Fashion in India is in a moment of exhilarating flux right now—an exploration of Indian craftsmanship and innovation that has never felt more global. As 2025 unfolds, we at Harper’s Bazaar India, with inputs by fashion insiders at the forefront of the industry—designer Amit Aggarwal, entrepreneur Pernia Quereshi, and stylist Akshay Tyagi, have put together a list of 25 movers and shakers poised to define the future of fashion with their distinctive voices and uncompromising creativity.
Some are fashion’s undisputed “it girls” like Gauravi Kumari and Khushi Kapoor, while some are rewriting the rules of identity in Indian fashion like Naushad Ali, whose Pondicherry-based label is a love letter to Tamil-French craftsmanship, or Padma Yangchan whose Namza Couture is as rooted in her Ladakhi heritage as it is exquisitely global. Others are redefining representation, like Naman Narnolia, the Jharkhand-based model who now walks for labels like Valentino and Armani and Kay Kamakhya, a Milan-based force for trans inclusivity in fashion. Whether they are pushing sustainability forward, reimagining luxury, or breaking into global markets with unapologetic authenticity, each of these names is a harbinger of fashion’s next big shift.
From the ateliers of Delhi to the runways of Paris, from the bold digital landscapes of Anita Chhiba of Diet Paratha and Srijita Ghosh to the thoughtful reinvention of traditional crafts by designers like Ritwik Khanna and Kartik Kumra on the global stage, this list is at the intersection of heritage and modernity, legacy and rebellion. These are the designers, models, stylists, photographers, and creative directors—all united by an instinct to challenge the status quo. As we keep our eyes on them in 2025, one thing is certain: the future of style and culture has never looked this bright.
#1: Anjali Torvi, Model
A face for campaigns and runway shows for Louis Vuitton, Simone Rocha, Rabanne Beauty, and BOSS, Australia-based Anjali Torvi was discovered by a production agency via a YouTube video about her UCAT exam, which led to her modeling dreams coming true.
#2: Khushi Kapoor, Actor
The undisputed Gen Z fashion girl, Khushi Kapoor has been everywhere from the front rows of runway shows of labels like Dior at international fashion weeks and walking for the biggest Indian couturiers, to hosting fashion collaborations and gracing magazine covers. Her go-to style is versatile and ranges from girl-next-door to sultry siren but most of all, she leans towards the classic and makes it her own with a twist. And in all of this, we’ve yet to see her make a sartorial fumble—no easy feat when you’re always in the spotlight.
#3: Tara Raani, Actor, Model
Along with walking the runway for Burberry, Gucci, Balmain, and Diesel, queer New York-based actor-model-writer Tara Raani is known for playing Zaara Ali in Grown-ish. Raani has been featured in various publications across the globe, and also writes and directs short films featured on TikTok.
#4: Nayonikaa Shetty, Model
London, Milan, and Paris Fashion Week 2023—that’s where Nayonikaa Shetty made her runway debut, and there has been no looking back. Ever since, she has made waves internationally by gracing the runway for renowned designers including Simone Rocha, Ferragamo, Bluemarble, Gaurav Gupta, and Sabyasachi, as well as campaigns for labels like Dior and Jimmy Choo.
#5: Shivam Punjya, Founder and Creative Director, Behno New York
Founder of Behno New York, Punjya’s ethical luxury handbag label has been spotted on Emma Watson and Poorna Jagannathan. Behno was also the only American brand invited to the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange at Buckingham Palace. Impacted by the Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh in 2013, the idea behind this erstwhile ready-to-wear label that transitioned into a handbag label was to celebrate the people behind the work.
#6: Kay Kamakhya, Model, Stylist
Milan-based Kamakhya Kay has walked for Avavav, Marco Rambaldi, and Yezael while also working as a stylist, designer, casting director, and human rights advocate. As a trans woman of color, she champions inclusivity in fashion.
#7: Naushad Ali, Founder and Designer
Pondicherry-based Naushad Ali fuses Tamil-French aesthetics in his eponymous label. His small-batch production process begins with designing fabric before garments, ensuring sustainability and craftsmanship. Starting from designing the fabric rather than the outfit is what makes Ali someone to watch out for.
