Shantnu and Nikhil Mehra Two brothers came together in 2000 to establish an Indian couture label. The Delhi-based designers following an anti-trend path, and can be best described as contemporary disruptors with a strong Indian sensibility. Shantanu earned his MBA from the University of Toledo, Ohio, U.S. This is when he understood the potential of the upcoming Indian fashion industry and also realized the trappings of the business. Nikhil, the other Mehra brother, was always the creative one amongst the two. He enrolled for an advanced course at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in L.A, California where he gained a lot of exposure in the world of fashion. He became the sole Indian designer to have had a show in Universal Studio, Hollywood. Shantanu understood the market requirements and Nikhil was creative. In 2000, Shantanu and Nikhil decided to combine their strengths to create a formidable duo that would be equipped with creativity as well as marketing skills. They wanted to create a style that would combine vintage with the contemporary in order to create “Stay persistent in the pursuit of your goals, never lose sight of your dreams.” something sophisticated and essentially urban. Completing two decades in the Indian couture ambit, Shantanu & Nikhil is not just about selling outfits but the ensembles communicate a story to the wearer, making them relive the experience each time they adorn their piece of couture. The duo said their work life balance mantra is thus, “After showcasing an elaborate collection, the team, ourselves and the designers do take some time off. We sit together and hunt for yet another inspiration and this downtime is necessary to let our creative minds run freely! We believe in giving it our all when it comes to work and sitting back and letting our patrons engage with our designs.” Fashion Designers, Founders Shantnu & Nikhil, S&N by Shantnu Nikhil Shubhika Sharma Founder & CEO, Papa Don’t Preach Shubhika Sharma’s early interest in fashion inspired her to establish Papa Don’t Preach at the age of 24. The luxury fashion house is a proudly sustainable, vegan, PETA certified brand that spans bridal couture, luxury pret and western couture. Her fresh spin on the playful side of Indian silhouettes has gained global recognition for dismantling rigid design guidelines whilst shinning a light on contours and contrasting elements. Her brand has made its mark globally with an extensive presence across eight countries, and has been worn by both Indian and International celebrities. She has been instrumental in changing the Indian fashion landscape not only through her designs, but by running a brand that is size and gender inclusive, and practices fair working conditions for all artisans. During the first lockdown in India, Shubhika partnered with multiple designers to launch #CareForKarigars, a fundraiser for Indian artisans who were affected by the pandemic. As part of the initiative, Papa Don’t Preach raised INR 27L in the first month and 100% “It isn’t about what you have, it’s about what you do with what you have.” of it was given to the karigars and their families. She continued to champion that ideology at the prestigious India Conference at Harvard 2023 (in Boston, USA) for a panel discussion on ‘Vision 2047: India at 100 years of independence’ where she discussed her views on using fashion as a tool for soft power and the rarefied art of Indian craftsmanship. 52 | | 53
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