ByIANSlife Features

September 17, 2019 (IANSlife) After a 15-year hiatus, designers Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna made a surprise show at the recently concluded Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2019 in Mumbai. Known for their global sensibilities and impeccable cuts, the duo has a dedicated Bollywood clientele, and the long awaited show was much appreciated.

Speaking to IANSlife, Rahul said: “Mumbai has always been in our hearts. Each time we participated at the India Fashion Week in Delhi, we forwent the chance to showcase at Lakme as we didn’t want to put the same collection on display twice just because we were showing in a different city. But going forward, we have taken a call to do one show in Delhi and one in Mumbai. Nexa invited and we started with Lakme. It's very close to all hearts, so we were happy to take the opportunity.”

Rohit and Rahul focus on new-age trends and innovation. And their creations that  balance minimalism with luxury are top picks for covers of fashion glossies. “Our clothes work for modern women, because we don't experiment with styles and we don’t do traditional bridal or ethnics. We only focus on our strengths. Our silhouettes are made for the modern women, everyday wear and styles that display strength and elegance. Our clothes are not just for runways and showstoppers. Which is why we are more visible without having to create a fuss,” explained Rahul. 

The e-commerce boom in fashion has slowly faded into an evaluation game, and designers like Rohit and Rahul, who maintained a certain distance from the hullabaloo, are on stronger grounds today. The future of Indian fashion is no longer in wedding attire, it is expansion in real time and on the ground. It is the future, but needs investment in infrastructure. 

“We are looking at investment and partnerships. We are designers and we know how to create. What we would like is to have someone on board to manage and expand our brand. We are interested in opening new stores and being available across cities. Visibility is the key,” said Rahul.  

Speaking of visibility, what does Rahul think of social media influencers? “I am a 90s baby, I can’t keep up with the social media. But having said that, they do make an impact. They present clothes unique to their own style and not how a magazine would showcase, so people get an idea of how it will look on them if they mix it up and do not follow the runway. But a lot of it is paid partnerships and collaborations, we have to wait and watch,” Rahul concluded.

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Editing by Ritu Pandey and N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe