Latest news with #ShantnuNikhil
Hindustan Times
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Shantnu Nikhil: Rewriting menswear code
What happens when shimmer, regencycore, and cinematic grandeur of India's princely past come together? It brings out a bold, future-facing collection that dismantles predictability and rewrites the codes of Indian menswear. And this was very well understood by the designer duo Shantnu Nikhil at the Hyundai India Couture Week 2025, in association with Reliance Brands, an initiative of FDCI. Models in designer Shantnu Nikhil's creation.(Photos: Raajessh Kashyap/HT) Their collection, which was titled Metropolis, brought forth overcoat sherwanis, embroidered crystal berets, veils, cinched bandhgalas, ruffled collars, cropped blazers, and men in heels, all drenched in shimmer, giving voice to a new kind of royalty: one that isn't inherited, but earned. The vibe was immaculate with black, white and pastel ensembles showcasing a contrast. The themes of the garments drew inspiration from military archives, desert culture, and androgynous fashion, styling men and women in a way that feels powerful, masculine and feminine at the same time. As the models strutted down the runway, the story for menswear was solidified that this is the new code. Not just for how they dress, but how they declare. The front row at Shantnu Nikhil's showcase was also graced by Bollywood's finest, including actors Vihaan Samat, Arjun Rampal, Jim Sarbh, Randeep Hooda, Rajkummar Rao, Rahul Khanna and Zahaan Kapoor, who came together with the designer duo and posed for the camera post the show.
NDTV
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Who Is A Shantnu And Nikhil Man? "A Mix Of Shiv And Shakti," Designers Tell NDTV
Day five of the Hyundai India Couture Week 2025 saw Indian designers Shantnu Mehra and Nikhil Mehra unveil "Metropolis" - a collection that aims at rewriting the codes of Indian menswear. Through the collection, the designer duo is not just crafting heritage but a revolution - and this time it's wearing pinstripes and pearls. Shantnu Nikhil's latest collection was all about redefining the modern Indian man. With sharp military tailoring fused with fluid drapes, pearl-embellished accents on structured suits, and overcoat sherwanis that walked a razor-sharp line between tradition and rebellion, "Metropolis" emerged as a manifesto. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FDCI (@fdciofficial) In an exclusive conversation with NDTV, brothers Shantnu and Nikhil Mehra opened up about their clothing line, pulling back the curtain on their vision of the modern Indian man draped in "rebellious" couture. Defining a Shantnu Nikhil man, Nikhil Mehra says he is someone who is "a beautiful mix of Shiva and Shakti". Shantnu Mehra added, "A Shantnu Nikhil man is someone who doesn't use heritage as homage, but as a weapon. He wears tradition, but also wears command. It's a bit of structured rebellion, and that's what a Shantnu Nikhil man is about." The collection "Metropolis" is set in an imagined city where nostalgia brushes up against the future, and builds a new code for menswear. Shantnu Mehra told NDTV that the couture collection is about "the way the world is shifting and the cultures are coming closer. The fact that it is called 'Metropolis' - it is a magical city where everyone becomes inclusive, and that's what rebellion is about." When asked about the uniformity in their collections that puts nation pride first, designer Nikhil Mehra said, "When you talk about nation pride, the values of valour and regalia - we have a dhoti inspired by the Gandhi dhoti. It is the new pair of trousers for Indians. It has come from our history and heritage, but it's contemporary because we have used leather-based sequins that have brought a little bit of shine to it. We are changing the narrative, unshackling traditionalism." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shantnu Nikhil (@shantanunikhil) From their critically acclaimed 2020 collection "The Resurgence" that was a nod to post-pandemic resilience to their latest couture collection which is about "structured rebellion", the designers have tried to make their clothing line about evolution since 2005. When asked about the one couture element in their latest clothing line, Nikhil Mehra told NDTV, "We need to reimagine couture in India. The landscape in India is focused on silhouettes, sartorial cuts, and pattern making. If you give a man the right fit of a trouser and a jacket, he is yours forever, and that goes for both genders. Our designs are gender fluid. It's a statement not just for India but a boundaryless human." View this post on Instagram A post shared by FDCI (@fdciofficial) The Hyundai India Couture Week 2025, which began on July 23, 2025, and will conclude on July 30, 2025.
