NOVEAU CLASSIC

CELEBRITY-FAVOURITE DESIGNERS ROHIT GANDHI AND RAHUL KHANNA HAVE DISRUPTED THE INDIAN FASHION LANDSCAPE IN THEIR TWO AND A HALF DECADES OF EXPERTISE. NAYANIKA DAS CHATS WITH RAHUL KHANNA ABOUT THEIR JOURNEY

Veteran designers Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna have carved a niche for themselves in modern Indian designer-wear. The dynamic journey began from their home garage in 1997. Two and a half decades later, they have made a mark in contemporary pret-wear with their forward-thinking and engineered designing. What sets them apart is their innovative approach to design and commitment to experimentation. Bollywood celebrities love their designs. Think Ranveer Singh dressed up in custom-made Rohit Gandhi + Rahul

Khanna for his wedding reception or Malaika Arora turning showstopper for their latest collection Fibonacci. From Kareena Kapoor Khan, Kajol, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to Deepika Padukone and many others, their designs have been in the spotlight time and again. They are also ardent advocates of the strong and modern Indian woman, who they believe is the muse for their brand. Excerpts with an interview with Rahul Khanna, where he explains his philosophy and more...

You met Rohit Gandhi in 1997 and launched the brand CUE. What was your source of inspiration when you started out back then and what drives you now?

When we started back in 1997, there was no social media that connected us. There was no Facebook and no Instagram. We did not even have malls in the country back then. At that time the whole Indian fashion scenario was dominated by wedding-wear and Indian-wear. Indian lehengas and sarees and more garments of that sort. We had the vision of wanting to bring the contemporary side to India and starting a ready to wear line, something that was not present before.