The order in which all the fashion designers mentioned here are in random order.
Being an aspiring Fashion Designer, You also might have thought of or already have a Fashion designer as a role model, though not an Indian Fashion Designer. But along with having a role model and just learning from the work of one person, why not learn from everyone who is best in the field?
Tarun Tahiliani:
Tarun Tahiliani and his wife were the first one’s to setup a multi-designer boutique in India; Later on, they went to setup a studio named Tahiliani Design studio in 1990. The interesting thing here is the fact that Tarun Tahiliani did not have a formal education Fashion Designing until a year later they setup Tahiliani Design studio. So, Technically Tarun used a bottom up approach here.
In the year 1991, Tarun Tahiliani went to New York to study Fashion designing at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). Tarun Tahiliani is known best for his work in Bridal Designs and infusing traditional aesthetics into modern design. The mixture of Indian Craftsmanship, Textile Heritage is what Tarun Tahiliani introduced and is famous for.
Manish Malhotra:
Even though I don’t know much about Fashion Industry, I know who Manish Malhotra is. I am also sure you already know who he is and most of you might also be following his work.
Manish Malhotra is one of the prominent names in the world of Indian Fashion. But, did you know that Manish Malhotra never did get formal training particularly in Fashion Designing? Interesting, Isn’t it?
It was his passion for Sketching, Clothes & Cinema that got him into this field. Manish Malhotra started his career as a model while he was studying in Elphinstone College in Mumbai.
He’s been in the Fashion Industry for 27 years now and he has revolutionized Indian Fashion Industry in ways that’s hard to fathom(at least for me). Manish Malhotra is the person who introduced the concept of style in Bollywood through Juhi Chawla starrer Swarg where he worked as a designer for the first time.
Manish Malhotra is also the first person to win a Filmfare costume award for his designs in the film Rangeela (You can stop Remembering Urmila in Tanha Tanha Now). He managed to make his name synonymous with Bollywood as well Indian Fashion.
If a person who never got any training or education in Fashion Designing can redefine fashion and achieve such great feats just by his passion & of course hard work. Think of all the things you can achieve.
Sabyasachi Mukherjee:
Sabyasachi Mukherjee is one of those Fashion Designers who took a lot less time to create waves as soon as he entered the Fashion Industry. Sabyasachi Mukherjee founded his brand right as soon as he graduated from New Delhi’s National Institute of Fashion Technology in 1999. He has won 2001 Femina British Council award for Most Outstanding Young Designer in India and has been named Grand Winner at the Mercedes Benz Asia Fashion Week in 2003.
Sabyasachi Mukherjee brand has such a following that it withstood some serious social, economical as well as some major political changes.
Manish Arora:
Look at that, we have got two Manish’s in the list. Manish Arora is known for his detailed craftsmanship, his attention to details & his knowledge of using colors. His prowess though lies in his ability to bring Indian cultural heritage in a very playful & contemporary vibe.
Manish Arora’s designs have been featured on some of the very high profile magazines such as Vogue & Harper’s Bazaar. All of this began in 1997 when he launched his first brand label “Manish Arora” and then in 2005 his label was first officially shown in London Fashion Week and then 2 years later in Paris Fashion Week. His designs were a huge success in both London & Paris fashion weeks and Manish Arora ended up being invited into the distinguished French Federation of Pret-a-Porter.
Ritu Beri:
A protégé of Francois Lesage, Ritu Beri is considered the pioneer in the field of Fashion. She was also the first among the Indian Fashion Designers to head a French fashion brand. Ritu Beri is also given the lions share of credit for Globalization of Indian Fashion Industry.
Her journey in the land of Fashion began with her launching her own label in December 1990 when India was still in the awareness stage of Couture. In 2016, she was awarded the The Inspirational Power Brands Glam Award.
Neeta Lulla:
Neeta Lulla is almost as famous as Manish Malhotra. She has been in the industry for three and half decades now, her main focus has always been bridal designs. She has worked on designs for more than 300 movies, But her name became synonymous with Bollywood when Aishwarya Rai Bachchan & Madhuri Dixit Nene wore her dresses in Devdas(Remember that dance number Dola Re Dola where they wore the beautiful yet insanely heavy dresses and danced).
Neeta Lulla’s designs have been recognized not just in India but all over the world.She has also won many awards for her costumes in several movies and its not simply that they call her the Czarina of Indian Fashion.
Rohit Bal:
Born in Sri Nagar, Rohit Bal started his journey in the field of Fashion in 1990 when he launched his label. Rohit Bal is well know for his contemporary designs and for drawing influence from Village crafts & traditional methods of designing. That being said, attention to details is another one of his prowess which really gives life to his designs.
Rohit Bal has held fashion shows not only in major cities in India but also in Paris, New York, Singapore, Geneva and all the major cities of India. He has also collaborated with some of the major Indian as well as international brands like Reid & Taylor, Zippo Lighters, Kirtilal Jewelers etc.
Masaba Gupta:
In a way Masaba Gupta story of becoming a Fashion Designer is quite interesting. Being a daughter of two celebrities – Neena Gupta & Sir Viv Richards, her first career choice was never to be a Fashion Designer; instead to be a tennis player which then changed to Dance because of her passion for dance & music. Today she is in Top 10 Fashion Designers list in almost every blog you read. Its sometimes funny how life turns out.
Masaba Gupta is pretty famous for her creative ways of naming her collections; My personal favorite of them is “The Wanderess” – May be because it was inspired from character in a novel. Her specialty lies in ethnic wear and she is know for juxtaposing tradition, contemporary & modernity in her designs.
DNA once mentioned her work as “a unique Indianness in a very modern context”. If I were to be Fashion Designer, May be I would have followed her work a lot more than other Fashion Designers.
Anita Dongre:
If you want to be a Fashion Entrepreneur, Anita Dongre is the person you want to learn from. She is the owner of one of the most successful Fashion Houses in India. Not just that, all of her designs are available under not just one but four brands and she also has a jewelry brand called Anita Dongre Pink City.
Anita Dongre designs clothes for Bollywood celebrities as well as royalties. In 2014, she also received the EY Entrepreneur of the year award. Now it might be clear why I told you to follow her work if you want to be a Fashion Entrepreneur.
Ritu Kumar:
Ritu Kumar is one of the most respected Fashion Designers and One Of the most famous fashion brands in India. A Fashion Business that began with just two tables and printing block printing is now spread across the world.
Ritu Kumar is in industry for almost 4 decades now and has developed a unique style of its own, reflecting the ancient traditions of Indian craftsmanship in a contemporary vocabulary.
The brand is famous for its distinctive use of colors, embroideries, fabrics & Indian aesthetics. Ritu Kumar in a way revolutionized classicism with her deep knowledge & understanding of ancient designs and innovative use of traditional crafts.
