Top Indian Bridal Designers 2024
Musician Raja Kumari wearing Manish Malhotra couture at the Cannes Film Festival 2023 photographed by Natasha Gillett at the Martinez Hotel for Hello Magazine
In this article, our guest fashion author Danette Nell will highlight some top South Asian bridal designers in 2024. I hope this article inspires you and gives you ideas for your beautiful wedding and celebration. Our highlights include legendary couture houses Sabyasachi, Anita Dongre, Tarun Tahiliani, Manish Malhotra, Rahul Mishra, Gaurav Gupta, and Eeksha.
South Asian bridal couture has long set the global standard for rich, bejeweled, and decadent fashion. However, the most talked-about designers are looking past the opulence of jewels and cut stones to delve into the foundations of Indian history, rooted in generational craftsmanship and innovative design.
Another aspect that makes the South Asian bridal design scape remarkable is how it is redefining the modern Indian bride while firmly re-establishing the foundations of luxury within the work of the Karigars and artisans who have been undervalued for years. The importance of creating a masterpiece that encompasses the rich history of Indian craftsmanship while encouraging brides to be confident in themselves is an aspect that each designer takes very seriously, constantly analyzing the meaning each heirloom piece has for the bride and future generations of craftsmanship.
The South Asian bridal trousseau is a marvel in itself. Most lehengas are hand-created over thousands of hours by skilled artisans who have earned their right to mastery through generations of perfecting their craft. Pieces are imbued with history in the form of delicate zardozi work or hand-painted pichhwai on lavish silks, in patterns that pay tribute to the vast, intricate heritage of India. Sarees with architectural drapes symbolize the many layers and shades of cultural diversification and are worn proudly by even the most modern Indian bride.
Yet, what makes these pieces so astonishing is the comfort and lightness with which they are worn. This construction of ease and wearability is an aspect that South Asian designers have been perfecting through the use of innovation led by curiosity. By emphasizing comfort and wearability, design perspectives are shifting from the designer to the wearer, allowing brides to become an important part of the design process.
Let’s take a look at the must-watch South Asian wedding couture designers for 2024 brides, based on their unique contribution to luxury Indian couture as well as their ability to remain timeless while setting the bar for what Indian luxury truly is.
Actress Dolly Singh wearing Tarun Tahiliani couture at the Cannes Film Festival 2023 photographed by Natasha Gillett at the Martinez Hotel for Hello Magazine
Called "The maestro of gossamer," Tarun Tahiliani is a magician when it comes to wearable art that meets the lightness of air. Spanning more than two decades of design, Tahiliani constantly pushes the boundaries between luxury and comfort.
Inspired by the relationship between a bride and her lehenga, choli, or Saree, he pushes the boundaries of gravity by combining heritage embroidery, such as zardozi, with structured cholis that embrace modern design and draped sarees that hide their functionality and mobility beneath sensual and intricate draping techniques.
His passion regarding the choli as an art form has inspired designs that change how women feel when they wear it. Instead of a being a supporting piece to a set, he has recreated how the choli is worn so it becomes the statement piece- able to level up any outfit it is paired with. By redefining a piece that is so personal for women to wear, he shows a deep understanding of how design should be defined by its beauty as well as its functionality.
What is very apparent about this couturier’s inspiration is how it often derives from the bride herself, giving a glimpse into a deeply personal process of design. Ultimately threading designer, craftsmen, bride, and heirloom together forever.
His recent collaboration with Tanishq jewellery house is also a statement to his understanding of the contemporary bride and how craftsmanship in all shapes and forms can come together to communicate a unique perspective on being Indian, through design.
Tarun Tahiliani flagship stores are located in Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Kolkata,
Diipa Büller Khosla wearing Manish Malhotra photographed by Natasha Gillett
Manish Malhotra is known as the number one Indian fashion designer. A name held in high regard within both the fashion and film industry. His designs can now be seen everywhere from Starbucks cups, Air India uniforms, and worn by Bollywood and Hollywood celebrities at red carpet events and film premiers.
