Indian fashion designers are taking over the global fashion industry. Owing to India’s rich textile industry and handloom heritage, Indian designers have evolved from independent artists into recognisable global fashion brands. The next generation of Indian designers are exploring not just traditional Indian motifs and designs but also weaving their names into the global haute couture market.
In case you want to be a fashion designer, success stories of these Indian fashion leaders will motivate you and help you understand the current trends in the fashion industry. Having been designing to suit Indian celebrities and world stars and displaying their collections on some of the biggest stages, including Paris, New York, and London Fashion Week, this article presents the most famous top 10 fashion designers in India in 2026.
By identifying these industry changes, Pearl Academy has established fashion programmes that are designed to equip future talent in a fast-growing industry with endless opportunities. See the list of the 10 fashion designers in India here.
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If you are wondering who is the best fashion designer in India, there isn’t one fashion designer who answers that question. Designing itself is a diverse profession, varying in skill, ideation, purpose, and customer base, and selecting the best among all can be a very subjective discussion. For some, their area’s local boutique may be one of the top fashion designers in India, while for others, it is no less than Dior, Chanel, or Louis Vuitton.
The following are some of the most famous fashion designers in India, who have made a name for themselves not only in India but also on a global stage.
- Sabyasachi Mukherjee
- Gaurav Gupta
- Manish Malhotra
- Rahul Mishra
- Tarun Tahiliani
- Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla
- Anita Dongre
- Masaba Gupta
- Anamika Khanna
- Falguni & Shane Peacock
Based on the global recognition, popularity among fashion students, and overall success of their individual labels, the following section lists top fashion designers in India:
1. Sabyasachi Mukherjee
Sabyasachi Mukherjee is first on the list of top 10 fashion designers in India. Mukherjee began his career more than 20 years ago at Lakme Fashion Week 2002. After this, his brand has expanded to become an international fashion empire and made him one of the wealthiest fashion designers in India. His line has been worn on red carpets of some of the largest gatherings throughout the world, with some of the largest personalities in the fashion and entertainment world.
Image Source: Vogue Business official Website
What to Learn from Sabyasachi
- Ode to Indian culture and heritage: Sabyasachi’s designs and collections are almost always taking inspiration from Indian craft, art, culture, and intellect. While he has made a multicultural bohemian gaze, the signature of his designs. The skilful integration of Indian heritage is evident in all his designs.
- Diverse Brand Portfolio: Sabyasachi’s vision is not limited to designing Indian bridal wear; rather, he has cemented himself as top Indian designer in jewellery, fashion accessories, and menswear.
2. Gaurav Gupta
Gaurav Gupta is often referred to as an avant-garde and innovative designer who experiments with fabrics, creates luxury fashion, and represents it in unusual forms and shapes, making him one of the most famous designers in India. After his “Across the Flame” line was shown at Paris Fashion Week 2025, Gaurav Gupta has reached the global stage and fame, with multiple global icons wearing his pieces on multiple occasions and his designs appearing on the covers of various fashion magazines.
Image Source: New Indian Express official Website
What to Learn from Gaurav Gupta
- Garments as an expression of art: By mastering the art of creating elaborate sculptural silhouettes, Gaurav Gupta uses garments as a vehicle to express his artistic vision and creativity. Fashion students can learn methods of channelling their ideas in unique ways and dare to experiment with different materials.
- Storytelling with unique draping techniques: Gaurav Gupta is known for his attention to detail and putting on a show that narrates a story with garments featuring intricate draping techniques and sculptural elements.
3. Manish Malhotra
Manish Malhotra is probably one of the most iconic and famous fashion designers in India who has become one of the leading Indian fashion designers. Manish Malhotra has established several trends in his 25+ year-long fashion industry career. The most famous feature of Manish Malhotra’s label is its focus on details and the way it turns classic Indian garments into luxurious products with elaborate embroidery and handcraft.
Image Source: Manish Malhotra’s Official Instagram Account
What to learn from Manish Malhotra
- Understanding heritage style and contemporary silhouettes: Manish Malhotra’s designs often take inspirations from traditional Indian style, such as detailed embroidery, textile construction, and intricate patterns. However, he has made a name for himself for presenting these traditional heritage styles with modern lenses.
- Attention to detail: The magic of his craftmanship is often evident from his attention to detail across all his designs.
4. Rahul Mishra
Known for his haute couture designs, his design approach embraces sustainable practices, storytelling, and craftsmanship, making him one of the top fashion designers in India. In 2014, he became the first Indian to win the prestigious International Woolmark Prize as well. Furthermore, his collections are also cherished for using traditional designs like hand embroidery, weaving, and textile development. He often takes inspiration for his designs from nature, history, and culture.
Image Source: Fortune India Official Website
What to learn from Rahul Mishra
- Sustainable fashion practices: His collections generally follow the “slow fashion” philosophy, emphasising sustainable fashion practices and promoting traditional craft techniques.
- Balancing luxury and responsibility: Though his designs often cater to customers looking for luxurious wearables, Rahul Mishra promotes responsible fashion practices by integrating traditional methods to produce garments.
