Luxebook Top100

Raghavendra Rathore Founder, Raghavendra Rathore Jodhpur O ne of the foremost couturiers of the country, Raghavendra Rathore needs no introduction. The designer is remembered as part of the original trio — Tarun Tahiliani, Wendell Rodricks and Rathore himself, who started the first fashion week in the country. The man who reinvented the bandhgala, put menswear foremost at a time when the industry concentrated mostly on womenswear. Rathore belongs to a royal heritage that imbibed a sense of duty and community in him. Starting his own label 20 years ago happened by chance, when he was back for a holiday from working with the iconic Oscar de la Renta in the US. In 2018, the brand received joint investment from fashion house Ermenegildo Zegna in collaboration with Reliance Brands. Rathore has also partnered with Amrapali Jewels to setup the Gurukul School of Design, a fashion school with the aim to provide an international mindset to fashion students, with exposure to luxury brands and fashion capitals across the world. He still finds solace in the “jungles of Ranakpur”, as he likes “… a glass of “It is very important to understand the value of time in business.” Old Monk” to wind down with. An artist at heart, with five commissioned artworks for private clients, Rathore would rather “voyage into the imagination abilities of the mind” if given a choice, and can’t live without his iPencil, iPad and iPhone. Shantanu and Nikhil Founders, Maison Shantanu and Nikhil S hantanu and Nikhil Mehra have completed over two decades as fashion designers. Brothers by birth, both were taken up by the fashion industry since their childhood. Shantanu did his MBA from the University of Toledo, Ohio, US. Nikhil, on the other hand, had joined the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, California. It was in 1999 that Shantanu and Nikhil decided to venture into Indian fashion, with a vision to create sophisticated, yet elegant urban styling. Their label ‘Shantanu and Nikhil’ is fashion forward and gender fluid. They’re credited for creating draped silhouettes for men, and their men’s wedding couture line remains extremely popular. The designer duo plunged into women’s wear in the year 2001, with signature collections like Diffusion and Couture, on display at the Indian Fashion Week. They have two signature stores in New Delhi, besides having a presence in couture stores nationally and internationally. Internationally, the label is available in Dubai, Kuwait, Tokyo, Switzerland, Birmingham, London, Jeddah, New York and Vancouver. The clientele list of the designer duo includes the likes of Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan and Leander Peas, Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Dia Mirza, AR Rehman and others. “Think big and take the lead.” — Shantanu “No rules, be fearless. Play your own game.” — Nikhil 54 | | 55