From handcrafted lehengas to metallic sarees, Manish Malhotra’s collection provides a heavy dose of sparkle, glam, and drama. His 2023/2024 collection is dominated by metallics, white, silver tones along with classic A-line silhouettes, dramatic cut-outs and signature sparkling embroidery.
An aspect that makes Manish Malhotra one of the favorite Indian bridal designers is his intense passion for creating a whole look—a complete story twisting together all elements of the bride and her love for her groom. His designs reflect this journey of creation, such as the 180 textiles woven into the gorgeous patchwork lehenga worn by actress Alia Bhatt for her Mehndi ceremony. Each swath of fabric embroidered as a symbol of a special memory the actress carries with her, coming together in a statement piece that marked one of the most momentous occasions of her life.
Certainly, fabric and craftsmanship play an integral part in every bride's journey, and for Manish, this connection forms the basis of his designs. This speaks of a deep respect for experience above materialism. In an interview with Hello India, Manish explains how important it is to understand the bride to create a unique statement piece that reflects who she is—individualized craftsmanship becoming the true sign of a luxury experience.
You can browse Manish Malhotra’s collection and have a tailored visit on their virtual store or make an appointment to visit their flagship store in Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Dubai.
Diipa Büller Khosla wearing Manish Malhotra photographed by Natasha Gillett for Masala Magazine
A South Asian bride in an orange Sabyasachi lahega photographed by Natasha Gillett
Sabyasachi Mukherjee truly needs no introduction. His name had become a globally recognized couture brand and frequent designer at Milan, New York and Paris Fashion Week.
He endorses Indian craftsmanship because he recognizes the value of generational craft and skills—something that cannot be replicated by technology and fast-paced production. Being an ambassador for Indian design, his thoughts on Indian embroidery and hand-woven design are often spread across the pages of Indian Vogue and the deeply educational and valuable Indian blog, Border and Fall. His contribution to fashion discourse creates awareness of the value and beauty of hand-crafted skills Indian design brings to fashion. In his discussion with Forbes India, he shows great support for the value of real experiences as a form of luxury in itself. Luxury means moving away from mass production towards design experiences that form part of a historical story.
He has nurtured the voice of his brand with a 360-design approach. He becomes involved with the whole picture, ensuring the wedding celebration becomes equal to an artistic ecosystem where every aspect is repeated and reflected by the other.
His brides and their weddings are defined, even branded as “A Sabyasachi wedding/bride.” His stamp of creativity and craftsmanship is unmistakable in its clear identity. And truly, his weddings are celebrations that surpass the event, spilling into the present value systems of couture and style. His creativity reaches into the past while establishing its value from the present into the future. His designs are essential for the continuation of India’s craftsmen, ensuring that their work is reshaped into the modern world, as statements of luxury.
Through creating a standard of what is luxury and valuable, he is essentially setting the bar for luxury weddings—placing Karigars and other artisans that often remain in the shadows, firmly in the center of future luxury design. His endorsement of the rich and beautiful heritage of Indian culture has reimagined what the true Indian bride can be—a self-sufficient woman who carries her heritage with confidence—often in the form of his lavish, embroidery-rich textiles and jewels.
Flagship locations: Sabyasachi can be found in the following cities where they have flagship stores: New York City, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Dubai.
Sabyasachi Jewelry
Sabyasachi also focused his creative energy on crafted jewelry starting in 2017, and in December 2023, he showcased his first High Jewelry show. These pieces show more than luxury, aiming again at focusing the spotlight on Indian craftsmanship, this time within the jewelry sector. Vogue Arabia discusses how the designer combined Indian heritage craftsmanship with the goldsmith technique of Northern Bengal, specifically Northern Calcutta.
His High Jewelry show was marked by the most iconic names in Indian style history, such as model and presenter Indrani Dasgupta, who walked on the first day of the show, wearing some of his favorite pieces from the past. The second day of this intimate two day affair focused on his newest collection.
