Shivan Narresh

Ever since its launch as the world’s first stitch-free swimwear brand by fashion designers Shivan Bhatiya and Narresh Kukreja at Mare di Moda Cannes in 2008 - the Indian luxury fashion brand has evolved to unique eclectic prints in resort- menswear- occasion wear- bridal wear- haute couture- and lifestyle accessories.

Ever since its inception as the world’s first stitch-free swimwear line by fashion designers Shivan Bhatiya and Narresh Kukreja at Mare di Moda Cannes in 2008 - with its signature colour blocked women's swimwear - the luxury fashion brand has evolved to unique eclectic prints in resort-, menswear- occassionwear- bridal wear- haute couture- and lifestyle accessories.

“Narresh was born and raised in New Delhi, where the hustle of the metropolis always kept him on his toes and inspired him to be agile in his ideologies and vision. With an inherent inclination towards Art and Fashion, he knew that he would venture into a field that would let him explore the best of his creative abilities” per Pernia's Pop-Up. "Shivan’s creative sensibilities are deep-rooted and arise from his early exposure to the rich botany of north and central India. He hails from Kanpur and… always wanted to be part of an industry that would let him illustrate his fascination with the flora and fauna with freedom—and fashion let him do so."

With a degree in fashion design from National Institute of Fashion Technology Delhi the two fashion designers met when they were just seventeen. They were introduced by a mutual friend but design competitions grew their relationship. The duo fanned their passion for swimwear together and and paved the path to the launch of their eponymous fashion brand. The challenge was to broaden the Indian consumer's mindset and encourage them to accept swim and resort as a part of fashion.

Narresh Kukreja tells Elle: "Resort wear in India is bound to become the gateway for global brands to emerge from the sub-continent in the near future because this is the only logical category that Indian ready to wear brands can offer coming out of our country. Thus it is safe to say Resort wear is the ultimate ready-to-wear fashion in India."

Since, Shivan Narresh is India’s first luxury holiday brand that was launched with its 100 per cent stitch-free swimwear line. The brand has a unique signature style that is bold, confident and sophisticated. Flawless lines, keen eye for detail and sophistication define the brand and its design universe. With a keen focus on holiday lifestyles, the brand’s offering encompasses the modern wardrobe of holiday connoisseurs.

“To compete with the evolving demands of millennials, we are constantly looking for design solutions that do justice to their maturing tastes, be it through our holiday wear or space design through Shivan Narresh Celebrations and Homes” states co-founder Narresh Kukreja on the brand's official website. So it cams as no surprise that the luxury brand has been worn by global celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Dita Von Teese, Nicki Minaj, Padma Lakshmi, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Kangana Ranaut, Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, Shilpa Shetty and a host of others.

The Lycra Sari and the Bikini Sari are two landmark creations of the brand that epitomize the brand’s visions for swimsuits in India. Per Pernia's Pop-Up: “The label has played a significant role in garnering an identity for swimwear as a separate category. The evolving needs of the younger cohort are vital to the brand’s choice of fabrics, Skeinwork and silhouettes. Each creation imbibes and personifies the idea of a contemporary vision of a bathing suit whilst keeping the essence of the traditional heritage and sentiment of the audiences. Shivan Narresh has transcended several design boundaries and successfully established itself as India’s first luxury holiday brand.”

Over the years the luxury fashion brand ha dressed imminent personalities of all shapes and sizes reinforcing the design duo's belief in body positivity and self confidence. Their milestone however is dressing Beyoncé! “She epitomises the millennial ideology of confidence and self love. Dressing her for her performance in Udaipur is a major personal and professional milestone for our brand as it gives a platform to our luxury industry to cross international borders and for the world to take note of a new global Indian aesthetic made for the world” the duo tell Vogue. 

Today the luxury fashion brand is widely acclaimed with establishing swim wear and resort wear as established categories in Indian fashion. Per Vogue: "We have always promoted our products to be wearable beyond the swimming pool or the beach. A swimsuit is multi-functional as it can double up as a body suit to be worn with trouser or shorts, with a sarong for a beach to bar look or even as blouses under saris. The idea is to awaken a sense of a resort lifestyle in India which as per the fashion calendar lies in the cruise-resort cycles. In the multi-billion dollar wedding industry of India, we are probably the only Indian brand that shows the honeymoon dream through the lens of swimwear."

With a keen focus on holiday lifestyles, the Indian luxury fashion brand's offering encompasses the modern wardrobe of holiday connoisseurs. Keeping both festivity and functionality in mind, a key consideration is for each collection to span resort, luxury pret and fashion accessories.

With travel and holidays being the essence of the Indian luxury fashion brand, Shivan Narresh helps millennials perceive luxury in experiences and aims to give them bold sophisticated global luxury holiday wear which is rooted in culture but forward in approach and design application. The brand takes pride in its cultural ethos through its sharp cuts, bold use of colour on signature prints and technologically advanced fabrics with impeccable finishing.

Indian luxury holiday- wear brand Shivan Narresh retails swimwear- resort wear- luxury pret and menswear in addition to fashion accessories. In recent times Shivan Narresh also caters to the needs of their couture, occasion wear and bridal clientele without digressing from its contemporary design aesthetic.

With holistic luxury holiday lifestyles being the essence of the brand, Shivan and Narresh thread personal inspiration from their travels into into their luxury holiday collections. For the phygital edition of India Fashion Week, their fashion film showcased five holiday lifestyles — swimwear, resort wear, cruise wear, safari and ski wear. The most attractive pieces in the luxury holiday line were the intricately embellished saris, printed kaftans with metal hardware, the printed pantsuits and the pearl- encrusted skirts worn with a leather bralet. For men, there were printed kurtas, jackets and cover-ups. Art is an key inspiration in their collections and here there were two custom prints, one of historic painting 'The Birth of Venus' by Sandro Botticelli and an interpretation of goddess Venus in a polka-dot bathing suit!!