Manish Malhotra brings sequined abayas and pantsuits to Dubai Fashion Week

Manish Malhotra at Dubai Style Week’s finale showcase
| Picture Credit score: Particular Association

A parade of sequins, pearls and brocades on the runway; the likes of filmmaker Karan Johar, businessman Adar Poonawalla, and actor Urmila Matondkar on the entrance row; and supermodels Valery Kaufman and Adriana Lima opening and shutting the present respectively — one would suppose this was simply enterprise as regular for certainly one of India’s most famous trend designers, Manish Malhotra. However there was a twist after all. The mise en scène for Manish’s newest runway outing was not at a venue in Mumbai, the place his label is headquartered. As a substitute, he determined to go worldwide, bagging the spot of the finale showcase at Dubai Style Week, the first-ever Indian designer to take action.

An outfit designed by Manish Malhotra
| Picture Credit score:
Particular Association

“Dubai has at all times been a metropolis that appreciates grandeur, craftsmanship and timeless fashion,” says Manish, including that 16-18% of his enterprise comes from the Center East. The designer, who acquired an funding from Reliance Manufacturers for a 40% stake in his enterprise in 2021, opened his flagship retailer in Dubai a yr in the past. However he has had a sway over the NRIs and locals — together with members of the royal households of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE — since lengthy earlier than that.

A creation by Manish Malhotra
| Picture Credit score:
Particular Association

A big a part of this may be attributed to the pivotal function he has performed in constructing the material of Indian cinema. Manish has, in spite of everything, been the costume designer and stylist for cult hits like Rangeela (1995), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) amongst many others in his three many years within the trade. After which there’s his military of A-list celeb patrons — suppose everybody from the late Sridevi, Rekha, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Alia Bhatt to Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian. “I’ve designed for a few of the most inspiring ladies throughout generations, and expanded the model into areas past trend, like excessive jewelry and movie manufacturing,” says the designer who additionally celebrates 20 years of his eponymous model and 35 years in cinema in 2025.

An outfit from World Assortment: Dubai
| Picture Credit score:
Particular Association

Manish feels that whereas trend and cinema gave him the canvas to inform tales, it additionally imbued in him a zest to embrace new concepts and cultures whereas staying rooted within the essence of his model’s DNA. And his ‘World Assortment: Dubai’ was a working example. The designer who is thought for the glamour and sensuality of his event put on, spent a yr researching how this may be tailored for the Center Jap market and their modest trend preferences.

The road contains abayas, pantsuits, kaftans, robes and jackets
| Picture Credit score:
Particular Association

“Not like in India, the place conventional put on usually reveals off the midriff, right here there’s a clear inclination in the direction of high-waisted ensembles, structured layers and flowing silhouettes.” So, Manish rethought his signature sequins and pearls, chikankari parts from his Mijwan collections and handwoven brocades right into a line of abayas, pantsuits, kaftans, robes and jackets. “Indian craftsmanship is on the coronary heart of all the pieces I do, and I needed to offer {that a} extra up to date expression with this assortment,” he explains.

Outfits from the brand new vary
| Picture Credit score:
Particular Association

Manish additionally believes there is no such thing as a time like the current for India’s craft and textile legacy to get pleasure from its due within the world highlight. “Shoppers world wide are on the lookout for authenticity. They need to know the story behind what they put on. They need to join with the artistry, the strategies, and the palms that create it. And that’s the place India has such a powerful edge. It’s not nearly trend, it’s about educating by means of craft and displaying the world what makes our manufacturers so particular.”