India To The World

INDIAN designers rs are taking over RUNWAYS in major FASHION capitals of the WORLD.

- PRAACHIRANIWALA

In many ways, this has been the year of Indian fashion. While our centuries-old craftsmanship has been the backbone of international fashion houses for decades, it’s only now that India is finally stepping out of the sideline to claim its place in the spotlight. Marrying history with contemporary relevance, it is a poetic story of old meets new to preserve and further our design heritage.

From the landmark Dior Pre-Fall 2023 show in Mumbai this March to Indian designers opening stores around the world and being worn on international red carpets, the collective movement is one that positions our sartorial language as ‘made in India’ but made for the world. Another big shift has been fashion week showcases by homegrown designers in major fashion capitals of the world—thereby, turning around the definition of Indian design and bringing a modern rendition of the country’s craft legacy to a global stage. Bazaar India speaks to a few of these runway stars as they pave the way forward for the India story.

RAHUL MISHRA

The New Delhi-based designer’s journey is one of many firsts—the first Indian designer to win the Woolmark Prize in 2014, and also the first to showcase at Paris Haute Couture Week in 2020. Rahul, who is also a regular on Paris Fashion Week’s official ready-to-wear calendar, used the platform to launch his new RTW label called AFEW Rahul Mishra with Reliance Brands this September.

India for the world: Rahul wants Indian fashion to create a fresh narrative and aesthetic that goes beyond the western perspective, embodying the distinctiveness of India.