AKHL Studio was founded by Akhil Nagpal in 2019 to create modern, luxurious womenswear using Indian hand-crafting techniques such asikat weaving, hand-printing and traditional embroidery such as zardozi and aari. Nagpal’s unique designs are also led by innovation, so he often incorporates ocean plastic and other upcycled materials to create complex textiles. Indian actress Radhika Apte wore his gradient-dyed, tiered fringed glass dress on the June 2022 cover of Cosmopolitan India.

Kerala-born Harikrishnan Keezhathil Surendran Pillai is the brains behind up-and-coming label Harri, which was responsible for singer Sam Smith’s viral latex look at the 2023 Brit Awards. Inflatable menswear, which intentionally pushes the boundaries of form, is Pillai’s signature. His graduate collection, which was shown at the London College of Fashion, blew up and put him on the radar of the British Fashion Council, which led to the showcase of his first collection at London Fashion Week in 2023.

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Bloni’s futuristic designs are a fusion of historical craftsmanship and emerging technologies. Akshat Bansal, who founded the fashion house in 2017, grew up among the handlooms at his family’s shop. He looks back at aspects of his Indian heritage and interprets them into the unusual silhouettes he’s now known for. He also embraces sustainability and often uses recycled materials and regenerated nylon such as econyl in his designs. Among Bloni’s fans is Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor, who posted a photo of herself wearing his designs as early as 2017.

British Indian designer Supriya Lele is representing a new generation of Indian women with her eponymous brand and contemporary approach to design. Her signature style includes the use of sheer fabrics that are layered, twisted and wrapped into dresses, tops and bottoms, which resonates with her Gen Z fans but still incorporates heritage prints and colours. Cool girls such as Dua Lipa, FKA Twigs and Hailey Bieber have worn her creations, and Lele’s show is often a favourite at London Fashion Week.

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