In all discussions about the designer's jewelry collections, the most apparent aspect is how he crafted them to become modern heirlooms—innovative designs and a sense of cultural mixology, if you will, that is captured in timeless pieces. As is widely known, his heart lies in imbuing Indian craftsmanship with the title of true luxury and experience.
New York West Village Bids a Welcome to Sabyasachi Store
Walking through the oak arches of Sabyasachi’s new store in West Village NYC is like being transported to the designer's creative haven. His remarks regarding the decision to open a store in New York City focused on his desire to bring the true Sabyasachi experience to the Western World.
The store is also a fundamental part of his newest design collection he called “The New York Edit”—a dream he has harbored for many years.
Visitors to the store get more than a luxury retail experience—much more! The intricacies of Indian heritage are showcased in every detail—from hand-knotted carpets and rugs to cupboards filled with intricacies from his motherland. Ornate, vintage mirrors hang on walls filled with art that depicts Indian history and mythology. A true luxury South-Asian experience, showing that establishing the Sabyasachi brand in India has cemented his brand and the luxury status of his country in the Western realm as well. The Sabyasachi New York City flagship store is located at 160 Christopher Street,
New York, NY 10014. As of February 2024, you do not need a reservation for a fitting, walk-ins are welcome.
Diipa Büller Khosla wearing Rahul Mishra photographed by Natasha Gillett
Originally from Malhausi, a small village located near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, Mishra won Best Student Designer of The Year when he graduated from the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, in 2005. In 2013, he won the 2014 Woolmark Prize at the Milan Fashion Week. The award has previously been won by designers like Karl Lagerfeld and Giorgio Armani . Mishra is the only Indian to have won the award. Now, there’s an almost five-month wait to buy one.
The luxury couture designer, who is now based in Delhi, India, made headlines for dressing Zendaya last year and has previously dressed Gigi Hadid, Viola Davis and Priyanka Chopra. In 2020, he became the first Indian designer to show at Paris Haute Couture Week, and now has become a regular.
His deep reverence for nature and the cosmos is at the heart of his designs, and his gowns and couture pieces always show evidence of a specific natural aspect that he is inspired by. The pieces often replicate nature through lavish, colorful embroidery that creates an ombre effect as it expands down the garment, with colors such as electric blues and shimmering golds. His silhouettes are awe-inspiring because he plays with shape and sculpturing, as seen in this awe inspiring couture piece called Le Soleil Karikar. By transferring scenes from nature onto his designs, he shows his appreciation and respect for the great artists of the past, and he is often compared to Monet because of how he transferred his phenomenal ideas about nature onto canvas.
However, his design signature lies in his belief and support of slow fashion, and how handmade pieces are the epitome of luxury and quality design because they have the ability to create lavish, embellished designs through 3D embroidery. This not only showcases his design capability but also highlights the skills of the craftsmen he always acknowledges, even in his designs.
He launched his bridal range in 2017, departing from the traditional red. Instead, he adapted his bridal designs to represent ancient Indian aesthetics using unbleached calico textiles. His current gowns are ethereal, resembling lehengas with beautifully delicate bralettes and embroidered veils. They showcase brilliant embroidery details in nude and ivory color palettes. The Opaline Bridal lehenga set, for example, features detailed flowers varying in size on the organza lehenga, with tiny details on the long draping veil. The Khwabida Bridal Lehenga set is a more elaborate example, with lavish embroidery in a similar nude color palette. This design introduces a hue of precious metals with a glint of blue, and the floral motifs and stitching seem closer, giving it a more detailed and lavish feel. The veil is worn as a cape on the runway, hinting at royalty and vintage elegance.
Locations: Don’t wait to order, there is at least a 5 month waitlist to place order a Mishra gown. can be found in the following cities where they have stores: New York City, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Dubai.
Diipa Büller Khosla (center) wearing gold colored Gaurav Gupta alongside Raja Kumari in Manish Malhotra and Dolly Singh in Tarun Tahiliani photographed by Natasha Gillett for Hello Magazine cover
Renowned for his sculptural, and futuristic aesthetic, Guarav Gupta has made headlines from showing at Paris Haute Couture 2023 to dressing Beyoncé during her recent Renaissance tour.
