#BazaarExclusive: Galeries Lafayette debuts in India. From Dhruv Kapoor to Bodice—these are the Indian designers bringing their craft and cool to it

Galeries Lafayette has landed in Mumbai, and for once, it would not be overkill to say: it’s a moment. The arrival of the iconic Parisian department store has recast Kala Ghoda’s Turner Morrison and Voltas House buildings into the best kind of interplay—one between heritage architecture and contemporary fashion from around the world. What’s most interesting, though, is that between all the couture names and global fashion houses lies a carefully curated ensemble of homegrown labels that together reflect where Indian fashion stands today: current, relevant, intelligent.

From Bodice’s architectural minimalism to Dhruv Kapoor and Almost Gods’ street-smart fits, and from Verandah, Rococo Sand, and Hemant & Nandita’s chic resortwear to Misho and Deepa Gurnani’s sculptural jewellery—these labels make the case that Indian design is forward-looking, fluent, and globally attuned.

“The curation brings together a selection of Indian designers who reflect the evolving narrative of contemporary Indian luxury—rooted in craftsmanship yet globally relevant,” says Valérie Miègeville, vice president, buying & merchandising at Galeries Lafayette. “Each label represents a unique facet of modern India: Verandah for its conscious luxury and sustainability; Chorus for its elevated ready-to-wear sensibility and refined craftsmanship and technique; Dhruv Kapoor and Almost Gods for their bold, youth-driven aesthetic; Bodice for its intelligent design language and architectural precision; Rococo Sand and Hemant & Nandita for their effortless resort wear and bohemian spirit; and Misho and Deepa Gurnani for redefining modern Indian jewellery on a global stage.”

No time like the present for Indian design

Galeries Lafayette’s arrival in India, through its partnership with the Aditya Birla Group, is as much a statement about culture and design as it is one about commerce. The writing is on the wall: India is no longer merely a consumer market for luxury, but a creator of it—a shift fashion insiders have seen coming for a while now. Inside the palatial buildings of the Galeries Lafayette, it’s refreshing to see that the homegrown section feels like a genuine attempt at engaging with contemporary Indian fashion as opposed to a token gesture. The curation of Indian designers does have some common threads, in any case.

Miègeville explains, “We looked for designers who capture the spirit of modern India—where heritage meets modern ease. Key sensibilities include conscious craftsmanship, fluid silhouettes, gender-inclusive design, and seasonless wearability. Globally, luxury is shifting toward authenticity and narrative-driven fashion, and Indian designers are uniquely positioned to lead that movement.”

Then there’s also their design maturity, of course—their clarity of vision, cohesive collection language, and the ability to deliver consistent craftsmanship, along with more practical aspects such as their production capabilities and retail standards of quality, storytelling, and brand positioning. What all of them seem to have in common, then, is that they perfectly encapsulate the spirit of luxury in modern India. “Globally, luxury is shifting towards authenticity and narrative-driven fashion, and Indian designers are uniquely positioned to lead that movement,” Miègeville adds.

This idea—of authenticity rendered at global standards of design—threads through Ruchika Sachdeva’s Bodice, a label that has defined Indian minimalism without succumbing to predictability. For the founder-designer, the collaboration is both natural and something she’s quite proud of. “Both Bodice and Galeries Lafayette value thoughtful design,” Sachdeva says. “Our work speaks to women who appreciate art, design, and craftsmanship that stand the test of time. This showcase allows us to present that sensibility in a space that celebrates individuality and global perspective.”

Bodice’s showcase, like several of the other Indian designers at Galeries Lafayette, includes some of their most intricately crafted pieces. “I am especially excited about the upcycled colour-block pieces we have created for this showcase,” she says. “Besides those, there are the pieces with pleating and our signature block-printed binding, which has been reimagined by applying the blocks directly onto the binding. Each binding is hand-block printed and meticulously finished, taking the idea of handcrafted detailing to another level. It is a chance to present Indian craftsmanship in a refined and contemporary way that feels both rooted and forward-looking.”

Sachdeva’s words mirror Miègeville’s vision for the store: an emphasis on “craft translated into culture”—where technique is a language of form.

The designers shaping India’s new fashion narrative

If Bodice represents pared-back modern Indian design, Dhruv Kapoor and Almost Gods bring forth its streetwise edge. Kapoor’s collections blur the lines between streetwear and couture, his sharply tailored silhouettes charged with a sense of rebellion. Almost Gods, meanwhile, treats mythology and futurism with equal reverence. Both labels are deeply attuned to what young people around the world want to wear, yet maintain an unmistakable Indian identity.

This same balance—between Indian soul and global sophistication—extends to the joyful, bohemian energy brought to Galleries Lafayette’s India offering by Hemant & Nandita and Rococo Sand, making them natural fits in the space. Both labels, while differing in construction and design, offer resortwear with the ability to feel the pulse of a generation that dresses for the journey as much as the destination.

For craftsmanship through and through, there is Chanakya’s new label Chorus, carrying forward the atelier’s deep respect for technique. Think: minimalism meets maximalism in Chorus’ RTW line and the Chorus Edit playing up heritage weaves through a contemporary lens.

For homegrown jewellery, the spotlight is on Misho and Deepa Gurnani, two brands that couldn’t be more different in form but are united by a sculptural, handcrafted sensibility. Misho’s clean lines and precise geometry have made it a global favourite, while Deepa Gurnani already has a global aesthetic with its base in New York City. The pieces, many of them exclusive to the launch, carry a sense of lightness and wonder. “We have worked on some fun, whimsical pieces that are exclusive to Galeries Lafayette,” says Deepa Lakhani, founder and designer of Deepa Gurnani. “We hope people look at our pieces and enjoy what India is capable of making on a global scale.”

Finally, Verandah, helmed by Anjali Patel Mehta, embodies the evolution of flowy silhouettes as conscious luxury. The brand, built on sustainability and storytelling, had a significant win when its pieces featured in Season 3 of The White Lotus, but closer to home, its design language found admirers much earlier. “It truly feels like a marquee moment for fashion in the country, one that represents the coming of age of fashion discovery and the growing desire to explore new designers and brands from across the world,” says Patel Mehta. For the opening, she debuts her Resort ’26 collection. “It celebrates the idea of vacation dressing all year round. I think that concept has evolved—it’s no longer just about resort wear for holidays but about effortless, transitional pieces you can wear in a tropical city like Bombay throughout the year. The collection reflects what Verandah stands for—pieces that move seamlessly from indoors to outdoors, day to night, and beach to city.”

Together, the eleven labels—Almost Gods, Bodice, Chorus RTW, Chorus Edit, Deepa Gurnani, Dhruv Kapoor, Hemant & Nandita, Misho, One of a Kind, Rococo Sand, and Verandah—form a narrative arc of modern Indian fashion. They speak to a new kind of sartorial confidence: one that doesn’t seek validation abroad but collaboration. Patel Mehta puts it best when she says, “I hope visitors take away the idea that ‘Made in India’ can truly be international—that Indian designers who are creating and retailing on a global stage have an equal voice at the table. We’re so excited to be showcasing our work in such an elevated and thoughtful way at Galeries Lafayette.”

For all its architectural glamour and retail ambition, Galeries Lafayette Mumbai’s most profound gesture then perhaps lies in giving Indian design a stage that feels global, not because it mimics Paris, but because it belongs right there with it.

 

Lead image: Galeries Lafayette Mumbai

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