Whether you know your designers or not, Manish Malhotra, Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Tarun Tahiliani and such others are household desi names that are so respected today, to wear their designs would be a dream for millions of people all over the world. While that generation of designers doesn’t seem like it’s going anywhere, a new crop of fashion innovators and creators have cropped up and maybe, in the future, their names might become as regular and spoken about as their seniors today. Some of the names in the list I’m about to share with you are so new, they’ve only had maybe one or two shows, while the others have just about learnt the ropes and seem to be taking all the right steps. Here are 10 homegrown and desi designers everyone should know about.
1. Nikhil Thampi
www.celebrityfavourite.desi
One of my personal favourites, Nikhil Thampi is only about three years old. The Gen-Next designer’s creations have been on multiple magazine covers and dressed the who’s who of the Bollywood industry. With a huge fan following, Thampi is one desi designer we wouldn’t be surprised to see on the International red carpets soon.
2. Dhruv Kapoor
www.teamkapoor.desi
One of the newer additions to the fashion block, Dhruv Kapoor created quite a stir at fashion week this season with his strong collection backed by his ‘Team Kapoor’ cheering him on during the show. With great use of fabric and an easy-flowing collection, he’s one to keep an eye out for.
3. Yogesh Chaudhary
www.flowerpower.desi
With innovative prints and quirky but at the same time, super wearable designs, Yogesh Chaudhary‘s creations won many an award right from the beginning when he just started out. Ever since then, there’s been no looking back. Chaudhry’s collection Surendri is contemporary fashion at it’s best.
4. Arpita Mehta
www.mirrormirror.desi
Another designer who’s favoured by celebrities, Arpita Mehta started out with an internship with design God, Manish Malhotra himself. Her collections, complete with intricate embroidery and attractive silhouettes are generally infused with her signature mirror work embellishments and are a fun take on the regular fusion and traditional wear you see otherwise.
5. Anushka Khanna
www.girlyrocker.desi
Anushka Khanna somehow manages to mix in a certain rock-n-roll element to her otherwise elegant and girly collections. Celebrities like Kareena Kapoor, Deepika Padukone and Kajol have endorsed her clothes, so she must be doing something right! Easy to wear, Khanna’s collection gives you something to look at and talk about – in more than a good way!
6. Nishka Lulla
www.preppyprincess.desi
Taking after her super designer mum (Neeta Lulla), Nishka Lulla‘s collection is all about a girl about town having fun in her clothes! With cheerful colours and her feminine designs, the very geek chic, Disney princess in the wearer is sure to come out to play.
7. Veda Raheja
www.newkidontheblock.desi
Just one collection old, Veda Raheja seems to be climbing up the fashion ladder, two steps at a time. Her evening wear collection comes with intricate hand embroidery and is timeless when it comes to the silhouettes and style. With a whole lot of training in different fields in the fashion industry, her craftsmanship, colours and sharpness is something to watch out for.
8. Nimish Shift
www.geekchicshift.desi
Another Geek Chic designer to know about, Nimish Shah of Shift launched his label about four years ago. His collections can be found at reputed concept stores like Le Mill and with their quirky elements, a few organic fabrics and an array of shift dresses, they do more than fit right in.
9. Mrinalini Chandra
www.3dchairs.desi
She might be tiny, but her jewellery sure packs a punch! Mrinalini Chandra specialises in her three dimensional creations, whimsical ideas and a touch of vintage elements. Her designs are inspired by the poetic verses and rich cultures of India.
10. Huemn by Pranav Mishra & Shyama Shetty
www.futurizeme.desi
If you’re looking for something avant-garde and futuristic, but still wearable, Huemn, by Pranav Mishra & Shyama Shetty, is your answer. Started in 2009, the label caters to men as well as women, they mix certain international elements with some traditional ones and the end result is that bit of futuristic edge you were looking for with a tinge of sporty luxe.
Now that we’ve got you up to speed on who to watch out for, want to hear something fabulously AND super #geekchic? MissMalini‘s pals over at Dotdesi are now offering you the coolest domain name EVER. The “Dotdesi” domain celebrates Desis like you and me all around the world wide, yay! Show how you can be a proud desi by getting a .desi web site! Just sign up for your very own .desi right here. And go on, tell us, what’s your .desi in the comments below? You might just score yourself one, you never know! 😉
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