Hot Off The HELLO! India Press: Celebrity collaborations, store launches, relaunches and more

The world of luxury and lifestyle is buzzing with fresh energy, and India is right at the centre of it—emerging as one of the most exciting playgrounds for both global icons and homegrown talent. From couture to cosmetics, the period has seen an influx of new store launches, international brand entries, and Indian designers expanding their presence, together shaping a luxury market that is more dynamic, inclusive, and experience-driven than ever before.

ACROSS INDIA

Delhi's culinary scene continues to expand its horizon as Bangkok’s Michelin-recognised Thai dining institution, Nara Thai, makes its North India debut in Gurugram with Aditya Birla New Age Hospitality. Founded in 2003, the brand is celebrated for refined expressions of Thai culinary heritage. The new outpost brings signature flavours, imported ingredients and Bangkok-trained expertise to the capital’s dining circuit, positioning itself as a premium, all-day destination for authentic Thai cuisine. Designed by Thai interior designer Nitipattara Yensup, the Gurugram space blends contemporary elegance with Thai artistry. Rattan textures, blue-and-white palettes, soft lighting and handcrafted details create a refined yet welcoming setting for both intimate meals and group gatherings.

Rahul Mishra’s AFEW finds a permanent home with its first flagship store at New Delhi's Dhan Mill Compound—an address synonymous with experimental fashion and design. The space reflects the label’s philosophy of accessible luxury, marrying Mishra’s signature craft-forward sensibility with contemporary silhouettes. Designed as an immersive retail experience, the store places Indian craftsmanship at the forefront while speaking to a younger, global audience seeking refined yet wearable fashion.

Designer Dolly J has opened her first standalone menswear store at Dhan Mill, New Delhi, marking a new chapter for the brand’s couture journey. The 1,000 sq. ft. space blends heritage-inspired design with modern luxury, creating an immersive environment that reflects Dolly J’s refined approach to menswear.

Sara Ali Khan joins Longines as the newest Friend of the Brand, perfectly reflecting the Swiss watchmaker’s ethos of timeless elegance and modern femininity, while strengthening its connection with a new generation of style-conscious audiences.

Brooks Brothers makes a refined return to India with its relaunch in Gurugram. After its successful run in Delhi NCR across multiple locations, they reopened their outlet at the Ambiance Mall Gurugram,  bringing its iconic American tailoring, timeless preppy aesthetic, and heritage craftsmanship to a modern retail space tailored for today’s discerning dresser.

The Architecture & Design Film Festival (ADFF: STIR) returns to Mumbai for its second edition at NCPA from 9–11 January 2026. Building on its successful South Asia debut, the festival will bring together cinema, architecture, design, and public discourse through an expanded and immersive programme.

Shilo Shiv Suleman’s Fearless Foundation recently completed Cochin’s largest mural, a 200-metre artwork at the Indian Coast Guard Office in Fort Kochi. Created in collaboration with coastal communities and an international team of artists, the mural honours the stories of those who protect and sustain India’s coastlines.

Fashion designer Maheka Mirpuri has introduced a cosy boutique café inside her couture atelier in Prabhadevi, offering one of Mumbai’s most charming festive escapes this Christmas. Blending fashion, art, and winter indulgence, the space invites visitors to shop couture, sip warm drinks, and soak in the season’s creative spirit under one roof.

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Jewels by Queenie has collaborated with the 2025 season of The Real Housewives of London, marking a major global moment for the Indian luxury jewellery house. The brand features on the show with on-screen credits, strengthening its international presence and visibility.

Known for transforming spaces with his experiential vision, Abhishek Sharma unveiled his latest couture collection, Ratiaranya, in New Delhi recently. A poetic celebration of passion, purity, and connection, the showcase opened with supermodel Ujjwala Raut gracing the runway in an unapologetically sculptural look, featuring a sheer, body-hugging silhouette drenched in metallic embroidery and foliage-inspired embellishments that shimmer under the lights. A backless, jewel-anchored blouse with a soft tulle drape and molten-finish skirt delivers a bold, sensual couture moment made for the night.

ACROSS THE DIGITAL LANDSCAPE

In a major boost to India’s luxury jewellery space, Bollywood stars Aamir Khan and Ranbir Kapoor are set to invest in QWEEN, India’s first 100% natural, self-discovery experiential luxury jewellery brand launching in February 2026. Their participation follows a ₹1,000 crore strategic investment by Rosy Blue and Kashikey Co. Ltd., signalling deep confidence in the brand’s long-term vision. With Kashikey’s century-old Japanese luxury retail legacy and Rosy Blue’s six decades of sourcing expertise forming QWEEN’s backbone, the brand is set to debut 5,000–6,000 sq. ft experiential stores in Bangalore and Delhi—reimagining fine jewellery as ethical, purpose-led, and inviting for the modern Indian woman.

For the first time ever, Skinn by Titan has unveiled two holiday gift sets featuring its best-selling fragrances, making them an easy pick for the holiday season. Available in 50 ml and 100 ml variants priced at ₹2,995 and ₹4,995 respectively, the sets offer a stylish and accessible gifting option for fragrance lovers.

CaratLane, along with its silver jewellery label Shaya, announced the winners of its global Designathon initiative aimed at nurturing future design talent. With over 700 entries worldwide, the platform challenged designers to balance aesthetic innovation with environmental responsibility under the theme “Design for a Better Tomorrow.”

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