5. Tarun Tahiliani
Tarun Tahiliani, a founding member of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), is one of those pioneer designers who are making a niche among the top 10 fashion designers in India. His style enables him to showcase the traditional Indian design practices in a modern way. His draping mastery is well known and enables him to create garments which are fluid and sculpted at the same time.
Image Source: Couturenew Website
What to learn from Tarun Tahiliani
- Talent along with creative vision: His creative vision allows him to reinvent traditional draping techniques time and again. Additionally, he is also known for investing in textile construction and innovation to deliver unique pieces that appeal to both Indian and global markets.
- Focus on fit and construction: While his designs often appear sculpted, his draping techniques allow them to be fluid enough to ensure luxury and comfort, cementing his place among most famous designers in India.
6. Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla
A legacy built around intricate hand embroidery, rich textiles, and maximalist design, Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla is a power duo on the Indian fashion scene. Through this partnership, they have come up with a number of luxury apparel for the upper-end market, having made them one of the most famous fashion designers in India. Their philosophy is frequently characterised by concepts of grandeur, detail and craftsmanship.
Image Source: HarpersBazaar India website
What to learn from Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla
- Thoughtful maximalism: Their creative approach embraces maximalism, which is reflected through their high-fashion garments and intricate detailing. At the same time, their designs are carefully thought-out to balance opulence and elegance.
- Strong collaborative vision: Working as a design team, Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla have become trendsetters in Indian fashion, reflecting their strong collaborative vision.
7. Anita Dongre
Anita Dongre, a superstar in the field of eco-friendly practices, is frequently described as one of the most successful fashion designers in India. Her design ethos tends to lean towards concepts of sustainability, inclusivity, and conscious fashion. Her styles are frequently inspired by Indian traditional methods, and she is particularly known to employ rural Indian garment-making techniques in her designs.
Image Source: Vogue official website
What to learn from Anita Dongre
- Fashion with purpose: By adapting sustainable and ethical practices, Anita Dongre sets an example for other designers to ensure responsibility while creating luxury outfits. Additionally, her efforts to incorporate rural weaving techniques into her designs allow her to present fashion with purpose.
- Develop scalable fashion: Her brand, House of Anita Dongre, doesn’t cater to one specific demographic; rather, she has built a scalable fashion brand that is available across all facets of the market.
8. Masaba Gupta
Masaba Gupta is a leading Indian designer known to have bold, quirky, and colourful designs. Her clothes are usually attractive to a younger audience and influencers. Typical design features of her clothing include whimsical patterns, bright colours, loose styles, and contemporary designs.
Image Source: House of Masaba official website
What to learn from Masaba Gupta
- Self-identification through garments: Often, Masaba Gupta’s collection is inspired by her personal branding and ideation. Her design methodology is often described as being inspired by her experiences.
- Embrace experimentation: Her bold designs encourage students to take risks and experiment with new and contemporary techniques.
9. Anamika Khanna
Being among the first Indian fashion designers to showcase her collection at Paris Fashion Week, Anamika Khanna has become one of the most successful fashion designers in India. Her draped and highly structured designs are known to be innovative, with new silhouettes. A staple of her designs is transforming classic designs into something new and attractive; a number of her collections include capes, jackets, and separates made out of deconstructed saris and lehengas.
Image Source: Harpers Bazaar official website
What to learn from Anamika Khanna
- Breaking norms and experiments: Her designs often feel different from traditional garments; she is known for innovating and working with different textiles.
- Design for individuality: Her designs often encourage customers to style clothing as per their individual style and convenience.
10. Falguni & Shane Peacock
Falguni and Shane Peacock are a well-known designer duo and among the top 10 fashion designers in India because of their high-octane glamour, edgy fashion sense, and worldwide celebrity following. Their clothes are very luxurious in design, including embellishments and structured dresses. They have a reputation for blending Indian craftsmanship skills effectively into their designs. Moreover, they are also characterised by the use of unusual materials, metal accents, and feathers in their creations.
Image Source: Forbes official website
What to learn from Falguni & Shane Peacock
- Bold statement pieces: Falguni & Shane Peacock collections are often curated around maximalist ideas and feature bold statement pieces. They encourage flashy designs constructed with unique materials and intricate detailing to ensure luxury and glamour.
- Experiment with different materials: Often, their garments are constructed using unconventional materials such as feathers and metallic accents, resulting in unique designs and silhouettes.
Ready to follow in the footsteps of best fashion designers in India? Apply now to Pearl Academy and take the first step toward a thriving career in fashion!
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In the past few years, global fashion brands have embraced the Indian market and talent, signalling an important shift in the changing dynamics of the industry. All eyes turned to India when Dior organised a fashion show in Mumbai and turned the iconic Gateway of India into a runway. Additionally, with Hollywood A-listers wearing Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Gaurav Gupta couture on red carpets, these shifting trends are not mere coincidences; they are a validation that the international fashion scene is looking at India as more than just a market. This is great news for aspiring fashion students, and the top 10 fashion designers in India mentioned here are paving the way for a new generation of talent to follow in their footsteps. For those ready to start their journey in fashion, explore Pearl Academy's comprehensive programmes. Their fashion courses are designed to empower aspiring designers with the skills, creativity, and industry insights needed to become one of the top fashion designers in India.
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