In 2014, Dhruv Kapoor established his eponymous fashion label, which reflects his diverse visual experiences and unique preferences. At the heart of the brand is a dedication to empowerment and feminism, seamlessly woven into its essence. The designer follows a curious and robust creative process, often challenging himself by taking on things he dislikes and transforming them into objects of admiration.

Drawing inspiration from the rich abundance of India, Kapoor combines it with his minimalist sensibilities and educational background. His firm belief in fashion as a form of self-expression and a vehicle for positive dialogue on equality drives the brand's mission. Through their bold and thought-provoking designs, the label aims to empower wearers, making them feel as though their clothes serve as a form of armor.

Collaborating closely with skilled artisans, Kapoor imparts new techniques, materials, and approaches to their craft. This synergy results in the globally acclaimed success of their handcrafted embroideries, which are among the brand's best-selling offerings. Today, Dhruv Kapoor's creations are retailed worldwide, reaching fashion enthusiasts in the USA, Europe, the Middle East, and Japan.

Headquarters: New Delhi, India
Founded: 2013
Founder: Dhruv Kapoor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dhruvkapoor/ (127K followers)
Website: https://www.dhruvkapoor.com/

NorBlack NorWhite is a clothing brand established by Amrit Kumar and Mriga Kapadiya, two powerful women of Indian descent from Toronto. The brand is more than just a clothing line; it is a lifestyle that is fueled by a community. NBNW is committed to preserving India's textile culture and supporting its artisan communities.

The founders have been working on the brand for a long time and use their unique voice, aesthetics, and community to create products for a global audience. In 2010, they moved to Bombay, India, to explore the country's craft and culture, blending traditional tie-and-dye techniques such as Bandhni and Ikat with unconventional fabrics and silhouettes. The brand's collections typically include worker jackets, track sets, T-shirts with oversized fits, flowy textiles, and prints.

The brand has collaborated with several well-known brands like FILA India, Bephie's Beauty Supply, Budweiser India, Adidas, Air Canada, Melody Ehsani and Footlocker, and Major Lazer "Lean On" music video styling. One of their most iconic products is the "Colonialism was a Start-Up" tee, which was created in collaboration with artist Somnath Bhatt.

The brand's products are made-to-order, and the proceeds go directly to the people making them, demonstrating their commitment to reducing waste. The NorBlack NorWhite products are exclusively available on their website.

Headquarters: New Delhi, India
Founded: 2010
Founders: Mriga Kapadiya and Amrit Kumar
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/norblacknorwhite/ (109K followers)
Website: https://norblacknorwhite.com/

Bodice is a unique clothing label from India that takes inspiration from a diverse range of textiles and history to create essential pieces with a modern and contemporary twist. The founder, Ruchika Sachdeva, was driven by a desire to create high-quality, long-lasting clothing using traditional crafts and textiles from Indian culture.

The brand's focus on essential rather than abundant pieces is reflected in its name, which is derived from the primary block used in pattern-making. While the word "bodice" typically refers to the upper part of a dress, the brand draws upon the concept of "going back to one's roots" and letting "form follow function" to create its unique identity.

Bodice's love for traditional crafts is evident in every piece, which is meticulously crafted to ensure quality and longevity. The brand's approach to design is both contemporary and timeless, with a focus on creating pieces that can be worn for years to come.

Bodice's commitment to sustainability is another defining characteristic of the brand. The label uses eco-friendly materials, such as organic cotton and vegetable dyes, and works with local artisans to support traditional crafts and ensure fair wages.

Bodice's unique aesthetic and commitment to sustainability have earned it a place in the global fashion industry, with the brand receiving recognition from prestigious institutions such as the International Woolmark Prize and the LVMH Prize. With its focus on quality, sustainability, and traditional crafts, Bodice is a brand that is sure to continue making waves in the fashion world.

Headquarters: New Delhi, India
Founded: 2011
Founder: Ruchika Sachdeva
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodicebodice/ (81.7K followers)
Website: https://www.bodice.co.in/

In 2012, Pranav Misra and Shyma Shetty, a design duo, embarked on a mission to incorporate challenging themes into their clothing lines, serve as allies to various communities, prioritize craftsmanship and its impact, and narrate compelling stories. Over the course of nine years, their brand, HUEMN, has successfully achieved these objectives.

Functioning as a cultural provocateur, HUEMN aims to honor craftsmanship, artisans, and viewers alike while creating products that reflect the contemporary political, social, and cultural landscape. The brand's origins are deeply rooted in organic beginnings. Its name, HUEMN, cleverly combines "hue" for color and "human" in spirit, symbolizing a focus on community and diversity.

The founders crossed paths while studying design in India, nurturing a shared vision of establishing a label that offers exciting, affordable, and fearless ready-to-wear clothing. Benefiting from their contemporary understanding of fashion and the abundance of skilled artisans in India, they proudly debuted their first line at India Fashion Week in 2012.

