Hot Off The HELLO! India Press: Indian fashion milestones, global beauty coming home 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.

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ACROSS INDIA

ICW Mumbai returns on 28 February and 1 March 2026, bringing two days of high-energy celebration to the city. Widely regarded as India’s biggest cocktail festival, the event will feature 25+ spirit brands and over 200 innovative cocktails, alongside gourmet food pop-ups, live music, workshops and immersive brand experiences. With performances by Peter Cat Recording Co., Sicklip, Sage, Aaliya and more, the festival blends cutting-edge mixology with entertainment and culture. A curated lineup of food partners further enhances the experience, making ICW 2026 a vibrant weekend of flavour, craft and community.

Embarq, which calls itself the world’s first women-only luxury self-drive expedition company, announces K2K 2026: The Bold Route series; a 20-day journey from Kutch to Kibithoo from March 8 to 28, 2026. Marking Women’s Day, the expedition will see over 30 women drive 4,000+ kilometres across nine states and eleven cities in a convoy of 10 SUVs, combining adventure with comfort, safety and community.

In the season of store launches, many designers have stepped into a new era. Located at The Corridors in Chattarpur, Dhruv Kapoor opened his first flagship in New Delhi. The store feels less like a conventional boutique and more like an immersive extension of Kapoor’s design language—where architecture, scent, and sound come together to shape a sensory experience. The space invites visitors to slow down and engage meaningfully with the collections, which span everything from the brand’s sharply tailored pieces to relaxed silhouettes, accessories, and lifestyle objects. 

Masque in Mumbai has been awarded the Art of Hospitality Award 2026, a prestigious honour announced ahead of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026. Voted by members of the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy, the award recognises the restaurant that has delivered the most outstanding hospitality experience in Asia over the past 18 months. Founded in 2016 by Aditi Dugar, Masque is widely regarded as a pioneer of modern Indian gastronomy. Housed in a restored textile mill, the restaurant is known for its innovative 10-course tasting menus that celebrate seasonal, locally sourced and foraged ingredients, blending tradition with contemporary technique.

Fratelli Vineyards has released a new vintage of its flagship wine, SETTE, marking the label’s 15th anniversary with a limited-edition collaboration with designer Manish Malhotra. Bringing together fine wine and Indian luxury couture, the special release is positioned as a collector’s edition for connoisseurs. Crafted from low-yielding vines and grapes sourced from the estate’s oldest vineyard parcels planted in 2007, this vintage is described as the most mature expression of SETTE to date, paying tribute to its inaugural 2009 release. The bottle features a bespoke textured gold design by Manish Malhotra, reflecting a shared focus on craftsmanship, artistry and modern Indian luxury.

Evity Wellness arrives in Kolkata with a pioneering vision to redefine how India approaches longevity and proactive healthcare. Built on global Medicine 4.0 principles, the club blends science-backed recovery protocols—such as cryotherapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, red light therapy, and sensory reset experiences—with personalised health dashboards that track key biomarkers. Designed as a social wellness club rather than a clinical space, Evity transforms wellness into a structured, community-driven ritual. By translating complex health data into clear, actionable insights, it empowers members to build resilience, improve recovery, and embrace a more intentional, longevity-focused way of living.

After decades of pioneering his signature fluid couture, Gaurav Gupta Couture unveiled the launch of its first standalone menswear flagship at DLF Emporio in New Delhi. Spanning 2,300 square feet, the boutique reflects the designer’s philosophical approach to fashion, inspired by the concept of Shunya, where space, structure, and stillness coexist. The store showcases the full spectrum of the brand’s menswear offering—from sculptural tuxedos and ceremonial bandhgalas to draped silhouettes, kurtas, and accessories—each piece embodying Gupta’s signature blend of craftsmanship and futuristic form. Conceived as both a retail space and an architectural experience, the flagship signals a new chapter in redefining modern Indian menswear through a lens that is both introspective and boundary-pushing.

Toscano has unveiled its newest restaurant in Pune's Balewadi, bringing its signature take on authentic Italian dining to one of Pune’s most vibrant neighbourhoods. Known as one of India’s fastest-growing Italian brands, the new outpost marks its fourth location in the city. Founded through the collaboration of Chef Jean Michel and Chef Goutham Balasubramanian, Toscano blends rustic Italian warmth with contemporary elegance and the Balewadi space pairs signature burgundy accents and lush greenery for relaxed daytime lunches or intimate evening dinners.

