From Mona Patel to Priyanka Kapadia, the style visionaries redefining Indian fashion's future

They blend bold style with purpose and weave sustainability, diversity, and ethics into every thread. More than tastemakers—they’re trailblazers, turning runways into revolutions and closets into catalysts for change. HELLO! takes a look at who is dictating taste and trends in the Indian fashion sphere right now.

1. Vishesh & Viraj Khanna, Co-founders of prêt label AKOK

They’re sharp, they’re creative, and, more importantly, they’re ready to learn. Brothers Vishesh and Viraj Khanna, the creative minds behind the edgy and versatile AKOK, are carrying the legacy of their fashion veteran mum Anamika Khanna forward. But along the way, they carved out a niche for themselves that’s uniquely theirs.

The twins launched AKOK in 2020 as an extension of the luxury label, Anamika Khanna, spotting a gap in the prêt segment and a demand for high-end contemporary fashion among aspirational customers. Today, their artistic flair attracts a wide audience to their stores across Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Ludhiana, besides London and Los Angeles.

The young Khannas are experimental in their design process, using glamorous fabrics like silks and crepes, embellished with abstract patterns and distinct prints—attributes that AKOK has come to be known for. Having grown up in an artistic household, there’s Anamika’s influence over how they perceive everything—including their efforts towards sustainability through upcycling, use of dead stock and associations with local craftspeople.

“Indian fashion has been working its way into the West… AKOK contributes to this by challenging the stereotypes associated with Indian fashion and showing the world that our craft, textiles and clothing can be very progressive,” asserts Vishesh.

2. Akshat Bansal, Fashion designer and founder of demi-couture label, Bloni

Remember Alia Bhatt’s stunning sterling silver saree from the 2022 Indian Television Academy Awards? That’s a Bloni specialty made from waste recycled nylon and repurposed degradable faux leather. Everyone from Kareena Kapoor Khan and Karan Johar to Natasha Poonwalla, Anuskha Sharma and Ananya Birla have been seen in the futuristic designs of Creative Director Akshat Bansal, the young maverick from Haryana behind Bloni’s avante-garde garments.

“The aim is for my pieces to resonate with new-age consumers who are looking for craftsmanship with a global appeal,” he had said in an interview with HELLO! in 2022.

And global appeal he sure does have. Following his 2022 debut in Paris only five years after its founding, Bloni made quite the splash at the 2024 leg of the event, where he showcased his ‘Passage’ Spring/Summer 2025 Collection. ‘Metanoia,’ the demi-couture brand’s latest work displayed at Lakmé Fashion Week a few weeks ago, received a similar resounding response. “It’s time to turn heritage Indian silhouettes like sarees, lungis and dhotis into global classics,” he had shared. “Being gender-neutral makes men and women equal and is cohesive and sustainable in the truest sense…”

Akshat’s pivot to global expansion began when he got his foot through the Paris door in 2022. As a brand trying to make globally relevant clothing, this seemed like the obvious next step. Ultimately, he wants to “take India to the world and bring the world to India.”

3. Priyanka Kapadia Badani, Creative director and celebrity stylist

A powerful sense of fashion that makes her one of India’s most sought-after stylists. Deepika Padukone’s maternity shoot; several of Ananya Panday’s statement-making outfits (remember her “rosy” David Koma jumpsuit?); and power fits for Isha Ambani Piramal, Anushka Sharma, Rashmika Mandanna, Janhvi Kapoor… All these looks that made us stop, stare and admire have one name in common: Priyanka Kapadia Badani.

One of the most in-demand celebrity stylists today, Priyanka, the former fashion director of Vogue India (she worked with the publication for 13 years), rose through the ranks rapidly to get to where she is today. She chanced upon fashion (she aspired to be in advertising earlier) while on a shoot for Lakmé and has always been attracted to visually appealing things (case in point: her photographer partner Hashim Badani’s aesthetically pleasing page that often features her candid shots).

“One of my most favourite results was Anushka Sharma for the cover when she was pregnant. It was the peak of the pandemic, she was eight months pregnant, and we were just five people on set. It was one of the most beautiful shoots we’ve done together because it was so wholesome,” she recalls.

4. Suhani Parekh, Founder of Misho Designs

“Jewellery is more than just an accessory—it’s an extension of my personality. I see it as wearable sculpture, something that moves with the body and seamlessly becomes part of everyday life. It’s intimate, expressive and adds that final touch that brings everything together.

I’ve always said Misho is a design studio that happens to make jewellery. My background in art and sculpture sparked a fascination with form and material. I was drawn to the idea of sculpture that could become part of one’s everyday life. That’s how Misho was born.”

“Globally, there’s a growing appetite for pieces that tell a story. In India, the consumer today is well-travelled, well-informed and eager to explore experimental designs that reflect their individuality. This shift is opening up space for more creative and meaningful jewellery narratives.”

“We want to explore expanding Misho’s couture line. Whether it’s pushing the boundaries of metal couture or reimagining classic silhouettes, the focus remains on creating pieces that blur the lines between art, fashion and design. There are also some exciting projects I’m looking forward to sharing soon.”

5. Mona Patel, Fashionista and entrepreneur

The best-dressed mystery woman at the 2024 Met Gala is how the world first knew Mona Patel. This Vadodara-born Indian-American entrepreneur has become an influential presence in fashion and luxury, always spotted in such brands as Chopard, Bvlgari, Tiffany & Co., Schiaparelli, Dolce & Gabbana… The list goes on. 

It wasn’t until her 30s that she developed her sense of style. Growing up, she didn’t have a free hand over fashion (it fell under “vanity” as it does in most conservative Indian households), though she did admire Alexander McQueen from an early age, crediting the designer’s “romantic warrior” aesthetic for inspiring her own blend of strong, elegant and classic with a touch of futuristic elements.

A champion for the preservation and promotion of haute couture, Mona aims to make an impact in the industry by collaborating with emerging designers and expanding her philanthropic initiatives.

6. Palak Shah, CEO and founder of Ekaya Banaras.

Hailing from a family that’s been in the Banarasi business for over a century, Palak Shah has been instrumental in bringing the silk into the mainstream since co-founding Ekaya Banaras in 2012. “It felt right to... leverage our deep-rooted expertise while reimagining it with a fresh perspective,” she says. “My goal has always been to give the Banarasi a new identity and modern sensibility, while staying true to our roots.”

Speaking of the undeniable revolution that Banarasis have undergone in recent years, Palak says, “We’ve got menswear, accessories, art… You name it. It’s going places, and I can feel it happening…”

Palak is responsible for contemporising the saree and taking her 130-year legacy into mainstream fashion.

This piece originally appeared in the April-May’25 print edition of HELLO! India