Global fashion's Indian touch

IN 2014, when Rahul Mishra became the first Indian to win the prestigious International Woolmark Prize, he put the brilliance of Indian artisans and slow fashion into the global spotlight. The prize took him and Indian designs to places. It gained him a ticket to the Paris Haute Couture Week, an association that continues to date. And, that was only the beginning. Cut to 2026, and Mishra’s collaboration list boasts of the likes of Italian luxury brand Tod’s, Johnnie Walker, and Swarovski.

Today, joint ventures between Indian designers and global brands have become a defining feature of the luxury and lifestyle landscape. Brands such as Bergdorf Goodman, H&M, Pottery Barn, Starbucks, and Christian Louboutin introduced Sabyasachi Mukherjee’s signature blend of heritage and luxury to the world. Manish Malhotra has lent his design sensibilities to Golden Goose, Air India, Marriott Bonvoy, and Range Rover. Yet, before all of them was Manish Arora, whose pioneering collaborations demonstrated that an Indian designer could not only participate in global conversations but also shape them.