From trailblazing by pairing sneakers with the traditional Indian sari on the runway to engaging in conversations about body positivity through their collections, HUEMN has consistently been at the forefront of incorporating meaningful elements that resonate with the millennial generation.

Headquarters: New Delhi, India
Founded: 2012
Founders: Pranav Misra and Shyma Shetty
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_huemn/ (81.5K followers)
Website: https://www.huemn.in/

KGL, short for Kanika Goyal Label, is a fashion brand founded by Kanika Goyal in 2014, offering menswear, womenswear, and accessories. The label is dedicated to creating intellectually designed, neo-luxury pieces infused with a chic and sophisticated flair.

Embracing an unconventional perspective, the brand seeks to challenge the traditional notions of tailoring, aiming to deconstruct rigid perceptions in the process. Drawing inspiration from architecture, the brand skillfully plays with intersecting shapes and the interplay of light and shadow, resulting in a modernist approach to color-blocking.

Kanika Goyal's fashion journey began with a graduate degree in fashion design from India's prestigious National Institute of Fashion Technology in New Delhi. Subsequently, she honed her craft through internships with esteemed fashion houses like Marchesa and Prada, and furthered her education at Parsons New York.

Her formal training and innate curiosity have transformed her into a global couturier, driven by a passion for quality and meticulous attention to detail. KGL embodies all her influences and design principles. The collections are exuberant, expertly tailored, and often daring, catering to today's audience that embraces a gender-fluid, ready-to-wear aesthetic.

Headquarters: New Delhi, India
Founded: 2014
Founder: Kanika Goyal
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kanikagoyallabel/ (56.9K followers)
Website: https://www.kglabel.com/

ALMOST GODS is an independent fashion brand based in New Delhi that is centered around art and transforming everyday concepts into desirable items. Founded by Dhruv Khurana in 2018, the brand's product ideology aims to establish "Indian Futurity" by broadening the conversation around what a clothing brand from India can create.

The brand's name, ALMOST GODS, is inspired by the postmodernist ideology of leveling the playing field and breaking down barriers. Khurana, who is of Indian descent, believes that he can influence the global zeitgeist the way culture shapers of color have done before him. The brand's approach to design is centered around upcycling materials and giving new life to used fabrics. For example, they have stripped jacquard fabrics from old couches to create jackets and sourced used Indian fabrics to upcycle into shirts.

ALMOST GODS has gained notoriety for its red, oversized drape hoodie, but the brand's collection includes a diverse range of products, including outerwear, T-shirts, shirts, pouches, hats, and even shoe laces. The brand's story-telling and product design are all centered around art, with a goal of transcending commodities into items of desire. ALMOST GODS aims to challenge traditional notions of what a clothing brand from India can create and establish a new standard for "Indian Futurity" in fashion.

Headquarters: New Delhi, India
Founded: 2018
Founder: Dhruv Khurana
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostgods/ (30.7K followers)
Website: https://almostgods.com/

PRXKHXR is a clothing label based in New Delhi that specializes in textiles and prints, particularly in the creation of unique shirts that are gaining attention worldwide. The brand was founded by Prakhar Chauhan, who started designing shirts while still in design school. One of his print collections for a textile design class was turned into a drop of shirts, which gained popularity after one of his classmates bought a shirt from the collection and shared it on social media. This unexpected success led Prakhar to start designing and developing his prints from scratch.

In 2020, during the lockdown, PRXKHXR became the first-ever Indian brand to collaborate with The Hundreds, a popular streetwear brand, after a chance Instagram conversation with Bobby Kim. The collaboration featured a print created by Prakhar that depicted a fierce battle between a peacock and a tiger, with a striking contrast between the serenity of the scene and the violence depicted. The print was brought to life on T-shirts, shirts, shorts, and an anorak, all of which became must-haves in anyone's wardrobe.

While many creatives in the streetwear scene use T-shirts to express themselves, PRXKHXR's go-to medium has been the camp collar shirt. The brand's unique approach to prints and textiles has made its shirts some of the most exciting and sought-after pieces in the global fashion scene. With a focus on quality and creativity, PRXKHXR is a brand to watch.

Headquarters: New Delhi, India
Founded: 2015
Founder: Prakhar Chauhan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prxkhxr/ (14.6K followers)
Website: https://prxkhxr.com/

Garuda SS is a fashion label founded by Suhail Sahrawat, a self-taught designer. The brand's name is inspired by the mythical warrior bird from the Indian sub-continent and the army regiment where Sahrawat's father served. Garuda SS was established in New Zealand in 2015 and has since gained success in Panchkula, a town in India located about 250 km from Delhi.

The brand is unique in India, as it is the country's only techwear label. Garuda SS views clothing as more than just a form of expression, but as a tool that interacts with the wearer and their environment. The label's focus is on creating high-quality engineered garments that incorporate futuristic textiles and eco-friendly materials. One of the brand's standout pieces is the "Workpant V2.1," an updated version of a double-knee carpenter pant that incorporates cutting-edge features.

