Ravi Bajaj

Armed with a degree in fashion design from American College of Applied Arts in London.. Ravi Bajaj returned home and founded Ravi Bajaj Studio and his eponymous label In 1987. Structured clothes were rare then and this approach held the fashion- conscious set's attention.. earning him the title of "Armani of India" in the Nineties.

Armed with a degree in fashion design from American College of Applied Arts in London.. Ravi Bajaj returned home and founded Ravi Bajaj Studio and his eponymous label In 1987. The twenty-two year old envisioned making the Indian man "dress up" by introducing three-piece slim suits and the “navigator kurta” with military epaulettes and pockets. Few could've predicted back then that he would go on to become one of the finest menswear designers in the country.

Per Vogue: "We're not sure how many people know the story of Ravi Bajaj as a young Sikh who wanted to become a fashion designer in the early 1980s. He went abroad to study fashion, with the retirement fund of a Canadian msionary, who was his god mother. He returned to India in 1986 and started his own eponymous fashion label in 1987. Structured clothes were rare then and this approach invited society's attention, earning him the title of "Armani of India" in the 90s."

it's quite a story. Unsure of where to start the young designer walked into a cloth merchant's shop at Old Delhi's Chandni Chowk to source fabrics. “I bought some silk. When the man asked the name of the firm buying the clothes I was caught unawares. I didn't have a business to begin with! So I just said: Ravi Bajaj Company. The name has stuck ever since.”

In 1988 Ravi Bajaj began retailing out of exclusive Ravi Bajaj outlets and other evolved couture stores throughout India. At a time when the concept of designer structured clothing was embryonic in the East he was, between 1988 and 1994, fashion consultant to some of the largest corporates of India. The trend as Ravi recalls on his official website, ‘changed dramatically in the ‘90s.’

In 1997 he launched ready to wear brand- Raviver- one of the first fashion designers in India to do the same. Ravi Bajaj Design is best known for its contribution to menswear with arguably the best suits in India. His prophetic sense of design ensured that he broke every dress code while creating a signature style which inspired a sartorial revolution. 

"Season after season I try to push the envelope bit by bit" Ravi Bajaj told Vogue. "Nothing too radical as I don't want to scare my clients away. Menswear sees more of an edge as men are prepared to step out of their comfort zone and I am willing to exploit that. So menswear gets a little blingy as we continue to do restrained women's wear."

Establishing himself with the style of the Occident, Ravi Bajaj gave tradition a twist when he revealed the Ravi Bajaj sari, a creative incarnation of a style perfected over centuries since he believes, style does not go out of style as long as it adapts itself to its period. The Ravi Bajaj sari is elegant and yet radical. 

In 1998 he launched Ravi Bajaj Institutional Design Services which brings to business houses the appropriate image enhancement, advice, designing and manufacturing “employee fashion.” A new concept introduced in India where Ravi Bajaj became a catalyst in shaping the image of luxury hotels, airlines, banks, restaurants and hospitals through smart functional uniforms and appropriate accessories.

Ravi Bajaj's flagship store reflects his design philosophy of understated luxury. Beveled mirrors and wall paper, antique flooring, gold leaf furniture, Italian silk upholstery- all in shades of beige gold. The lighting has been imported from Reggiani s.p.a Italia. And overall the store has an art deco feel which is modern at the same time. 

And- he continues to evolve his design aesthetic even today with the same passion and fire from back when he was just starting out. “I've always defined my style as neo-classicist - sartorial with a twist. But I've become more daring in design, for instance, pairing jamawar trousers with a leather jacket” he told GQ. "Right now I feel like my new store is good enough but I do intend to open up a store in Mumbai. I'm also heavily involved in diversifying my brand into the interiors and architecture segment."

Ravi Bajaj provides menswear and womenswear with an edgy and innovative, globally- relevant design aesthetic, ushering in a period of exquisite refinement. The Delhi-based fashion designer is testing both his textile techniques and the traditional, playing with everything from saris to occasion wear and menswear. 

Ravi Bajaj envisions contributing to menswear in India with arguably some of the best contemporary suits. Take for example, the three-piece skinny suit. His prophetic sense of design ensured that he broke every dress code while creating a signature style which inspired a sartorial revolution. The luxury fashion brand has always had living life stylishly at its heart. 

Today Ravi Bajaj is heralded for his innovative structured silhouettes, his skill for marrying traditional shapes with Western sensibilities and his meticulous finish…  creating in essence superbly crafted men's and women's occassionwear. The fashion designer was in the news for his joint post-pandemic showing with Suneet Varma to celebrate 35 years in Fashion. Few know that Suneet Varma and Ravi Bajaj have done many shows together and this was a comeback of sorts for the fast friends. Ravi Bajaj opened the show with a menswear collection which transitioned into a women's occasion wear showcase and then back into menswear… The looks featured classic lines and sharp tailoring and were an instant hit. This lineup then diversified into Suneet Varma’s hand embellished lehengas with sportswear references.