Mint
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Siblings Shantnu and Nikhil's new fashion brand, Luxe is a ‘rebellious twin'
Manish Mishra Designers Shantnu and Nikhil Mehra on their new offering, Shantnu & Nikhil Luxe, and making Indian red-carpet dressing more fun and edgy Actor Wamiqa Gabbi is the face of the brand's campaign Gift this article For over 25 years, the couture brand Shantnu Nikhil has been focused on giving traditional menswear a contemporary spin. This season, the designers behind the brand, brothers Shantnu and Nikhil Mehra, are branching out and entering the space of womenswear, with the launch of a new label. For over 25 years, the couture brand Shantnu Nikhil has been focused on giving traditional menswear a contemporary spin. This season, the designers behind the brand, brothers Shantnu and Nikhil Mehra, are branching out and entering the space of womenswear, with the launch of a new label. Called Shantnu & Nikhil Luxe, the label offers everything from statement bodycon pieces, corseted silhouettes, contoured peplums, crystal-studded drapes to mini dresses—all structured, yet fluid, a design style long associated with Shantnu Nikhil. The launch was followed by the recent opening of the Shantnu & Nikhil Luxe store in Delhi's The Dhan Mill Compound. "Women have always resonated deeply with our language of sharp tailoring, military precision and unrestrained self-expression. Shantnu & Nikhil Luxe is not merely an extension of our house codes; it's couture's rebellious twin," says Nikhil Mehra. Designers Shantnu and (right) Nikhil Mehra The market is already flooded with contemporary womenswear labels. What makes Shantnu & Nikhil Luxe unique? While many labels focus on easy contemporary silhouettes, true red carpet couture that feels sculpted, dramatic, and deeply refined is rare. That's where Shantnu & Nikhil Luxe stands apart. It brings our signature structured tailoring and fluid drapery into a more daring, high octane realm. It's for the woman who commands the spotlight and owns her narrative without compromise. Is it premium ready to wear? It's statement eveningwear infused with couture sensibilities. The collection starts at around ₹ 50,000 and goes up to ₹ 3 lakh, depending on the intricacy. How do you attempt to redefine red-carpet dressing with this new vertical? India has always celebrated elaborate occasion-wear, but true statement eveningwear, red-carpet couture that feels provocative, playful and built for sheer presence, has rarely found its voice. This is our answer to that gap. What prompted you to have actor Wamiqa Gabbi as the muse for this debut collection? Wamiqa was instinctive for us. She carries the duality we represent, fierce yet deeply grounded. How was the process of conceptualising the store? This store marks a new milestone for us, our first ever women's-only flagship. We co-designed the space with Monica and Hardesh Chawla of Essentia Homes. Multiple sittings, moodboards and late nights went into translating our vision of Luxe into a physical experience that feels unapologetically feminine and built entirely for her. What inspires your work? Travel has always been a natural part of who we are, it keeps our perspective fresh and our ideas layered. Inspiration doesn't always come from one place; sometimes a city's mood or a fleeting detail might spark something, sometimes it stays as a memory that shapes our broader vision. It's less about translating travel literally into design and more about letting every journey remind us to keep exploring, experimenting and evolving. Manish Mishra is a Delhi-based writer and content creator. Also read: 'Bollywood and India me': French designer Mossi Traoré Topics You May Be Interested In
Mint
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Shantnu Nikhil Indian couture womenswear Indian fashion Wamiqa Gabbi Shantnu Nikhil Luxe
For over 25 years, the couture brand Shantnu Nikhil has been focused on giving traditional menswear a contemporary spin. This season, the designers behind the brand, brothers Shantnu and Nikhil Mehra, are branching out and entering the space of womenswear, with the launch of a new label. Called Shantnu & Nikhil Luxe, the label offers everything from statement bodycon pieces, corseted silhouettes, contoured peplums, crystal-studded drapes to mini dresses—all structured, yet fluid, a design style long associated with Shantnu Nikhil. The launch was followed by the recent opening of the Shantnu & Nikhil Luxe store in Delhi's The Dhan Mill Compound. "Women have always resonated deeply with our language of sharp tailoring, military precision and unrestrained self-expression. Shantnu & Nikhil Luxe is not merely an extension of our house codes; it's couture's rebellious twin," says Nikhil Mehra. Also read: Why nude dressing is trending on the red carpet In an interview with Lounge, the two brothers talk about the new label, the inspiration behind it and why red carpet dressing needs to evolve. Edited excerpts: The market is already flooded with contemporary womenswear labels. What makes Shantnu & Nikhil Luxe unique? While many labels focus on easy contemporary silhouettes, true red carpet couture that feels sculpted, dramatic, and deeply refined is rare. That's where Shantnu & Nikhil Luxe stands apart. It brings our signature structured tailoring and fluid drapery into a more daring, high octane realm. It's for the woman who commands the spotlight and owns her narrative without compromise. Is it premium ready to wear? It's statement eveningwear infused with couture sensibilities. The collection starts at around ₹50,000 and goes up to ₹3 lakh, depending on the intricacy. How do you attempt to redefine red-carpet dressing with this new vertical? India has always celebrated elaborate occasion-wear, but true statement eveningwear, red-carpet couture that feels provocative, playful and built for sheer presence, has rarely found its voice. This is our answer to that gap. What prompted you to have actor Wamiqa Gabbi as the muse for this debut collection? Wamiqa was instinctive for us. She carries the duality we represent, fierce yet deeply grounded. How was the process of conceptualising the store? This store marks a new milestone for us, our first ever women's-only flagship. We co-designed the space with Monica and Hardesh Chawla of Essentia Homes. Multiple sittings, moodboards and late nights went into translating our vision of Luxe into a physical experience that feels unapologetically feminine and built entirely for her. What inspires your work? Travel has always been a natural part of who we are, it keeps our perspective fresh and our ideas layered. Inspiration doesn't always come from one place; sometimes a city's mood or a fleeting detail might spark something, sometimes it stays as a memory that shapes our broader vision. It's less about translating travel literally into design and more about letting every journey remind us to keep exploring, experimenting and Mishra is a Delhi-based writer and content creator. Also read: 'Bollywood and India me': French designer Mossi Traoré
