Abraham and Thakore

Indian luxury fashion brand Abraham and Thakore — founded by designers David Abraham and Rakesh Thakore — is acclaimed for the combination of eco-conscious handcrafted textiles and astringent futurism that characterises all their collections. 

Initially established in 1992 by National Institute of Design- Ahmedabad alumnus David Abraham and Rakesh Thakore.. Indian fashion brand Abraham and Thakore deftly combines eco-conscious handcrafted textiles and astringent futurism in all their collections. The duo was later joined by National Institute of Design- Delhi alumnus Kevin Nigli. 

The brand was initially launched with a handmade collection of scarves and kimonos in exclusive stores in Europe, including The Conran Shop- Browns- Liberty- Selfridges and Harrods in London and Le Bon Marche in Paris. The label is acclaimed for crafting contemporary yet non-conformist fashion that lasts seasons. The design sensibility is low key with a strong respect for material, silhouette and craft and reflects the way we live in urban India.. creating fashion rooted in our Indian identity yet with a contemporary International update. PS In a consumer world of mass-produced fast fashion, Abraham and Thakore reiterates the belief that real luxury lies in specially crafted high- quality collections in limited numbers.

Each Abraham and Thakore collection continues the exploration of developing a quiet modern design voice while simultaneously drawing on the rich traditional vocabulary of Indian design and textile craft. An important aspect of the different collections is the modern synergy between fashion and lifestyle with a unifying vision for the way the contemporary urban consumer dresses and lives be it in New Delhi, London or Tokyo.

Simplistic in its design philosophy- the collections streamline voluminous Indian silhouettes into sleek western proportions. “We have always loved the contrast between tailoring and softness, and in particular, the dialogue between different clothing constructs. We team a blazer with a saree, we clean up the kurta and turn it into a tunic worn with a suit, the churidhar has inspired a pant with a skinny leg that has exaggerated folds and buttons at the ankle” they tell Vogue. "We have developed new handloom weaves and prints and worked on silhouettes that incorporate the very particular structure of these fabrics into their shapes. We are proposing a wardrobe that consists of timeless shapes that can take you from day to evening…"

The first runway show was presented in 2010 at India Fashion Week in New Delhi that marked the beginning of a slow shift in the label's design approach as it was now designing product for a consumer with different requirements and distinctly different cultural attitudes from its European clients. The designers consider each runway show as an opportunity to communicate specific interests and concerns of the fashion brand. Abraham and Thakore usually prepares one or two new collections for the runway each year as it takes around four months to develop a collection from fabric to silhouette, due to the complexity and slow nature of textile development, experimentation with new techniques and structures.

The work of Abraham and Thakore has been exhibited at Victoria and Albert Museum in London.. at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts in New Delhi and in Volkart Foundation- sponsored exhibition on Khadi. Few know that their AW 2011-12 Double ikat silk houndstooth sari and shirt are now in the permanent archives of Victoria and Albert Museum, London. PS The brand also designs and manufactures uniforms and special textile accessories for premium institutional clients like Vistara Airlines, The Oberoi, Taj Group and The Park.

Collaborations have been significant to Abraham and Thakore's retail success including a craft-inspired collection for West Elm, loungewear and home accessories for Harrods named A&T for Harrods and a collection of Benares weaves for Ekaya. the brand has also collaborated with Obeetee carpets to develop a collection of co-branded carpets under the 'Proud to be Indian' project, launched in December 2017, as well as a collection of tiles for FCML in 2016.

Home furnishings and textiles also form a part of the brand repertoire, featuring home accessories such as cushion covers, bed covers along with loungewear such as a home kimono and accessories like scarves, eye masks, handbags and footwear – using traditional Indian surface ornamentation and handloom textile craft to re-imagine these with its minimalist design sensibility.

In recent news Reliance Retail Ventures Limited acquired a majority stake in Abraham and Thakore. “We are not financial investors we are strategic investors" Darshan Mehta- managing director of Reliance Brands Limited- a subsidiary of Reliance Retail Ventures Limited tells Vogue. "For us investment is a value creation process; we look at what value we can bring to the table. Money is just one variable, we need to consider the balance between left brain and right brain capabilities. We attempt to create the perfect marriage by merging our supply and sourcing capabilities, real estate and infrastructure with the right brain capabilities of exemplary designers like Abraham and Thakore. And then, like any partnership, it has to be nurtured with a commonality of vision, thought process and approach."

Indian luxury fashion brand Abraham and Thakore is committed to classic silhouettes, which is evocative of their belief that trends need not be transient. The integration of traditional indigenous textile crafts into modern design in turn creates employment opportunities for rural weavers and craft clusters.

Abraham and Thakore is a leading Indian fashion and lifestyle brand with a minimal, contemporary aesthetic. The duo envision leading the charge in keeping contemporary and globally- relevant Indian fashion authentic with finely handcrafted modern designs that draw inspiration from Indian textile tradition. 

Abraham and Thakore retails modern, globally relevant apparel and accessories for men and women. In recent news, the luxury fashion brand has also diversified into home collections. Abraham Thakore Autumn Winter 2018 at India Fashion Week was a milestone. Per Explosive Fashion: "As the first looks came out, it was apparent the duo exemplifies effortless elegance — languid and layered. Even with a monochromatic palette, they managed to command attention with a spin on classic Indian silhouettes—we loved the white kurta with a red tie; the pin-striped kurta shirt; and of course the creatively draped saree worn with a formal shirt—all accessorised with footwear which had elements of the brogue and the mojri! In sync with a vision 'to keep traditional handmade craft desirable and sought after' Abraham and Thakore sent male and female models on the catwalk in similar looks—most looks were interchangeable…"