5 Indian designers who took heritage craft to Paris Fashion Week and made it high fashion

For decades, Paris Fashion Week has been synonymous with innovation and luxury and is the home to the world’s most celebrated fashion houses. While Indian designers have dominated the domestic fashion conversations, only a few have managed to break into the elite Paris fashion circuit and showcase their work on the prestigious runway of Paris Fashion Week. These designers didn’t just showcase their ensembles, but they brought artisanal techniques, an evolving fashion identity, and a hint of Indian craftsmanship. Let’s take a look at some.

Rahul Mishra
Rahul Mishra, who became one of India's top international fashion exports, was invited to exhibit at Haute Couture Week in Paris in 2020, making him the first Indian designer ever to show there. His designs feature highly elaborate technical embroidery and always seek to keep Indian craftsmanship alive through the use of traditional Indian techniques such as threadwork, Zardozi and intricate hand embellishment techniques, all of which were incorporated into his Paris collection.

Gaurav Gupta
At the Paris Haute Couture Week 2023, Gaurav Gupta showcased a modern approach to Indian fashion with his "futuristic" vision while simultaneously building on past approaches to his craft. He is known for creating dramatic yet flexible draped dresses, sculptural gowns, & avant-garde silhouettes that celebrities & fashion icons around the world wear today.


Manish Arora
Manish Arora, one of India's first designer superstars and the first Indian designer to achieve fame on the world stage. He was also one of the first designers from India to create a name for himself at Paris Fashion Week in 2007. Arora's fashion lines include bold colours, maximalist designs and innovative embroidery techniques. Through his hard work, determination and creativity, he set the benchmark for other Indian designers who wish to have a global impact.


Anamika Khanna
Anamika Khanna's first appearance at Paris Fashion Week was in 2007, and she became the first female designer from India to show at this prestigious event. Unlike many other designers who focused on traditional shapes and styles, Anamika has earned her reputation by taking traditional Indian clothing and giving it new interpretations using 21st-century techniques and materials to create a more contemporary look. At her show in Paris, Anamika demonstrated how much Indian textile craftsmanship could be integrated into the global market for high-quality goods.

Vaishali Shadangule
At Paris Fashion Week in 2021, Vaishali Shadangule launched her first line of clothing based on Indian weaves and fabrics, sustainable practices and indigenous approaches to weaving. The designer wanted to create a collection without relying heavily on decorative techniques, highlighting the artistic aspects of textile design through innovative use of material.