay the foundation for her approach to fashion, and when Rao and her childhood friend Pooja Desai Shah created holiCHIC in 2015, they continued exploring how personal and cultural styles interact. The brand carries henna-inspired athleisure designs, gold zari embroidered workwear, and everything in between. Its latest line, Pink City, draws influence from Jaipur through billowing maxi dresses and equally elegant prints.
I was a Sari5/7I was a Sari
As its name suggests, this Certified B Corp upcycles secondhand saris into an array of apparel, accessories, home decor, and even stationery. European entrepreneur Stefano Funari founded the brand in 2013, and with a zero-waste policy and DIY ethos, it has recycled a little over 16 million square feet of fabric since. I was a Sari has partnered with Gucci Equilibrium to train and employ disadvantaged mothers in Mumbai and focuses on providing financial independence to its team of women artisans.
Merakhi6/7Shop Merakhi
Created by entrepreneur Anokhi Parikh, this Atlanta-based label collaborates with karigars, or artisans, and designers across South Asia to bring Indian-inspired garments to a global audience. Merakhi fuses traditional craftsmanship with contemporary trends, carrying pieces such as tunic dresses made of Gaji silk and intricately-patterned loungewear sets.
Svarini7/7Svarini
Though svairini, the Sanskrit word for freedom, was once used as a derogatory label for unmarried, working women, the brand Svarini has reclaimed it to honor independence and individuality through personal style. Its size-inclusive, debut collection features bold ruffled skirts, embroidered slip dresses, and brocade corsets, taking cues from classic silhouettes of draped sari and lehenga skirts, with an early-2000s twist.
