10 Fashion Designers In India That Make Couture Dreams Come To Life

Started his journey with Indian Fashion Week with the Kashgar collection in 2002, showcasing upcycled colours and prints, Sabyasachi rules the world of Bridal lehengas and is every bride’s dream designer. He has not only dressed leading Bollywood actresses such as Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, and more for their weddings, his lehengas are so sought-after, that the brides that can secure a Sabyasachi lehenga are known as the ‘Brides of Sabyasachi.’ His collections carry the essence of India, almost like an ode to our heritage, mixing traditional, tribal Indian motifs, featuring the vibrancy of Indian arts with great styling and designs. Along with the lehengas, the accessories, especially the belts are also ever so popular. The new collection features occasion wear that is extra but with a sophisticated flair.

Manish Malhotra became a household name after he styled Urmila Matondkar for the film Rangeela, and has been part of some iconic movies, and has won many accolades for the same. His career started on film sets itself and has played a pivotal role in bringing fashion into cinema. He recently designed Parineeti Chopra’s and Kiara Advani's wedding lehenga, and his collections are famous for their sequin threadwork, and signature embellishments, being all about with shimmer and sparkle, (being our reason for resonance).

With an iconic list of clients, like Princess Diana and Lara Dutta, Ritu Kumar (a Padma Shri winner herself) has popularised Indian fashion globally and created such magic with Indian fabrics, motifs, and handlooms that her work has become a manual for budding designers for years to come. She started her journey with a small village in Serampore, West Bengal, and now her brand is divided into three, where she creates daily wear, bridal-occasion wear, and western clothes. Her forte is diverse designs and threads of India, with contemporary styles, and her RTCollection’23 at Indian Couture Week had everyone, (also us) in complete enchantment.

Tarun Tahilani’s love affair with fashion started in 1987, when he opened India’s first multi-designer store 'Ensemble'. A textile designer and a bridal couture giant, Tahilani is a stalwart of the fashion industry. His idea of fashion is very rooted in India's textile industry, with beautiful weaves and embellishments, a global appeal with drapes, and the silhouette falling in the just right places. The way he juxtaposes traditional patterns with contemporary designs is truly a work of art, and every piece he creates is nothing short of magic.

With her love of all things vintage, an Edwardian aesthetic, and romantic colours, Neeta Lulla is an award-winning designer who is known for her regal designs. Playing with muted colours, flowers, and pastels, her love for vintage reflects in almost every collection of hers, and she creates outfits that take you back to the Renaissance but are at the same time very Indian in their design and weave approach. Her flagship store is in Delhi as well, inside DLF Promenade, which you can definitely check out if you're also about that rustic-chic vibe.

Over 20 years ago, Anita Dongre spotted a gap in western wear for women and started building her empire with ready-to-wear contemporary wear with an Indian tinge to it. Now, she has established four brands under her name – Global Desi, Pink City, and Grassroot, including her signature label, Anita Dongre. Her designs make sure that they evolve with trends and time. She is known to keep the principles of quality and comfort intact, empowering local artisans and craftsmen, and uplifting women with each of her business ventures.

If there is someone who truly understands the game of monochrome, with every piece standing out and being designed in a surreal way, then there is only Rohit Bal for that. Greatly influenced by the architectural history of Delhi, Bal started his fashion journey with his brother and went independent after two years. His earlier days were spent designing costumes for game shows and TV shows, but over time he went on to design jewellery, furnishings, and his works are defined by their love of peacock and lotus symbolism.

Creating designs and silhouettes that reflect his deep love for poetry and art and are an embodiment of various art forms and folklore, Rahul Mishra has become a global ambassador for Indian art forms and textiles. The designer recently launched her RTW line in collaboration with Reliance and creates couture wear inspired by nature and the cultural heritage of India.

Known for his structures and love for ruffles, Gaurav Gupta collections are the perfect harmony of style, trends, and couture. If you’re looking for something that exudes regality and high fashion, Gaurav Gupta's collection will surely surpass your expectations. He made his runway debut in 2004 and has been the reason behind the transformed look of the sarees, making avant-garde clothing commercial and accessible.

Completing two decades of creating contemporary design from Indian traditional weaves and textiles, Anamika Khanna is a Kolkata-based designer who has been modernising clothes rooted in Indian heritage with dhoti-style sarees and couture. Her designs maintain an Indian feel while also incorporating various aesthetics like punk rock, boho, and pastels and creating ethereal fits.