Fashion Police | EXCLUSIVE! LFW X FDCI 2025: Shantnu & Nikhil on why India today is not following the global fashion order

For designer duo, Shantnu & Nikhil, strength lies in its ability to marry commerce with culture, to create products that resonate not just through design, but through identity. They believe fashion is not transactional; it’s transformational. When a brand stands for belief, legacy, and relevance, it doesn’t just survive change, it defines it.

Edited excerpts from the interview:

 Where do you see India(BHARAT) in the world fashion order?

India(BHARAT) today isn’t following the global fashion order, it’s rewriting it. The world has begun to look to India(BHARAT) not for embellishment, but for emotion; not for textiles, but for storytelling. Our heritage has always been abundant; what’s shifting now is the gaze; we’re no longer seeking validation, we’re setting direction. India(BHARAT)’s identity in fashion has never been more self-assured, or readier to take centre stage.

Can you enlighten us on the thought of what went behind your collection at LFW?

Velora marks one of our most defining chapters, the beginning of a new era. The woman has always been part of our narrative; she’s lived in our drapes, inspired our emotion, and shaped our aesthetic from within the shadows. With Velora, she finally steps into her own spotlight.

She is bold, unrestrained, and innately glamorous. Through metallic corsetry, sculpted drapes, diamanté flourishes, and silhouettes that blur the line between structure and sensuality, Velora embodies Red Carpet Couture; confident, contemporary, and timelessly expressive.

We have moved beyond the aisle to redefine what occasion-wear for women stands for, not tradition, but transformation; not conformity, but character.

The show at LFW had quite a unique highlight — tell us about that moment.

Moving away from the idea of a traditional showstopper, we wanted Velora to be remembered for a collective moment rather than a single face. The night’s real showstopper was the Phantom Blaq by Grand Vitara- sleek, powerful, and perfectly aligned with the spirit of Velora.

The show opened with Avanthi Nagrath, setting the tone for what followed; strength, fluidity, and quiet confidence. As the car rolled onto the runway, we stepped out to close the show, marking our first-ever womenswear debut in a way that felt authentic to our journey- modern, bold, and unapologetically us.

The front row reflected that same energy, Diana Penty, Shibani Dandekar Akhtar, Sesma Mohapatra, Bhavana Pandey, Alekha Advani, and Krishna Shroff, all women who embody contemporary glamour and individuality.

It was a moment that celebrated movement — of design, of identity, and of celebrating femininity in its truest form.

What are your views on the revival of weaves?

Revival must evolve. The new generation of India(BHARAT)n weaves should not only tell stories of the past but speak a language of the present. At Shantnu & Nikhil, we see weaves in our details, as emotion in motion, something that can be paired with metallics, corsets, and drapes without losing its soul. True revival lies in reimagining, not replicating.

Your take on slow fashion and why it’s the need of the hour to be conscious consumers.

For us, slow fashion is simply about creating with intent. Every piece should have a reason to exist, a story, a memory, a sense of permanence. At Maison Shantnu Nikhil, we value garments that move beyond occasion-wear to become part of one’s personal narrative. Conscious consumption isn’t about restraint; it’s about connection; choosing pieces that mean something, and wearing them in ways that evolve with time.

How can we reduce fashion pollution and be mindful yet stylish?

Mindfulness doesn’t mean minimalism; it means meaning. Fashion becomes sustainable when it’s made to endure; emotionally and physically. When you design ensembles that evolve with time and context, you create longevity. At Shantnu Nikhil Couture, every silhouette is built to be versatile, powerful, and personal, style, after all, is the most sustainable form of self-expression.

Your take on the business of fashion and how it’s doing amid global recession.

We have always believed that fashion thrives on emotion more than economics. Market shifts are inevitable, but purpose endures. The strength lies in its ability to marry commerce with culture, to create products that resonate not just through design, but through identity. For us, fashion is not transactional; it’s transformational. When a brand stands for belief, legacy, and relevance, it doesn’t just survive change, it defines it.

How do you view the relationship between machine and craftsmanship?

 For us, technology and craftsmanship are not opposites, they are collaborators in creation. The machine brings precision, the hand brings emotion. Together, they define the balance between structure and soul that has always guided our design philosophy. At Maison Shantnu & Nikhil, we see innovation as a tool that enhances human artistry, not replaces it. True couture lies in that dialogue, where progress and tradition coexist seamlessly.

Your views on pragmatism vs imagination.

Fashion exists in the tension between the two. Pragmatism gives imagination form; imagination gives pragmatism purpose. At Shantnu & Nikhil, we’ve built a legacy on this duality- structure meets drape, military meets emotion, tradition meets rebellion. That balance is where magic happens.

What is a fashionable woman according to you in Hollywood and Bollywood?

 We’re drawn to women who turn fashion into self-expression- those who command the red carpet with authenticity, not performance. In Bollywood, it’s the ones who celebrate India(BHARAT)n couture with global confidence. In Hollywood, it’s those who blend power with play. True icons don’t dress for approval; they dress for impact. And Velora is made for exactly that woman.