#8: Prakhar Chauhan, Designer, PRXKHXR
Prakhar Chauhan is the force behind the label PRXKHXR, which launched in 2020, and very quickly became a favourite for its camp collar shirts with fashion-forward cool folks like Guru Randhawa, Sunny Kaushal, Vijay Varma, and even comedian Eric Andre. A chance Instagram conversation with multi-hyphenate Bobby Kim during the 2020 lockdown saw PRXKHXR become the first-ever Indian brand to collaborate with the iconic The Hundreds.
#9: Avantika Swali, Co-founder and Designer, Studio Moonray
From Ananya Panday to Sobhita Dhulipala and from Aditi Rao Hydari to Mira Kapoor, all of fashion’s darlings seem to have been seen in Avantika Swali’s luxury read-to-wear label Studio Moonray, which she co-founded alongside her mother, Karishma Swali of the Chanakya School of Craft. While tapping into the plethora of techniques India has to offer, the younger Swali sets out to reinvent the label each season through recycled and organic fabrics—sustainability being at the core of her design philosophy.
#10: Ritwik Khanna, Founder and Designer, Rkive City
Making its digital debut with a fashion film by Neel Soni at the Milan Men’s Fashion Week 2025 was Delhi-based Rkive City. For Ritwik Khanna, the founder, his label is not a brand, it’s a “damage restoration service”. In fact, RKive City is a zero-waste research and design house that upcycles pre and post-consumer textiles, which are then reimagined in modern silhouettes that use embroidery and prints.
#11: Harsh Agarwal, Founder and Designer, Harago
When Harry Styles wore the luxury menswear label Harago in 2021, the label gained international recognition for its whimsical embroidery and vintage elements. Now, from Charlie Puth and Latin Grammy-award winner Rauw Alejandro to Derek Guy, the “the menswear guy”, it turns out no one can get enough. A collaborative effort between designer Harsh Agarwal, his mother, his sister, and a local tailor, the luxury menswear label Harago Jaipur with its avant-garde designs is one to watch.
#12: Suhail Sahrawat, Founder and Designer, Garuda SS
Garuda SS, India’s only techwear brand, was founded by self-taught designer Suhail Sahrawat, who has redefined functional fashion with meticulously engineered garments. Since its launch in New Zealand in 2015 and move to India in 2017, the label has set new standards in innovation with pieces like the Workpant V2.1, a futuristic take on the classic carpenter pant crafted from cutting-edge, eco-friendly textiles.
#13: Rohitash Notani, Founder and Designer, Rosani
Shooting to fame at the Lakme Fashion Week Gen Next showcase in 2024, Rosani by designer Rohitash Notani celebrates fluidity in menswear. Now having gone on to dress the likes of Kalki Koechlin, Imran Khan, and Ankush Bahuguna for Cannes, the label by Notani breaks the conventional ideology of structured menswear through statement designs that go beyond the norm with most of its pieces being made-to-order.
#14: Ateev Anand, Founder and Designer, ReCeremonial
Ateev Anand’s designs for his occasion-wear label ReCeremonial have been spotted on the likes of Ananya Panday, Alia Bhatt, and Kareena Kapoor Khan, amongst others. Conscious craftsmanship is how Ateev Anand his label that upcycles textiles to elegant handwoven Indian masterpieces that are plant-dyed and use planet-friendly embellishments. His other venture, Teev, is a handloom-focussed ready-to-wear label.
#15: Kirandeep Chahal, Model
Manish Malhotra, Gaurav Gupta, and Tarun Tahiliani are some of the eminent Indian designers who model Kirandeep Chahal has worked with. While her unique, androgynous style and buzz cut hair made her a known face in Indian fashion circles, her runway debut at Paris Fashion Week for Dior in 2023 is what threw the international spotlight on this model, who has since worked with couture houses like Dries Van Noten and other luxury labels.
#16: Naman Narnolia, Model
After winning the title of Indian Model Of The Year title at the FEF India Fashion Awards 2024, Jharkhand-born model Naman Narnolia made his mark on international runways after debuting at Paris Fashion Week for Hermes. Ever since, there was no looking back—his presence has adorned many editorial and brand campaign shoots, as well as multiple runway shows for brands such as Valentino, Antonio Marras, Issey Miyake, Ralph Lauren, and Giorgio Armani, to name a few.
