Gauri and Nainika

Celebrated for evening gowns and cocktail dresses steeped in fairytale romance and vintage glamour, Gauri and Nainika's feminine approach to fabric construction result in soft silhouettes, which are striking in its simplicity. Inspired by European fashion history, art, music, books, theatre, old Hollywood, red carpet glamour and photographs of their mother from the Seventies, the luxury fashion brand creates womenswear with a feminine, romantic design philosophy. 

Gauri and Nainika Karan launched their label Gauri and Nainika in January 2002 in New Delhi. An occasion-wear luxury fashion brand with styles ranging from cocktail dresses to elaborate bespoke gowns, the duo offer glamorous, elegant womenswear for the modern fashion-conscious woman. With a design philosophy that is distinctly feminine and European.. their collections are being retailed at exclusive boutiques in India and the Middle East.

The luxury label caters to those who like to dress with a sense of occasion. Sisters Gauri and Nainika Karan grew up in New Delhi. Though originally students of economics they were always inclined towards fashion and the creative arts. After graduating from The National Institute of Fashion Technology New Delhi they launched their ready-to-wear label Gauri and Nainika. 

The sisters grew up inspired by the classics and the romantic look of old Hollywood heroines such as Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly whose timeless elegance has been incorporated in their designs. Inspired by European fashion history, art, music, books, theatre, Hollywood, red carpet glamour and photographs of their mother from the Seventies, the brand has always had extremely feminine and romantic design philosophy with styles that are luxurious yet understated. With a strong emphasis on fabric, cut and color, the collections focus on flattering silhouettes. 

By combining sharp tailoring with drapery, the garments are meticulously handcrafted and have a timeless appeal where old world charm, fantasy and elegance are brought bang up to date. Femininity forms the essence of the label where the paradoxical combination of drama and subtlety can be seen in the event's simplest styles.

The duo have recently diversified into home interiors and furniture with the launch of Gauri and Nainika Home. Per Elle: “They took on a curator’s role: they roped in Tarun Vadehra for furniture pieces, tied up with Tasveer and Vadehra Art Gallery for art photographs, Klove for light design… Safe to expect classic styles like chesterfield sofas and porter chairs. Their affinity for monochrome is visible in the black and white loveseats and an all-white four-poster bed. Some industrial pieces – like maritime pendant lights and tripods – find their way in too."

By combining sharp tailoring with drapery, the collections by Gauri and Nainika are meticulously handcrafted and have a timeless appeal where old world charm, fantasy and elegance are brought bang up to date to make the looks relevant today. Femininity forms the essence of the luxury label though the paradoxical combination of drama and subtlety is seen in the simplest styles.

Inspired by European fashion history, art, music, books, theatre, Hollywood, red carpet glamour and photographs of their mother from the Seventies, the luxury fashion brand envisions creating womenswear with an extremely feminine and romantic design philosophy. The styles are opulent albeit understated and elegant. 

Celebrated for evening gowns and cocktail dresses with fairytale romance—with fresh inspiration each season—Gauri and Nainika design cocktail dresses and bespoke evening gowns inspired by old Hollywood for their clientele. Their feminine approach to fabric construction results in soft silhouettes, striking in its simplicity.

For Spring Summer 2021, the duo showed wartime- inspired pencil dresses, wrap dresses and shirt dresses. Some of the dresses featured hand painted polka dots or printed stripes. From Victorian- inspired florals to velvet roses, romance was in the air. Ruffles and soft sculpted flowers, a favourite with the design duo, were dominant throughout the collection.