Cross-Border Couture

Indias Bollywood stars and billionaires have a new couture favourite in Faraz Manan. Rochelle Pinto gets him to spill the beans on his fashion invasion

- Rochelle Pinto

Last Diwali, Jacqueline Fernandez brought traffic to a grinding halt when she stepped out in a racy red sari—halter neckline playing up those toned shoulders—instantly landing herself on every best-dressed list the Internet whipped up. Pakistani designer Faraz Manan could not have orchestrated a glitzier invasion of our celebrity-focused fashion appetite if he’d tried. One of the most beloved couturiers from across the border, Manan has attracted Saudi sheikhas, the Al-Thani royal family of Qatar and Pakistan’s millionaires to his fold over the last 15 years. But his new-found fame in India can be almost singularly attributed to one mega influencer: Kareena Kapoor Khan. The label’s brand ambassador has helped Manan become a household name in the Hindi film industry, with stars from Fernandez to Madhuri Dixit Nene, and even the late Sridevi picking his designs for their red carpet appearances.

ELLE: You have a wonderful friendship with Kareena Kapoor Khan. How did your paths cross?