He is another designer who innovates by using sculptural 3D techniques to design striking silhouettes that are light and easy to wear. These techniques give his brilliant ideas freedom, allowing them to become nymphs or other mythological beings that come to life as they float down the runway.
His international success is a significant win for India as his storytelling through design reaches into the history of Indian mythology, bringing South Asian ideas and legends to the Western world. “We draw inspiration from ancient Indian philosophies but present it in a futuristic, modern avatar. It’s dramatic yet sophisticated. Our aim is to create a new fantasy — a universal language around the brand pillars of surrealism, architecture, art and Indian mythology,” he tells Vogue Business.
Yet, his motifs and eloquent embroidery embrace modern silhouettes and styles. His understanding of textiles and new design concepts allows his models to glide down the runway in light, airy sweeping designs that seem to curve and swish around the models—infinity materialized. WWD (Women’s Wear Daily) described it as “elaborate sweeps and brushstrokes,” bringing to mind the sense of air and energy of timelessness.
Gaurav Gupta is also known for his sense of inclusiveness, as he often designs for and uses plus-size models and has been praised for embracing transgender models, such as flying in Anjali Lama to open for his designs at the Lotus Makeup India Fashion Week in 2019.
Regarding his bridal wear, Gupta does not play it safe with simplistic, feminine pieces. Instead, he embraces powerful and striking designs for brides who truly want that "wow factor." From black lehengas embroidered with large, gold peacocks that resemble paintings of mythology to soft pink lehengas dripping with large pearls and covered in shimmering embroidery.
According to The Lane, reporting straight from New York Bridal Fashion Week, dramatically embellished gowns are one of the trends that couture wedding designers are showcasing this year, defiantly making Gupta one of the must-watch bridal designers this year.
You can find Guarav Gupta’s flagship stores in New Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Kolkata.
Influencer Seerat Saini photographed by Natasha Gillett at The Pierre, a Taj Hotel, NYC. Dress designed by Seema Gujral Design available at Shop KYNAH
Anita Dongre is a renown bridal designer and founder of the House of Anita Dongre (HOAD). An ethical vegan, environmentalist and revivalist of local craft, Anita advocates for compassionate living, which is why her designs do not use any fur or leather. Her brand has paved the way for conscious couture in both India and globally, establishing a safe space for brides who want to maintain a luxury standard without losing sight of conscious and mindful celebrations. Her brand voice serves a very particular bridal client and inspires consciousness and slow living to be the driving forces behind her empire, drawing in socially and environmentally conscious brides who want to make mindful decisions about their wedding day.
Anita Dongre is a true inspiration for the luxury millennial bride, and she defines this bride as one that questions and considers, instead of simply following tradition. This powerhouse of a designer is using her voice as a global couture designer to link luxury design with the work of female artisans across the rural plains of India.
Under the Anita Dongre Foundation's Women Empowerment Initiative, the company has set up community tailoring units in rural Maharashtra, India wherein marginalized and needy tribal women are trained professionally to make garments.
Recycling and circular fashion are at the heart of the designer's work, and she is one of the first couture houses to invest in a chief sustainability officer at The House of Anita Dongre. Another green aspect of her designs which mindful brides appreciate is the fact that she does not work with silk and only uses vegan leather in her pieces.
Conscious design does not make her work less intriguing, but instead creates a platform to showcase skills that are often forgotten when it comes to luxury fashion. One such artisanal practice is known as Pichhwai—beautifully detailed and colorful hand-painted images of Hindu beliefs. An exquisite example of such is her Urvara set, which took over 3800 hours of skilled workmanship. This piece is so striking because of how it balances the elementary with the meticulous—a simple silhouette with a striking hand-painted design on ivory matka silk. A breathtaking design that supports and values generational skills, without harming nature in any way.
Anita Dongre designs can be found throughout India and in New York City.
