Meet the export experts

Outside of the glossy world triangulated by Gaurav Gupta, Sabyasachi and Tarun Tahiliani, Indian fashion looks different on foreign shores. Smaller designers, relatively unknown in India, are in demand as far away as Russia, Spain, the UAE and the UK. They're making luxe, sustainable dresses and jackets; chic hoodies and streetwear; and exquisite, customised wedding gowns for fussy brides. Is a new India story brewing?
Shafaque Ali, 29
Shafaque
The Mumbai label is only a year old and doesn't retail on Indian platforms yet.
But it's already been to Moscow, Madrid and Paris, and will soon be in NYC. Ali does contemporary European classics, using Indian craftsmanship and modern, sustainable practices. Think backless blazer dresses made from indigo-dyed khadi, or halter-neck crop-tops in Maheshwari silk.
Ali earned her Master's degree from Polimoda Institute in Florence, Italy, and worked at Hugo Boss in New York. "My main target is international audiences who appreciate craftforward designs," she says. These are buyers who like items that they can layer for different seasons, style for the day and night, and use for years.
And, as Ali is learning, they're willing to pay for quality. Ali's collection is stocked at the upmarket French department store chain Galeries Lafayette.
"We thought we'd price them between 400 and 500 euros, and did a quick survey on the floor," she recalls. “People said the outfits looked chic and premium. The fabrics felt rich.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 09, 2024-Ausgabe von Brunch.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 9.500 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 09, 2024-Ausgabe von Brunch.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 9.500 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden

Hardik Singh
Hockey player, @HardikRail6

Cook, don't get cooked
Are you burning up in the kitchen? Try these cool hacks to beat the summer heat

Cut. Take two, please
Nobody asked for a new Pride and Prejudice film. Instead, here are 10 movies that truly deserve a do-over, with better actors, tighter plots or a modern twist

Not all bright and rosy
With vivid pinks and a hint of irony, Arpita Singh shows how disorienting the world can be for women pushed to the margins

You want to break free?
Quitting your 9-5 to become your own boss sounds like the dream. But are you ready for a different kind of grind?
Lost in the sauce
Condiments are no longer the sidekicks. Here's how chilli oil, tahini, pickles and aiolis stole the scene from the main dish

Vibe check
Delhi or Bern? Raclette or chaat? Alps or the Himalayas? Swiss-Indian singer BombayMami debates which country does it better, and where her loyalties lie

The stars are aligning
With three Michelin wins, it's a big week for Indian food, and for the country's new wave of under-40 chefs and restaurateurs

Expand your palette
Why do romcoms love the desi girlwhite guy trope? It's overdone and outdated. The real interracial diversity is on Insta Reels

Last-minute cram session
What's an extra suitcase in the grand scheme of things? Ditch the minimalism and pack what you want