She’s the black horse of Indian design, who never disappoints in terms of wearability. Her clothing easily translates across geographies and other artificial constructs such as age, race and point of view. The Namrata Joshipura line fuses contemporary silhouettes with modern interpretations of artisanal embellishments. She believes in a luxe minimalism that is organic yet infused with colour and detail. She prefers working with pure fabrics like silks that give an organic feel, and draws inspiration from her world; from a phonograph, a tree to her daughter Ananya who bursts into a Happy Birthday song every time anything is cut, Joshipura’s designs reflect her philosophy. She never fails to impress with her very strong sense of fashion aesthetics, which she presents in a simple but very creative manner. There is something always exciting to look forward to in her line of clothing. The versatile designer also designs an accessories line that is primarily distributed in the United States to a variety of stores.

Namrata, a NIFT graduate, launched her clothing line in India in 1996 under the "Namrata Joshipura" label. Her innovative designs rapidly drew the attention of a discerning clientele and the support of the press. Her accomplishments in clothing design led to her selection as India’s representative in several International fashion events. In 1999, Namrata represented India and won second prize at the Asia Pacific Young Designer’s Show, held during Hong Kong Fashion Week. The following year, she was the first Indian designer to be selected to participate in the "World Young Designers’ Award Ceremony" at the London Fashion Week and she later presented her collection at the ‘Indian Show" in Sao Paolo, Brazil.

Namrata has also designed the costumes for the award winning Indo-German film "Dance of the Wind" which captured prizes at both the London and Nantes Film Festivals.

Her clothes are retailed in India at her two own stores: The Crescent (Delhi) and D7 (Mumbai).  She also sells to an exclusive list of retailers across India and also internationally.

You can catch Namrata at:

Web: www.joshipura.com

Vikram Phadnis started his career as a choreographer and juggled in myriad works before choosing fashion as his true calling. Not having gone any formal training in fashion, he currently adorns the wardrobes of some of the biggest names in the glamour industry. Besides his passion for designing, Vikram is a natural stylist too.

The ace designer has showcased his collection in numerous fashion weeks where his efforts have always been to achieve synthesis of popular and avant-garde tastes. His unique selling point is his bridal and prêt-a-porter wear.Concentrating on everyday realistic styles, his collections are high on practicality and elegance. He also represented India in the 10th Sanlam South African Fashion Week in 2006.

Vikram has a long term association with the Film fraternity. He has a loyal fan following amongst Bollywood stars like Salman Khan, John Abraham, Bipasha Basu, Lara Dutta, Malaika Arora, Ayesha Takia Priyanka Chopra, Sushmita Sen and Aishwarya Rai who swear by his collections. He has designed the costumes for various films including Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Lucky, Salaam-e-Ishq and Aitraaz. His outing with Priyanka Chopra for Mujhse Shaadi Karogi won him an IIFA award for the Best Designer.

 In the past two decades, he has created for himself a place in the Fashion and Film Industry, which can be filled by none other. The multi-faceted man now also plans to venture into directing his own movie.

Phadnis retails from his flagship store in Mumbai & Delhi where his label offers high end Indian and western wear, both for men and women. His creations are also available at Pune, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chicago, New York and Saudi Arabia. He holds the distinction of being the first Indian designer to open a stand-alone store in South Africa at Johannesburg.

You can get Vikram at:

Square One, Ground Floor, Gulmohur Road, JVPD, Mumbai

Web: www.vikramphadnis.com 

Manish Malhotra has dressed the most beautiful women of the Hindi film industry. Known for revolutionizing the fashion scene in Bollywood Manish started his career in fashion designing about two decades ago as a costume designer for Juhi Chawla starrer Swarg. And it did not take him long to earn the repute for working out the entire look of the character as opposed to just the garments. He was one of the first costume designers in Bollywood who would ask for the script before designing the costumes. Manish Malhotra`s list of films includes several blockbusters since Rangeela, where he transformed the then girl next door  actress Urmila Matondkar into a raging sex symbol.

Manish Malhotra started his career as a model, while studying at Elphinstone College in Mumbai.  In 1989 after a few modeling assignments he joined Equinox, a boutique in Bandra. He says, “In 1990 I thought to myself, fashion and costumes is where my future lies. And being a die- hard fan of Hindi movies, Bollywood was where my heart’s calling”.

  • Manish went on to become Bollywood’s most sought after designer. He has designed for Sridevi, Urmila Matondkar, Karishma Kapoor, Kajol, Raveena Tandon, Madhuri Dixit, Twinkle Khanna, Shilpa Shetty, Kareena Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai, Rani Mukherjee, Priety Zinta and the list goes on. 
  • Manish says, “I have been in the industry from a time when the system was not as organised as it is today and have single-mindedly worked to carve a niche for a designer in Bollywood.”
  • Manish Malhotra won the Filmfare award for Urmila Matondkar’s costume in Rangeela. This was the first time a category for the best costume designer was introduced by Filmfare.
  • He then won the Showtime Opinion Poll Award for Karishma Kapoor in Raja Hindustani.
  • Followed by the Siemen’s viewer’s choice Award for Dil Toh Pagal hai
  • He won the Lux-Zee Cine Award and the Bollywood Award in New York For his Costumes in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.
  • He has also been graced with Indira Priyadarshini Memorial Award for his contribution to the Fashion Industry.
  • In 1999 he was honoured with the Elle Style Awards for the most stylish Designer of the year.
  • The Zee Cine Awards and IIFA Awards in 2000 for Mohabbatein.
  • Then it was The IIFA Award and Designer of the Year award in 2002 for Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham.
  • He was also honoured with the Rajiv Gandhi Award by the Mumbai Pradesh Youth Congress for his contribution to fashion. 
Manish Malhotra decided to branch into mainstream designing in 1998 with his high profile couture store Reverie-Manish Malhotra. Manish has also made waves in the international fashion scenario. He designed clothes for Michael Jackson for his appearance during Bollywood Awards held in New York. He also made special outfits for Lady Weber wife of Sir Andrew Lloyd Weber.
 