Garuda SS draws inspiration from respected fashion brands such as ACRONYM, Aitor Throup, and Carhartt, which is reflected in their quality and clever designs. The label's commitment to creating functional and sustainable clothing sets it apart from other Indian fashion brands and has helped it gain a following among those who value both style and substance.

Headquarters: Panchkula, India
Founded: 2015
Founder: Suhail Sahrawat
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garuda_ss/ (10.3K followers)
Website: https://garuda-ss.com/

BISKIT is a unique and inclusive fashion label that offers thought-provoking products crafted from low-maintenance fabrics. The brand was founded by artistic siblings, Shruti and Harsha Biswajit, who view clothing as a form of creative expression. Originally established in Brooklyn, BISKIT now calls Madras, India, its home, seamlessly blending a Brooklyn vibe with its Indian heritage.

At its core, BISKIT envisions a design studio that intersects fashion, art, design, and collaboration. By recognizing the traditional gender distinctions in the clothing industry, BISKIT seeks to challenge this binary notion through their unisex pieces.

The brand prioritizes comfort, functionality, and innovative design, allowing individuals to focus on what truly matters. Through dynamic collaborations that span diverse creative disciplines such as product drops, installations, music, and photography, BISKIT embraces the ancient Indian philosophy of sharing.

They encourage not only the idea of consuming less and wearing clothes for a long time but also sharing their products with friends and family, embodying the notion that with a BISKIT product, sharing becomes a viable option.

Headquarters: Madras, India
Founded: 2017
Founders: Shruti and Harsha Biswajit
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spacebiskit/ (9635 followers)
Website: https://spacebiskit.com/

NoughtOne is a youthful and cutting-edge fashion label hailing from India, fusing streetwear and tailored elements seamlessly. Fearlessly experimenting with unconventional details, this brand, founded by Abhishek Paatni, showcases a range of men's ready-to-wear clothing that is both practical and contemporary, exuding an urban vibe. Paatni's journey in the fashion world began with an Indian ready-to-wear label after he completed his Master's in Business Administration.

This experience sparked the idea of creating a brand that blends unbridled self-expression with elements of mainstream fashion. Capturing his fascination with incorporating numbers into clothing branding, he launched NoughtOne, symbolizing 01 in a simple and impactful manner.

The collection by NoughtOne features key silhouettes adorned with modern hardware, military influences, and a vibrant color palette. The brand takes traditional Indian garments like the Kurta, Bandhgala, and Nehru Jacket and ingeniously deconstructs them, transforming them into modern, functional silhouettes. It brings an exhilarating amalgamation of activewear and streetwear, resulting in a unique and exciting fashion experience.

NoughtOne's designs effortlessly blend traditional Indian wear with contemporary urban aesthetics, catering to the fashion-forward and adventurous individuals who seek to make a bold style statement. With its fusion of street-smart sensibilities and tailored sophistication, NoughtOne emerges as a breath of fresh air in the realm of fashion, inspiring a new wave of eclectic sartorial expression.

Headquarters: Mumbai, India
Founded: 2013
Founder: Abhishek Paatni
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noughtone01/ (8791 followers)
Website: https://www.noughtone.in/

Moral Science, a fashion brand with a rich couture heritage and skilled technique, weaves a captivating love story across the entire gender spectrum. As the name suggests, the label delves into the concept of morality and questions whether there is a science behind it. Who gets to decide what is moral or immoral? These profound questions take the founder, Isha Ahluwalia, back to her school days when she attended the "Moral Science" class, which often sparked intriguing interpretations.

At the core of Moral Science's ethos lies the exploration and subversion of conventional notions of morality. The brand endeavors to showcase that everything can be perceived in diverse and valid ways, reflecting a belief in inclusivity and open-mindedness. The label emerged in 2020, driven by the need to cater to the emerging Indian market's growing demand for functional and playful apparel and accessories, particularly in the realm of streetwear.

Moral Science's clothing and accessories exude an aura of allure, blending androgyny with functionality. A subtle touch of irreverence adds character to their creations, while at the same time, the brand remains deeply rooted in the traditional crafts of the region. This combination of contemporary sensibility and artisanal heritage gives the label a distinctive edge, capturing the essence of modern India's dynamic fashion landscape.

With a commitment to pushing boundaries and celebrating diversity, Moral Science endeavors to be a trailblazer in the realm of fashion, embracing individuality and self-expression across all genders. Each piece crafted by the brand is an artistic statement, narrating a story that challenges norms and celebrates the multifaceted nature of human identity. From androgynous ensembles to functional yet fashionable accessories, Moral Science redefines style, making it inclusive, audacious, and resolutely vibrant.

Headquarters: New Delhi, India
Founded: 2018
Founder: Isha Ahluwalia
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moral_science/ (5269 followers)
Website: https://www.moralscience.in/