#17: Anita Chhiba, Founder, Diet Paratha
Heard of the popular Instagram page Diet Paratha at the intersection of fashion and culture? Meet the founder behind this global community, Anita Chhiba. Seeing a need for more South Asian representation in Western media, the New Zealand-born Londoner founded Diet Paratha with one goal: to put South Asian culture, fashion, and talent on the global map.
#18: Nikhil Mansata, Stylist and Creative Director
London-based stylist and creative director, Nikhil Mansata, has been at the helm of fashion campaigns with brands such as Dior, Valentino, Swarovski and Byredo. Mansata has also been the creative genius behind various celebrity looks including Khushi Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, and Kalki Koechlin, to name a few. Born and raised in Calcutta, he trained as a stylist at Istituto Maringoni London, after which he worked with and styled for many prominent publications across the globe.
#19: Nilofar Jaques, Jewellery Designer, Anayah Jewellery
Meet Nilofar Jaques, founder of the popular jewellery brand, Anayah Jewellery, spotted on a long list of celebrities across the globe, including Doja Cat, Kerry Washington, Eva Longoria Baston, Ananya Panday, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Tripti Dimri. Bridging the gap between costume and fine jewellery, Anayah finds a sweet spot through designs that are intricate, bold and dramatic.
#20: Padma Yangchan, Co-founder and Designer, Namza Couture
Winner of the Nari Shakti Puruskar Award in 2022, Leh-born designer Padma Yangchan’s Namza Couture was born out of a need to revive and reinvent Ladakhi fashion. Debuting at London Fashion Week in 2019 and having been worn by Sonam Kapoor at the Ambani wedding, Yangchan’s label not only explores Ladakhi fashion through high-end couture but also curates cultural and culinary experiences inspired by the region.
#21: Nishanth Radhakrishnan, Photographer
Having worked with several leading publications and labels such as Outhouse, Marques Almeida, and Torani, photographer Nishanth Radhakrishnan has come a long way. His photographs from a trip to a tsunami-impacted village in Tamil Nadu got him his first feature in National Geographic, making that his eureka moment. While finding inspiration in nature continues to be the backbone of this photographer, he also brings his unique flavour to fashion.
#22: Gauravi Kumari, Entrepreneur, PDKF, The Palace Atelier
Enter the kingdom of Gauravi Kumari —a princess, fashion entrepreneur, and the ambassador for global brand Jimmy Choo. Bringing a modern-day mindset to her Indian heritage, Kumari along with her mother Princess Diya Kumari, co-founded the PDKF store—an adaptation of traditional Rajasthani crafts that advocates for women artisans in the country, showcasing their talent through handcrafted products. Other than her association with Jimmy Choo, Kumari has always championed fashion with a cause and partnered with labels like Ralph Lauren for a silent auction and gala dinner to support PDKF and Anita Dongre to raise funds for the Nature Conservation Foundation.
#23: Pranav Goswamy, Creative Director
Pranav Goswamy has been the creative director at the helm of fashion content for several publications, including Harper’s Bazaar India, having directed everyone from Kareena Kapoor Khan and Kiara Advani to Vicky Kaushal and Aditya Roy Kapoor. Goswamy also brings to the fore his two worlds of fashion and film together for brands like Tod’s, Ekaya Banaras, Seema Gujral, and Shivan and Naresh amongst others.
#24: Srijita Ghosh, Content Creator
Calcutta-based fashion content creator, Srijita Ghosh was recently crowned Cosmopolitan Fashion Influencer of the Year East ‘24-’25 and it’s easy to see why. An advocate for Indian textiles, particularly handloom sarees, Ghosh has worked with labels like Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla and dabbles in creative direction for homegrown handloom labels.
#25: Kartik Kumra, Founder and Designer, Kartik Research
From Hanumankind to Paul Mescal, Kartik Research has gathered an enviable following. The first Indian designer to appear on the Paris Men’s Fashion Week schedule last year, it appears the founder of the label, Kartik Kumra is just getting started. This year, he presented his new collection at the Paris Men’s Fashion Week, launched his first book, and is set to open Kartik Research’s first store in New York.
Lead image: Instagram/Collage by Mandeep Singh
Image credits: Studio Moonray, Rkive City, Namza Couture, Nishanth Radhakrishnan