Being the only fashion designer in the country to manage the delicate balance between costume designing and mainstream designing he launched his independent label “MANISH MALHOTRA”.
Manish has showcased his collections not only in Fashion Weeks in India but also in different parts of the world like London, New York, Bangkok, Chicago, Antwerp, Dubai, Muscat, etc. Other than Fashion and films he has also styled for up market leisure properties both in India and New York. He had also designed the team gear IPL club’s Kolkata Nightriders.
 
As he relaxes for the day it is always R.D Burman or Gulzar that soothes his ears and watching a Hindi movie is his ever freshness therapy. Manish is eagerly waiting for the release of his latest Bollywood projects which include My name is Khan, I hate Love Stories and My nephew Punit Malhotra. 
 
You can get Manish at:
Manish Malhotra Flagship Store, Vishudhan CHS, 14th road, Khar (West), Mumbai
www.manishmalhotra.in 
The Delhi based designer Rajvi Mohan, specialized in menswear launched her own self named label Rajvi Mohan in India in 2005. Her style is a series of stories juxtaposed to create a new fashion idiom. Rajvi Mohan has managed to create a distinctive design aesthetic of sophisticated, fun and quirky designs for the discerning male client who lives and works in a global space.

Rajvi’s passion for design manifested itself early on. After applying to some of the most prestigious international schools of design, Rajvi graduated from The London College of Fashion, London, England (Menswear specialty) and Parsons School of Design, New York. This rich experience left Rajvi with a vision for well tailored clothing with an interesting detailing and twists that bring in a lighter touch.  Over the years Rajvi has honed her design talent, and worked for many prestigious design houses. These include Armani Exchange, the ITC Lifestyle Retail Business Division, Ghost Menswear Pink Hill, Vivienne Westwood and Falcon Agencies. 

Rajvi Mohan specifically chose to design menswear because it gives her chance to think out of the box and create a new design lingo. Getting to wonder what exactly goes on in a man’s head and create a line of clothing that enhances his personality is the USP Rajvi’s label boasts of.

Rajvi’s flagship store is located in New Delhi and she also retails from Mumbai; Kolkata and Chennai along with retail presence in the international markets of Maldives and Langkawi.

You can get Rajvi at:
www.rajvimohan.com
 

Outstanding resort and cocktail wear which is the niche of one of the well-known face of the glitz world can be none other than designer Nandita Mahtani. Nandita a graduate from London belongs from a family with business background. She is the second child of the family with an elder sister and a younger brother, who the designer is extremely close to.

The designer has not only executed her magnificent urbane creation at the coveted India Fashion Weeks, the Lakme and the Wills but even coped to achieve international fame at the 2009 Colombo couture fest and the Australia Fashion Week of 2007.

The label Ananya which celebrates womanhood is the outcome of Nandita’s effort which came into action in the year 2000, escorted by her signature label- Nandita Mahtani. The label specializes in tunics, shirts, jumpsuits, kaftans, rompers, dresses and evening tops apart from the brands signature cocktail outfits and loungewear. Both the labels Ananya and Nandita Mahtani have been globally acclaimed and presently certify as one of the prestigious names in the Indian market.

The designer’s creation avows to gratify the musts of a woman when she is in need of an evening wear or wants to just unwind and lighten up. Chic, classy and glamorous are the perfect lexis to define Nandita’s assortments. Simple elementary cuts blended with a touch of reverie and romance exemplifying a very easy fashion in a burly dramatic mode takes her couture to a distinct echelon. Nandita tries to bring an amalgamation of west and east where splendid Indian embroideries are rendered into contemporary cuts conveying an elegant and wearable feminine look in her creation. Her label produces clothes which can be worn by women belonging to any age group.    

Starting from the inestimable Bollywood aces, some of them like Katrina Kaif, Salman Khan, Preety Zinta, Shilpa Shetty, Karan Johar, Gauri Khan, Arjun Rampal, Meher Jessia, Suzanne Roshan, Zayed Khan, Farah Khan, Dia Mirza, Tabu, Mailika Arora Khan, Tara Sharma along with many more to the world acclaimed and Hollywood celebs like Paris Hilton, Madonna, Beyonce, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Rachel Hunter, Kyra, Tamara Beckhwith, Atomic Kitten and Liz Hurley has graced the designers art. 

The label retails from its self possessed outlet Ananya destined in Mumbai along with the Aza located in Mumbai, the Elahe in Hyderabad and the Samsaara twigs present in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. While worldwide the designer carries her retailing endeavor from the labels flagship store Ananya sited at the up-market Notting Hill in London, T.I.P in Moscow, Studio 8 in Dubai, ROCCO in Bahrain and Gift shop at SIX SENSES RESORTS AND SPA placed in both Maldives and Thailand.