Meet the Indian designers and brands putting a fresh spin on traditional textiles

From heritage weaves to unexpected silhouettes, a new wave of Indian brands and designers is giving traditional craftsmanship a seriously cool update. They’re mixing time-honoured textiles with fresh ideas, bold styling and a distinctly modern point of view, creating fashion that feels rooted in where we come from, but totally in step with where we’re going. These are the names putting Indian fashion on the map, one covetable look at a time.

Ashiva Shu

Ashiva Shu is a contemporary menswear label founded by Shivanshu Sonker, a NIFT Bengaluru graduate. Rooted in Varanasi’s rich textile heritage, the brand works with Banarasi brocade, Chanderi, mukaish, and zardozi to create designs that offer something beyond conventional menswear—think lightweight sheer shirts with embroidered details, pleated separates, and dhoti-inspired drapes that also embody a queer universe.

Motife

Mumbai-based brand Motife believes that craftsmanship is a living, evolving practice. The contemporary design house was established in 2022 by Udit Bhandari, with Manav Sharma as co-founder and creative director. Blending hand embroidery, thoughtful construction, alongside an artisanal touch, it builds on basics like the white shirt, cotton trousers, and denim pants with subtle hand embroidery.

With Nanai & Akimugha Yeptho

Born from a shared vision to redefine the wedding dress, With Nanai & Akimugha Yeptho is the label founded by NIFT Bengaluru graduates Akimugha Yeptho and Angela Lalramtiami. Drawing on the handwoven traditions of Mizoram and Nagaland, the brand transforms regional textiles into contemporary couture. From a dress crafted from handwoven Puan of Mizoram to a structured veil inspired by the Khang or Thul—a woven bamboo basket used across the Northeast of India—the inspiration is subtle yet defining.

Dhruv Bandil

Drawing from the visual language of his hometown of Morena, Madhya Pradesh, Dhruv Bandil creates clothing that sits at the intersection of sportswear, craft, and contemporary art. A graduate of NIFT Mumbai and Central Saint Martins, London, the designer reinterprets elements such as chain stitch, tie-dye, hand embroidery, and sculptural textile manipulation through experimental silhouettes and technical fabrics. Inspired by everything from temple architecture and local draping traditions to fine art, his work transforms cultural references into a bold design language.

Otsü

Named after the Ao Naga word for stories, Otsü is the brainchild of NIFT Mumbai alumna and stylist Asenla Jamir. Rooted in Nagaland, the brand reimagines the region’s textile traditions and tribal design legacies through upcycling, handcrafted techniques, and a contemporary design language. While Otsü began with one-of-a-kind pieces crafted from vintage garments and fabric remnants, it has since evolved into a made-to-order, ready-to-wear label. Pick from their genderfluid silhouettes and evergreen pieces like cotton bowling shirts.

Laturia Shop

Driven by the passion for reimagining textiles, Laturia is Jaipur-based designer Mihika Meena’s small-batch label that transforms vintage saris, mashru, and ajrakh weaves into contemporary everyday wear. Through thoughtful reconstruction, the brand gives heritage fabrics a renewed purpose, including upcycled shirts, khadi silk blends crafted into contemporary separates, and shirts and slip dresses made from heirloom saris.

Image credits: The brands 

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