It is a dream for many women to walk down the aisle in a beautiful lehenga on their D-day, looking undeniably stunning. For this, every bride tries her level best to find the perfect lehenga that will suit her style and theme. One of the ways that the bride can be sure that she gets the right Indian bridal lehenga is to select the one made by a designer. Merging a rich tradition of textiles and global sensibilities, the designers are putting their spin on the traditional bridal lehengas. Here we are going to highlight ten designers that should definitely be on your list while finalizing the lehenga you always wanted.
Ten Designers Whose Signature Style Remains Appealing
Many talented designers in India are known for their contemporary designs and takes on Indian ethnic wear such as bridal lehengas. But here we are elaborating on ten designers who are known for disrupting the Indian fashion industry and making it a breeding ground for unlimited creativity and unforgettable designs. While some have worked for designing costumes for Bollywood movies, most have worked for creating looks for celebrities to create fantastic designs for their big day.
Sabyasachi Mukherjee: Perhaps the most well-known designer in today’s times, Sabyasachi is the designer behind many of the iconic Bollywood bride looks such as Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma. It is not surprising then that he is now at the top of every bride’s list. He is known for priortizing Indian heritage and mingling modernity with it. His signature style includes impeccable tailoring, detailed embellishments, careful hand embroidery and lively prints. Sabyasachi is celebrated for using luxurious fabrics such as raw silk, velvet, and brocade in earthy tones and deep jewel colors that exude royalty. Showcasing the couple’s journey through the garment is often the reason why he is considered one of the best fashion designers in India today.
Manish Malhotra: On the Indian fashion stage since the 90s, the designer has been known for styling various Bollywood beauties in iconic films. Besides this, Manish Malhotra is also known for his distinct bridal wear. Some of the brides that wore his fashion house’s lehengas include Kiara Advani, Preity Zinta and Urmila Matondkar. Malhotra’s bridal lehengas are revered for their exquisite craftsmanship and luxurious appeal. He is known for blending traditional Indian embroidery techniques like zardozi and chikankari with contemporary designs. His use of sophisticated color palettes, including deep reds, golds and pastels adds to the timelessness of his creations. Because of all these factors, the veteran Indian designer is there in every bride’s mind.
Neeta Lulla: A Tinseltown favourite who has made some of the most iconic movie costumes, Lulla is a celebrated name in the Indian fashion industry. She uses plush fabrics such as silk, velvet, and brocade to create patterns that look timelessly feminine. Her bridal lehengas feature eye-catching colors, heavily ornate borders and extravagant silhouettes, making them a popular choice for contemporary brides seeking a timeless yet glamorous look.
Rimple And Harpreet Narula: Established in the year 2000, the husband and wife designer duo came into limelight due to their designs for the show ‘Heeramandi’. The opulent subcontinent dresses let everyone gasp in awe and showed the duo’s designer prowess. Seeing the show’s garments, it was immediately understood that they knew how to make showstopping ethnic attire, including wedding lehengas. Known for their attention to detail, the designers are inspired by vintage details such as Mughal architecture and Persian motifs. The colors such as deep red, earthy pink, ivory gold, coral and frost blue play with these elements in their creations. Elaborate borders, heavy embellishments and vintage fabrics are some of hallmarks of their designs. For the brides that love everything bygone era, the duo’s creations are sure to charm them.
Tarun Tahiliani: The well-known designer is known for his staunch support for Indian designs and embroideries. He is known to take inspiration from history, architecture and art movements. Marked by traditional Indian craftsmanship with a modern couture sensibility, the lehengas made by him feature fine zardozi work as well as Swarovski crystals. Recently, Rakul Preet Singh wore a dreamy bridal lehenga made by him. Radhika Merchant opted for the designer’s creation as one of her pre-wedding looks. Masterful draping, lightweight construction, the wise use of fabric’s opulence and refined color arrangement are some of the typical qualities of the lehengas made by him. Tarun Tahiliani’s bridal creations are ideal for brides seeking a blend of traditional grandeur and modern grace.
Abu Jani And Sandeep Khosla: Established in 1986, the designer duo is one of the most famous and celebrated labels nationally and globally. Isha Ambani Piramal had chosen to wear this designer pair’s creation for her big day. Besides her, many Bollywood celebrities have worn dresses made by the duo for their wedding festivities. Deeply rooted in the traditional embroidery culture, their bridal wear is celebrated for its heavy and intricate work such as Tharad, Zardozi, Gota and Chikankari. Their bridal wear looks timeless as made with splendid fabrics and in shades of reds, golds, ivory and pastels. If you are someone who loves the classic heavily embellished lehengas that make a statement, then this duo should definitely be on your list.
Anita Dongre: A believer in versatile Indian luxury wear, Dongre is one of the most well-known designers on the Indian fashion stage. She is known for reviving Indian crafts such as Ajrakh prints and Pichwai hand painting techniques and empowering women artisans who practice them. Often inspired by the rich cultural heritage of her home state – Rajasthan, intricate hand embroideries such as aari, gota patti and delicate threadwork are often seen in her designs. Besides upholding traditional Indian crafts, Dongre’s bridal lehengas are crafted from eco-friendly fabrics such as organic cotton and silk. Her bridal lehengas are traditional, chic and sustainable, making them a choice for environmentally conscious brides.
Shyamal And Bhumika: A husband-wife duo, the designers are one of the leading fashion houses in India today. Their signature style features intricate hand nature-inspired embroidery with delicate floral and botanical motifs, adding a romantic touch. The collaborators have a penchant for using fabrics like raw silk, organza, and tulle, decorated with zardozi, threadwork, and beadwork. The result is a perfect melding of ethnic and modern aesthetics. The brides that an ethereal-looking bridal lehenga should definitely go for this brand.
Anamika Khanna: A well-loved Bollywood designer, she is known for her unconventional take on ethnic wear. Her bridal lehengas are characterized by innovative silhouettes such as cape-style blouses, asymmetrical drapes and dupattas. The clothes are spruced up with hand embroidery that often incorporates zardozi, chikankari and appliqué work. Khanna was responsible for creating ethereal bridal lehengas of bollywood divas, Athiya Shetty and Kriti Kharbanda. Her garments are known for using a neutral, earthy color palette that is accented with metallic tones or subtle pops of color. Anamika Khanna’s creations are ideal for the modern, fashion-forward brides.
Gaurav Gupta: Known for his design language rooted in surrealism and fantasy, Gupta’s bridal lehengas stand out for their trailblazing creations. He blends sculptural silhouettes with intricate embroidery, creating pieces that are both contemporary and artistic. Fluid drapes, asymmetrical cuts and ambitious, architectural elements are some of the salient features of the designer’s lehengas. The use of lush fabrics like tulle, organza, and silk, combined with a color scheme ranging from vibrant hues to ethereal pastels to striking metallics, adds to the distinctiveness of his designs. Gupta’s bridal lehengas are for the ones who want to wear a traditional lehenga that looks futuristic and unforgettable
Now that you know the talented and revered Indian designers, it is time to explore their collections and choose your bridal lehenga. While choosing, make sure you choose what feels best to you and not what the world says.