Evolve, founded by Anu Bajaj and Shivam Bajaj, opens its doors at Dhanmill Compound in New Delhi as India’s first women-only wellness club, created to offer a safe, expert-led space dedicated entirely to women’s health. Designed as a holistic sanctuary, Evolve brings together pilates, yoga, physiotherapy, recovery therapies, sound healing, and personalised nutrition under one roof. What sets it apart is its community-led approach—where movement, recovery, and mindful living coexist—creating an environment that supports not just physical strength, but long-term wellbeing, balance, and connection.

Thapar Contemporary presents The Engineering of Rubble, a group exhibition showcasing 18 works by 11 contemporary European artists, curated by Jasone Miranda-Bilbao and Vaibhav Raj Shah. The exhibition explores fragmentation, imperfection and endurance as active forces in artistic practice, examining how meaning can emerge from what is broken, provisional or unresolved. Featuring artists including Ali Glover, Ana Genovés, Charo Garaigorta, Damien Meade and others, the show embraces rupture rather than resolving it. The works allow disorder to remain fluid, with meaning unfolding through pauses, fractures and evolving forms rather than fixed conclusions.

Building on the success of its global mixology showcase, The St. Regis Mumbai will host the sixth edition of SALUD on 20 February 2026. The international bar takeover series celebrates world-class cocktail culture through immersive, high-energy experiences, bringing acclaimed bars and bartenders from around the world to Mumbai. For its latest edition, Laura Prabowo and Agung Prabowo of Hong Kong’s sustainability-focused Penicillin Bar—ranked No. 27 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025—will take over Sahib Room & Kipling Bar. The showcase highlights their collaborative approach to innovation and sustainability, offering guests a distinctive cocktail experience rooted in forward-thinking mixology.

Akansha Bakshi and Krunal Pardiwala celebrated their wedding in Cairo with a historic milestone as the first-ever Indian sangeet against the iconic Pyramids of Giza. The three-day celebration took place at The St. Regis New Capital in Cairo; which was planned by Yolo Entertainment & Weddings, marked the hotel’s first Indian wedding and positioning the event as a landmark moment on the global wedding map.

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ACROSS THE WORLD

CaratLane – A TATA Product made its first international runway debut at New York Fashion Week at Chelsea Piers, marking a major global milestone for the omni-channel jewellery brand. The showcase placed CaratLane on a prominent fine jewellery platform, underscoring its growing global ambitions and its ability to blend Indian craftsmanship with contemporary design, alongside its expanding retail presence in New Jersey. The presentation featured eight standout looks from collections including Polki, Sol, Sandook, Eternity, Butterfly and Peepal, all crafted with natural diamonds.

Tira expands its K-beauty portfolio with the launch of globally viral skincare brand Medicube. Known for its science-backed, clinically driven formulations and cult following, Medicube’s debut reinforces Tira’s focus on bringing high-efficacy, globally trending beauty brands to Indian consumers. A leading name in the K-beauty space with a No.1 market share in high-performance dermo-cosmetic skincare across key Asian markets, Medicube is recognised for combining dermatological research with advanced ingredient technologies to deliver visible results across concerns such as elasticity, pore refinement, collagen production and barrier repair.

Gap has reunited with Harlem’s Fashion Row for a new denim-focused collaboration launching on February 13. The 20-piece collection features five designers of color—Daveed Baptiste, LaTouché, Igdaliah Pickering, Waina Chancy and Nicole Benefield—each reinterpreting Gap’s iconic denim through statement silhouettes and archive-inspired essentials that reflect their individual design perspectives. Celebrating denim as a timeless canvas for self-expression, the collection aligns with Gap’s commitment to creativity, inclusion and human connection.

Global styling brand got2b has officially launched in India, introducing its bold, rule-breaking approach to a new generation of consumers. Born in Germany and inspired by urban counter-culture, the brand champions hair as a form of self-expression, encouraging creativity and individuality. Known for its high-performance styling essentials, got2b blends edgy attitude with reliable results designed to suit diverse hair types and climates. In India, it positions itself as a statement brand for Gen Z and young creatives who treat hair as their ultimate canvas.

