Abu Jani & Sandeep Khosla: It's Milestone After Milestone

Couturies Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla, who have recently launched their affordable diffusion label ASAL (which means 'genuine' in Urdu), share their journey with us, even as we admire their ever-lasting camaraderie...

- Vinay Agrawal

What’s common between Beyoncé, Amitabh Bachchan and ASAL? Except fame and success, the three share a common rejoinder: Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla. One of the nation’s finest couturiers, Abu and Sandeep have displayed the finest virtues of designing excellence. Again and Again! As the designers of first choice to the jet-setting, globe-trotting elites, they have re-invented, and contemporised some of the ancient Indian arts and crafts.

In the late 1986, the duo met, by chance. Three months later, they set up a boutique, Mata Hari, in Juhu, Mumbai. Even before the debut, their collection got featured as a multi-page spread cover story in Bombay magazine. A year later, they were retailing their garments under a new label, Jashan. Later, in the same year, Jashan went overseas to retail at Joseph, London. It was later showcased at the “Save the Children’ charity ball fund raiser, chaired by Princess Anne.

By 1989, the duo had already made their way at the designer floor at Harrods, London, Neiman Marcus, Harvey Nichols and Bergdorf Goodman, America. After two years of extensive research, they launched their (now) signature Chikan line and a book, Classic Chikan that documented the revival of this Awadhi craft.

In 1995, the duo became the first designers to showcase theatrical fashion at the Roosevelt House, US. Two years after that, they were cutting the ribbon of their first boutique, Also, at the Beauchamp Place, London. The year 1999 saw their brush with the Oscars and BAFTA, when they dressed Dame Judi Dench, who later on called their designs, ‘the most feminine clothes she has ever worn.’ It is a matter of great pride for the duo to have their most beloved actress wear their collection to the Oscars year after year since then.