HELLO! India Exclusive: Antara Motiwala Marwah on creating style with a purpose

A graduate in fashion styling from the famed Istituto Marangoni, Milan, Antara Motiwala Marwah returned to India to become the Fashion Editor at a major international men’s magazine. Not only did she bring her unique flair to the table, she had powerful role models right at home. Tina Ambani is an aunt, and Anil Kapoor is uncle to her husband, Mohit Marwah. A mother of two daughters, Antara shattered stereotypes at Lakmé Fashion Week two years ago, when she channelled a fertility goddess, walking the ramp with her baby bump exposed. HELLO! talks to the ‘reel’ diva, ever evolving in her style vocabulary across lifestyle segments.

HELLO! India: Antara, you call yourself a style curator. Do you see this in the context of more than one territory, going beyond fashion to style events, curating menus, etc?

Antara Motiwala Marwah: Absolutely. I vibe with anything that sits at the intersection of design, taste and aesthetics. Think of it as style in 360° — from fashion and beauty, to interiors, kids, and collaborations. Even social causes I’m passionate about. If it involves visual storytelling with intention, I’m in.

HELLO! India: You have transitioned from being Fashion Editor at GQ to growing a sizable community as a lifestyle influencer. Tell us how you navigated the disruption and topped the charts as an independent brand.

Antara Motiwala Marwah: Honestly, it was organic, not strategic. During the pandemic, creators and brands were both rewriting the rulebook, finding fresher, more direct ways to communicate. It was an uncrowded space then, so the storytelling felt authentic and imaginative, not algorithm-led. I leaned into that moment, shared what I genuinely loved, and it grew from there.

HELLO! India: Motherhood was evidently a turning point for you. Do you think it had an impact on your personal style vocabulary?

Antara Motiwala Marwah: It changed everything! During my first pregnancy, I felt a complete identity shift, like I had misplaced myself. By the second, I stopped resisting and started embracing it. I sized up, slowed down, got present, and allowed both versions of me to exist: the woman I was and the mother I was becoming. Style didn’t disappear; it just evolved with me.

HELLO! India: Did you see potential to help moms to-be locate maternity brands and be stylish even when feeling unlike their usual selves?

Antara Motiwala Marwah: All the time — especially because I was very okay with showing the bump and owning that phase. When I walked the show pregnant for Itrh at Lakmé Fashion Week, I had mothers DM-ing me, saying it made them feel seen and unapologetic. Maternity style doesn’t have to be kaftans and elastic waistbands only — it can be chic, cool, sexy, and confident. You decide the narrative, not the baby bump.

HELLO! India: Being in the influencer space needs a high degree of motivation, with the need to post frequently and collaborate with brands. Was it challenging to keep up with the pace after becoming a mother?

Antara Motiwala Marwah: Of course. It’s a constant juggle between what to share and what to keep sacred. The ’Gram is beautifully edited — it’s just the highlight reel of who I am as a mom, woman and wife. There are days I’m glam on set, and days I’m barely making it to school drop-offs, late-night dinners, or a rare date night. It’s chaos, it’s curated, and it’s real life in layers.

HELLO! India: You’re an ardent believer in making sustainable choices. Can you tell us how you advocate for eco-friendly and community-serving brands?

Antara Motiwala Marwah: I believe in homegrown, slow and sustainable labels. Being ‘vocal for local’ is so important. It’s also about intention, how much you consume, fabrics (checking whether they are mostly natural or synthetic), and loving a good thrift buy. Being a stylist, I can use the same outfit 10 ways and no one would even know!

HELLO! India: What’s a dream that materialised for you as an influencer?

Antara Motiwala Marwah: The biggest was my dream collaboration with Jet Gems, creating fun, vintage inspired, everyday pop jewellery. It’s nearly sold out in less than two months, and that’s a great feeling.

HELLO! India: Do you see your brand growing into a multi-vertical one, with a podcast channel, interiors page, a fashion handle, and perhaps more?

Antara Motiwala Marwah: I’d love that! I feel I have so much to learn before I sit to give advice, but I love these exciting collaborative projects that allow me to do what I do best — bring in design, vision, glamour, aesthetics, storytelling, marketing and strategy to a brand. Who knows, a podcast or more could be another adventure to explore!

HELLO! India: Given your experience, what do you think our influencer landscape lacks in abundance?

Antara Motiwala Marwah: Currently, there’s too much noise on social media, not enough authenticity. Whether you’re posting about jewellery, fashion, or beauty, it’s going to be about the communities you build. Real influencing doesn’t need a constant flow of content — it needs real moments and genuine shares.

HELLO! India: Did having high-profile names in your family influence you?

Antara Motiwala Marwah: Growing up, I was very influenced by my aunt, Tina Ambani. She was my OG cool girl. Everything I knew about fashion, and my love for jewellery came from her and my mom, having spent endless hours with them. Both have impeccable style.

HELLO! India: Tell us what you genuinely believe are the pros and cons of being an influencer. The perks and perils.

Antara Motiwala Marwah: One of the perks has to be being able to create something with a brand — original, tangible and entirely yours. Then, of course, the opportunities to travel. Everything else about the field is overwhelming. Especially having no choice and posting even when I’m not in the headspace for it because it’s a commitment to a brand.

HELLO! India: With your understanding of fashion, tell us what you think are the season’s dominating trends.

Antara Motiwala Marwah: I think mocha mousse (all shades of brown), neutrals and earthy colours, are here to stay. As well as lace, sheer, barely there dressing with a twist, layering from day-to-night looks, keeping it feminine with a touch of something bold, and a return to classic, key wardrobe staples. Pieces that are timeless, single separates that can be multi-purposed. And lastly, a leftover of the ’90s, like wider trousers, and hair and makeup cultural references to the era gone by

HELLO! India: Any plans to float your own label?

Antara Motiwala Marwah: Sometime in the future for sure. I’d love to curate pieces from upcoming designers and do luxe resort wear maybe.

HELLO! India: Share a few dream styling assignments from your recent past.

Antara Motiwala Marwah: I loved my collab with the House of Rose and putting together a bunch of beautiful women for it, to create something special for their 40th anniversary. I’m also partial to my capsule collection with Jet Gems. I poured my heart and soul into it, and got all my girls onboard to be my muses, including my mom! The collection is so ‘me’ and I’m very proud of it and also attached to it.

HELLO! India: What kind of styling projects would you love to take on?

Antara Motiwala Marwah: I don’t have a roadmap for my future projects, but I know I’d bring a unique aesthetic and vision to anything I take on. I’d love to work on capsule collections for different brands and be a part of their story. I’d also love to use my voice for social initiatives, to amplify and help causes I’m passionate about, be it wildlife, the environment, animal shelters, etc

PHOTOS: RAHUL BHATT  
MAKEUP & HAIR: CLAIRE GIL 
STYLING: DIPTEE AGARWAL  
& RIMSHA TIBREWALA