In succession

PRAACHI RANIWALA

- PRAACHI RANIWALA

THEIR MOTHERS ARE two of the most-loved legends in Indian fashion. While Yash Dongre is securing the future of the House of Anita Dongre, twins Vishesh and Viraj Khanna are building on Anamika Khanna’s foundation.

Vogue India orchestrated the firstmeeting between the trio to discuss the privileges and pressures of the legacies they stand to inherit.

Praachi Raniwala: How has it been watching your mothers build these brands?

Yash Dongre: My parents are first-generation entrepreneurs. My mother started the business with her two youngest siblings before I was born. An early memory of mine is visiting her office that overlooked a buffalo shed. I was always amazed that she got any work done in the midst of that commotion.

Viraj Khanna: My mother wanted to be a dancer when she was in school, and she painted during college. Fashion just happened when she won a design competition.

Yash: My father travelled for work and I spent a lot of time around my mother’s business, interning in different departments before officially joining. Th is was around the same time the brand secured funding (2014).

Viraj: In comparison, our journey started late. Vishesh and I played state-level cricket and we were also interested in golf. Growing up in Kolkata, we realised what our mother had built only once we started travelling more to New Delhi and Mumbai.

Vishesh: We joined her after graduating. I looked at designing and Viraj took care of business. But he also has an interest in art and we’re using his paintings in our clothes. Our roles are quite fluid. Viraj: Yash, do you wish you had studied design?