Denman Professional, the globally trusted luxury hair styling brand, has officially entered the Indian market in partnership with SSIZ International, a leading distributor of professional grooming brands. Known for its performance-led design and craftsmanship, the brand's offerings of  detanglers, styling brushes, shower brushes and more are all created to deliver control, comfort and consistent results.
 

Yves Saint Laurent Beauty has introduced LOOKS SUR MESURE, a couture-inspired collection of five signature makeup looks celebrating individuality, modern glamour and bold self-expression. While rooted in the brand’s Parisian heritage, the collection is thoughtfully adapted for Indian skin tones and cultural nuances, translating its iconic aesthetic into aspirational yet relevant shades and textures. Designed with precision and luxury, the edit offers versatile looks that transition seamlessly from day to night — from luminous, sculpted complexions and refined nude palettes to dramatic smoky eyes and statement couture lips, all reflecting YSL Beauty’s edgy, contemporary identity.

London-based luxury jewellery brand Anayah marked a key milestone in its international expansion with an invitation-only collection launch in partnership with Harvey Nichols Doha. The debut was celebrated with a private in-store event and VIP dinner for select clients and regional tastemakers, underscoring the brand’s growing presence in the Middle East luxury market. Founded by designer Nilofar Jaques, Anayah is known for its bold, statement jewellery and has gained global recognition, with its pieces worn by figures including Georgina Rodriguez and Taylor Swift, and a strong following across the UK, USA and GCC.

ACROSS THE DIGITAL SPHERE

Samantha Ruth Prabhu has launched Mile Collective, a new-age activewear and lifestyle brand for Indian women, as co-founder alongside Harshita Motaparthi and Pravishta Nadella. The brand brings together Samantha’s advocacy for wellness and mindful living with a purpose-led vision to create clothing tailored to Indian bodies, climates and everyday movement. Her involvement extends beyond endorsement, with a hands-on role in shaping the brand’s philosophy, storytelling and product direction. Mile Collective aims to connect with a new generation of Indian women through community-driven narratives, performance-focused yet accessible design, and an emphasis on comfort, intention and modern living.

Moving beyond its established identity, D'YAVOL X now steps into sunglasses as a natural extension of personal style, where each frame adds confidence, character and polish to everyday dressing. Designed to complement everything from relaxed denim to tailored separates and occasion wear, the debut collection positions eyewear as more than just sun protection. Handcrafted in Japan using precision-milled titanium, premium acetate and ZEISS lenses, the new range blends elevated craftsmanship with contemporary attitude, signalling a confident evolution for the brand.

indē wild, the Ayurvedistry™-led beauty brand founded by Diipa Büller-Khosla, has expanded its haircare portfolio with the launch of Hair & Body Fragrance Mists, Surya and Chandra. Designed to refresh and scent both hair and skin throughout the day, the duo introduces fragrance as an effortless, everyday ritual. Drawing inspiration from India’s rich legacy in global perfumery, the mists were created in collaboration with master perfumer Jérôme Epinette, known for his clean, modern compositions and luminous floral blends.

Bravee by House of Beauty introduces itself as a women's support solutions label launched under the wider House of Beauty India portfolio, aimed at empowering women with comfortable, confidence-boosting undergarments and accessories. Recently, the brand also partnered with advocate and influencer Simran Balar Jain as brand ambassador to highlight body positivity and real-world comfort solutions, using authentic storytelling to connect with young women and reinforce its mission of comfort and inclusivity.

In partnership with Ms Radhikaraje Scindia and Mr. Amrish Desai, INAARA enters the skincare space with a refreshingly clear philosophy: skincare should transcend borders, routines, and unnecessary complexity. Built on the idea of efficacy without excess, the brand brings together globally sourced ingredients and advanced scientific actives to create purposeful formulations that deliver visible results without overwhelming the user. Drawing inspiration from diverse landscapes—from hydrangea rooted in the richness of Jeju Island and antioxidant-rich lingonberry from Scandinavia to precision-driven peptide complexes and stabilised vitamin C—INAARA thoughtfully balances nature and lab innovation. Designed to simplify rather than complicate daily rituals, each product reflects a modern, intelligent approach to skincare that prioritises performance, intention, and ease. 

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