There is never anything understated about “Shantanu & Nikhil”. The brand, founded by the brother duo of Shantanu Mehra and Nikhil Mehra in 1999, is all about grandiose sexiness and decadent East-meets-West style glamour that vehemently rejects fads and gimmicks, concentrating instead on silhouettes reflecting relaxed sophistication and subdued elegance. Known primarily to play their fashion with contemporary styling, they dove into fashion with their Indian menswear couture line in 1999. Signature women’s collections, both prêt-a-porter and diffusion soon followed, and the designer duo stepped onto the field of high fashion with their debut diffusion line at the India Fashion Week in 2001.

The brothers came together when Shantanu, who pursued an MBA in finance from Ohio State University, USA, and Nikhil, a trained Fashion Designer from FIDM, Los Angeles decided to pool in their entrepreneurial and creative skills in the business of fashion. Creative heart and entrepreneurial mind – the winning combination has got the brother duo, Shantanu Mehra and Nikhil Mehra, a place in the global forum.

Enriched with a global fashion vision, they have moved beyond borders, infusing an Indian sensibility into a rich detailing that remains quintessentially Shantanu and Nikhil. From cricketers, to cinestars to socialites and style icons, the label today, is an ode to attention to detail, and that master of all cuts- the silhouette, remaining the most important USP in all. Feted by the media, and adorned by the crème de la crème, the Label is a style statement extraordinaire.

The brand targets its audience who are extrovert and effervescent, with a sense of chic and classiness. The brand aims to bring out stylish line of clothes for work place, going with the recent flow of power dressing at one’s vocational front. The urban youth desires to be contemporary, yet conservative and the brand comes out to be a clear winner in this segment.

The clientele list of the designer duo has eminent sports personalities like Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan & Leander Peas. In Bollywood stars like Mr. Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Dia Mirza, Neha Dhupia, A.R.Rehman, Kunal Kapoor, Shilpa Shetty, Sushmita Sen and Bipasha Basu adore the brand.

They have two signature stores in the prime locations of New Delhi, besides having a strong presence in couture stores nationally and internationally.

You can contact the designer duo at:

Web: www.shantanunikhil.com

The ingenious couple has brought bygone traditions back to the centre stage, in the global upfront. During the time they were toying with the idea of entering the fashion industry, the likes of chikan, zardozi, kamdani, tukdi, appliqué and hand embroideries had become quite acceptable in the global market. This gave them the encouragement to move ahead with their idea.

Muzaffar Ali, essentially a painter and filmmaker deeply inspired by Sufism developed a discerning eye and vision for aesthetics and humanity. He established an in depth admiration for his creativity all over the world and followed his creative pursuits. Painter, poet, designer, film-maker, artist, music lover, revivalist and social worker by profession, Meera and Muzaffar Ali crossed all the boundaries of creativity, to project their talent and versatility.

Together, they design under their label "Kotwara". It was Muzaffar’s interest in crafts and clothes that motivated the couple to set up a fashion label in 1990.

• In 1991 Kotwara Exhibited at Gallerie Lafayette, Paris France

• In 1997 at Fashion Extravaganza India Today, Singapore

• 1998 showcased at the Kensington Hotel. London

• 1999 at Indian Summer, Chor Bizzare, London

• In 2000 they participated at the 1st India Fashion Week, New Delhi and since then have been regularly showcasing.

Kotwara believes that clothes are the epitome of inner grace and for that matter they don’t have to be expensive. They can transform a human figure, add an ethereal dimension to realism and are visionary and timeless. Having sketched clothes for twenty years interpreted them as silhouettes, as embroideries, as surface textures with the sensibility of a painter and filmmaker Muzaffur Ali has designed to provide a vocation in his village, Kotwara, to upgrade the craft of Chikan and Zardozi in his city, Lucknow and its environs. Muzaffar Ali’s cinematic experience celebrates with epic movies like Umrao Jaan, and though provoking Gaman, Aagman and Anjuman.

Meera and Muzaffar Ali are also actively involved with Dwar Pe Rozi, a movement working for empowering and educating women of the Kotwara region, by making them learn the art of craft and embroidery.

You can get Meera Muzaffar Ali at:

Kotwara, 301 Second Floor, DLF Emporio, New Delhi

www.muzaffarali.com