For designer sisters Gauri and Nainika, carving out a distinctive voice in India's dynamic fashion landscape has been nothing short of a meteoric rise. Since launching their eponymous label in the mid-2000s, the duo has become a fixture in the wardrobes of Bollywood’s elite and India’s fashion conscious, with a signature aesthetic defined by timeless romance, stylish silhouettes, and western high-fashion sensibilities. For over 20 years, the designer duo stuck to their western tastes to successfully carve out a niche for themselves in the world of fashion, particularly in evening wear and on the red carpet.

Now, after two decades of mastering the art of evening wear, they are turning a new page—unveiling their first-ever foray into Indian wear. But as expected, this is no ordinary reinterpretation. “In our Indian edit, we wanted to blend traditional silhouettes with our design DNA—a language of volume, softness, and quiet glamour,” says Gauri Karan. “For years, we’ve been asked when we’d create Indian wear, and we felt it was finally time to explore that direction—but on our own terms.”

The result is a poetic evolution: a collection that gracefully straddles the divide between the East and the West. At first glance, it evokes familiarity: sarees, lehengas, and angrakhas. But look a little closer, and you'll see the form redefined—shapes softened, codes reimagined, and details delicately reworked through the lens of the Gauri & Nainika aesthetic. Essentially, they are Indian wear, but also seen are traces of their western aesthetics in terms of the execution of designs, fabrics, and light embroidery.

The mood is gentle, the palette subdued. Think wisps of chiffon, organza, and tulle, floral prints that whisper rather than shout, and light embroidery inspired by European artistry—all bound together by Indian handwork traditions such as zardozi and aari.

“Nothing here is heavy,” Gauri explains. “The collection is designed for lightness—not just in weight, but in spirit.”

Gowns echo angrakha styles, with ruffled Victorian collars and chest panels reminiscent of 18th-century French embroidery archives. Lehengas abandon the expected heavy ornamentation for clean lines and airy volume, often paired with cropped blouses adorned with dramatic florals or signature ruffles.

Sarees, both traditional and pre-draped, float in featherlight silks, with hand-embroidered bodices that bring modern refinement to timeless drapery. Tulle, a material synonymous with the brand’s love of ballet, reappears in soft, sweeping skirts matched with raw silk corsets or chinoiserie-inspired embroidery.

One standout piece features a full-sleeved red tulle skirt with gold zardozi motifs nodding to bridalwear, paired with a corseted top blooming with vibrant floral detailing—a quiet rebellion against traditional bridal maximalism.

The Indian edit is not about grandeur in the usual sense. Rather, it’s about restraint as sophistication, and lightness as luxury. Embellishment is used with intention, not abundance. The drama is present, but never loud. It’s Indian wear, but reimagined with global grace.

These pieces are envisioned for the quieter corners of celebration—sangeets, cocktail evenings, and pre-wedding soirees. As for full-fledged bridal couture? “We dipped our toes in to see how it would unfold, and it’s been beautiful so far,” Gauri smiles. “As for wedding wear… let’s see what the future holds.”