Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna

Credited for introducing pret to Indian fashion since their debut in 1997, luxury label Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna is among the first few brands in the nation to have combined an architectural design vocabulary with fine fabrics and metallic hand embroideries. What has helped the label stay relevant and fresh is their passion for experimenting with new fabrics and textile treatments while remaining rooted to their unique aesthetic.

Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna have an interesting career in Fashion. Passionate about fashion design in an era when it was nascent in India, the duo  met and began designing and retailing menswear from their own home-garage in 1997. What started as an experiment transformed into a dynamic journey with both of them managing operations, production and design.

“The fashion scene in India was drastically different back then; there was no Zara or H&M back then and people usually travelled abroad to find these silhouettes for their daily wardrobe. We started out with menswear, flooding our racks with the slim fit shirts and tapered blacks that we wanted to wear but weren't available in the market back then, and slowly branched out into womenswear as well" Rahul Khanna told Vogue.

Today eponymous luxury label Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna specialises in contemporary apparel and accessories for men and women. The fashion brand draws inspiration from architectural forms and results in metallic tones, modern edgy elements and intricate craftsmanship pushed to the forefront with elegant construction and sharp tailoring. 

Per Voice Of Fashion: 'What has helped the designers stay relevant and fresh is their penchant for flirting with new techniques, fabrics and treatments while staying rooted to their design philosophy. “We have always focused on detailing and silhouettes and keeping our collections minimal, understated and elegant. We have never succumbed to trends. We are wardrobe builders and our clothes are like heirlooms that can be handed down generations. Something we designed 20 years ago can still be worn today, that is our USP."'

Their signature surface ornamentation, metallic embroideries, subtle muted hues and reticulated structures create a perfect combination of elegance and glamour. So it's no wonder the duo were awarded "Best Pret Collections" on a number of occasions. In addition to the ready-to-wear line, the designers diversified into haute couture in 2018. Per Explosive Fashion: "The duo redefined the allure of deconstructed shirts and jackets, handcrafted tuxedos, in-built corsets and translucent can-cans to make it relevant to a new generation. Zardosi lace, pearls, dabka and crystals released the severity of the looks… It was Freudian the way the duo built desire into each look—wearable off the runway and on to a red-hot gala."

Apart from showcasing their work every season at India Fashion Week, they also present their collections at international trade fairs in Paris, New York, Singapore, London and more. They have four stand-alone stores within the country and are presently working with over hundred multi-designer stores and boutiques worldwide. With a steadily growing global presence since over two decades, the label is becoming an international representation of modern Indian craftsmanship.

"The next milestone for us would be to expand beyond India. We have clients all over the world and would be concentrating on opening stores in new cities and regions—maybe Spain and Dubai. It is the digital age and fashion has never been more relevant, which makes it integral to go with the flow. You can definitely expect some edgy creations using techniques like 3D laser printing and collections that are contemporary and exciting" Rahul Khanna tells Vogue.

Credited for introducing pret to Indian fashion, the designer duo is among the first few to have combined an architectural design aesthetic with fine fabrics and metallic textures. What has helped Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna stay relevant and fresh is their passion and determination for experimenting with new fabrics and textile treatments while remaining rooted to their design philosophy.

Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna is rooted in globally- relevant deconstructed silhouettes for both men and women.. enhanced with surface ornamentation and metallic hand embroideries. The duo draws inspiration from linear structures, geometrical lines and are greatly influenced by contemporary art.

Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna designs and retails occasion wear and haute couture for both men and women. The duo's Spring Summer 2022 collection is a milestone. With Leonardo Pisano Fibonacci as the theme of their collection, the duo paid homage to the brilliant number theorist who is acclaimed for introducing the Arabic numbering system, square roots, number sequencing and, of course, golden ratio, which they used in the edgy silhouettes with hand embroidery, cutwork, metallics and sleek lines. There were several popular looks in the showing including deconstructed shirts and jackets, handcrafted tuxedos, in-built corsets and translucent can-cans. Zardosi lace, pearls, dabka and crystals released the severity of the looks.