“Desi Mermaid” Diipa Khosla wearing Eeksha, photographed by Natasha Gillett
Eeksha
Introducing Eeksha, a brand for modern brides. The brand launched in 2022, however roots go back 24 years when CEO and Creative Director Ashwin Agrawal was doing embroideries for international brands such as Gucci, Alexander McQueen and Kate spade
Based in Kolkata, Agrawal passionately describes the purpose of the brand: raising the bar for luxury by fusing heritage with contemporary design. This collaboration of old and new will ensure each bride is on trend with international standards while still embracing the richness of Indian art and culture through skilled craftsmanship.
When talking about the modern bride, Ashwin used the phrase, "Free, authentic, and fierce…Eeksha came to life as my creative love affair with blending modern glamour and timeless traditions. My design philosophy is a lively dance between innovation and heritage, drawing inspiration from diverse cultures and artistry. In every Eeksha piece, you will find a harmonious fusion of contemporary elegance and classic allure, capturing the essence of the present while paying homage to the timeless beauty of the past.
So, welcome to the world where style meets storytelling – welcome to Eeksha, where I shape dreams into dazzling reality.” The name Eeksha is from his daughter Sameeksha, who he describes as “not only a muse for Eeksha but the heartbeat that inspires its soul. Her elegance and grace effortlessly translate into the very fabric of our designs. She embodies the spirit of the modern woman who embraces tradition with a contemporary flair. Sameeksha’s influence is more than style—it is a celebration of femininity, strength, and the beautiful balance between past and present. In every creation, you will find a touch of her spirit.”
Natasha Gillett photographed Eeksha’s Cannes debut with Diipa Khosla in a pastel hued lehenga with a unique neckline and intricately adorned with feathers. The editorial was set against The Rocks at Cannes and Khosla captioned the post “got me feeling like a Desi mermaid” to her 2 million followers. The champagne-colored silk organza lehenga is another example of how daring and on brand Eeksha’s designs are, promising contemporary brides, South Asian or otherwise, a truly unique experience and bridal look.
Eeksha’s flagship store is located at 121, Mother Teresa Sarani, Park Street area, Kolkata
Eeksha debut at Cannes Film Festival 2023 with Diipa Khosla, photographed by Natasha Gillett
2024 Luxury Bridal Forecast According to The Top South Asian Designers
Pastels and natural looks seem to be the most predicted trend for 2024 brides. Both Tahiliani and Malhotra predict that this continued trend will evolve more in 2024. Malhotra, who has been creating incredible designs with this palette, showcased how soft yet striking these colors can be with his ombre saree collection. The soft pastel tones can also be seen trending on social media and picked up on fashion publications like Vogue Wedding and Over The Moon.
Malhotra predicts that emeralds and uncut stones will continue their rise, and lavishly embellished veils will be a popular style this year. Tahiliani predicts the popularity of veils for the 2024 Indian bride; however, his style focuses on the ease and enjoyment of wearing, so nearly transparent, romantic veils will be his focus in 2024.
However, the most unique wedding trend predicted is all about the groom. In 2023, Manish Malhotra showcased the Grand Turban Trail, and he predicts that this trend will become increasingly popular in 2024.
According to Sabyasachi Mukherjee, 2024 will be the year in which craftsmanship becomes the true statement of luxury. Even more so, where handcrafted pieces become part of a real experience—one that defies the unreal, instant world of the virtual. Thus, time, process, and true skill built into a system of personal design and collaboration between designer, bride, and karigar will become a trend for 2024. We will see intricate, bejeweled pieces that will last many lifetimes but also form an integral part of a true experience and memories.
Furthermore, social and eco-mindfulness is a trend and hopefully, a steadfast contribution to the bridal world that we hope to see more of. With powerful ambassadors such as Anita Dongre, who recently hosted The Rewild ’23 Fashion For Good Fashion Show, turning conscious fashion into luxury staples. With her hand-painted lehengas and a less-waste approach to design, we hope conscious bridal couture will be a trend that turns into a steadfast character trait of Indian luxury bridal couture.