Shantanu & Nikhil have pulled off a menswear coup. In four short years, the designer brothers have established themselves as leading game players with a vintage India aesthetic that finds favour with the modern man. Now they rÌe ready to take on the world
When Shantanu and Nikhil Mehra kickstarted the inaugural edition of Van Heusen + GQ Fashion Nights in 2015, they received a standing ovation, for a powerful menswear showcase that stirred up feelings of nostalgia and pride. Titled “Cabinet Mission”, the grey and monochromatic collection saw fitted achkans, bandhgalas and kurtas with drapes and bold buttons, paired with tailored-to-perfection Jodhpurs. The kind of clothes that Jawaharlal Nehru and VK Krishna Menon would’ve stocked their closets with. It was a clever thought: Style in a newly independent India was represented by a set of immaculately dressed gentlemen, and who better than the country’s premier statesmen to draw inspiration from?
Until this moment, however, Shantanu & Nikhil’s menswear had languished as a sideshow to its womenswear. Now, having found a new USP, the designers took their story forward with each season: India’s past for a future generation, with new flourishes and details like leather trimmings, embroidered patches and regimental brooches. At the designers’ recently concluded standalone couture show in Delhi’s storied Bikaner House, a sea of colour – green, pink, magenta, orange – made its way into a progressive collection. We caught up with the duo to discuss the fear of repetitive fashion and the future of their “India story”.
You completely overhauled your entire collection just a few days before your recent couture show. What happened?
Nikhil: I was running on the beach and saw baskets of colour lying in different corners – everything was white, orange, red, blue. That’s when I decided we would change the collection. Without doing this, I think it would’ve looked similar to last year’s. Adding colour made it feel younger.
Do you ever fear that your menswear will get repetitive?
ãã®èšäºã¯ GQ India ã® September 2018 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã9,000 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã ?  ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
ãã®èšäºã¯ GQ India ã® September 2018 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã9,000 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã? ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
THE FUTURE SOUNDS LIKE AT EEZ
The Coachella-slaying, multi-language-singing, genre-obliterating members of Ateez are quickly becoming load-bearing stars of our global pop universe.
DEMNA UNMASKED
He's the most influential designer of the past decade. He's also the most controversial. Now the creative director of Balenciaga is exploring a surprising source of inspiration: happiness. GQ's Samuel Hine witnesses the dawn of Demna's new era, in Paris, New York, and Shanghai. Photographs by Jason Nocito.
Inside the undercover adventures of a full-time fraud sleuth.
HOW TO MAKE A FORTUNE AS A PROFESSIONAL WHISTLE-BLOWER
A LIFE OF FASHION
In an extensive conversation, the menswear icon discusses his rise, his mistakes, his triumphs, his retirement, and what the future holds for him and his beloved brand.
IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE WITH GEORGE & BRAD
They've spent three decades living intertwined lives at the inconceivably glamorous height of Hollywood. Now, having crossed the threshold of 60, they're more comfortable than ever throwing bombs, dispensing hard-won wisdom, and, yes, arguing about who had the better mullet in the '80s.
ALEXANDER THE GRITTY
One of India's most creative chefs comes of age.
Penning History
Montblanc marks 100 years of its iconic MeisterstÃŒck with new writing instruments inspired by the 1924 Olympic Games.
Royal Enfield Forges a New Path
Say hello to the company's most cutting-edge roadster.
Arooj Aftab Owns the Night
The Grammy Award-winning artist, fresh off a Glastonbury set, speaks to GQ about her new album, Night Reign, from the ideas that led to its conception to its genre-defying collabs with Elvis Costello, Kaki King and more.
Louis Vuitton's New Beat
The luxury maison's latest addition to the Tambour line reiterates its commitment to watchmaking and craftsmanship.