The opening of Anita Dongre’s Beverly Hills store marks a turning point in Indian luxury, and it’s part of a broader moment: Indian couturiers are truly claiming their global stage.
When Anita Dongre opened her new flagship in Beverly Hills, she didn’t just plant an Indian flag in one of the world’s most luxurious retail landscapes, she made history. This move signals more than just expansion. It’s a statement: Indian couture is no longer niche. It belongs on the global map, and designers like Dongre are leading the way.
Anita Dongre’s Journey & Global Vision
Anita Dongre’s story is deeply rooted in craft, sustainability, and social purpose. Since launching her label in 1995 with two sewing machines and a small loan, she has built one of India’s most respected fashion houses. Over the years, she has remained committed to preserving traditional Indian techniques, think hand-embroidered zardozi, block printing, and hand-woven textiles, while also innovating in sustainable design.
Her brands include not only her signature couture line but also ready-to-wear, vegan accessories, and jewelry. Dongre’s social mission is equally ambitious: she empowers rural artisans, especially women, offering them sustainable livelihoods while ensuring their craftsmanship is respected and modernized.
When she announced her Beverly Hills store – her 13th globally – she emphasized that this wasn’t just about fashion retail, but about bringing the stories of these artisans to a high-profile global audience. Her new flagship, located at Gardenhouse Beverly Hills, is not a sterile store: it’s designed by MAD Architects to feel like a tranquil, craft-filled sanctuary. The interior features lush green facades, pichhwai murals hand-painted by Rajasthani artisans, embroidered upholstery, and a striking elephant installation made from invasive lantana weeds – a nod to environmental awareness.
Dongre has emphasized that each corner of the store is “craft”, from furnishings to custom carpets, the space is meant to be a meditation on heritage and conscious luxury. Her commitment to sustainability shines through in the materials she uses, including eco-fabrics like Tencel and organic cotton, which contributed to her Butterfly Mark certification.
The launch event in Beverly Hills was glamorous yet rooted: hosted by prominent South Asian and Hollywood figures including Mindy Kaling and Poorna Jagannathan, the evening brought together the worlds of cinema, design, and craftsmanship.
The Global Rise of Indian Couture
Dongre’s Beverly Hills debut is part of a larger wave: Indian designers are no longer just local voices, they are global couture players.
Sabyasachi Mukherjee is perhaps the most well-known name in this movement. His 5,800-square-foot flagship in New York’s West Village, opened in an iconic Romanesque Revival building, offers a full sensory experience of his brand: antiques, tapestries, and richly textured spaces that feel like a museum of Indian heritage. Sabyasachi’s philosophy has always been to blend traditional Indian craftsmanship with deep storytelling, and his New York store allows an international audience to step into that world.
Beyond fashion, Sabyasachi has expanded into high jewelry, including a luxe collection at Bergdorf Goodman in New York, and Harrods in London. His store residency there presents jewelry, ready-to-wear, and accessories, all in a space designed to reflect his maximalist, heritage-rich aesthetic.
Rahul Mishra is another pioneer in global couture. Based in Delhi, he made history as the first Indian designer to be invited to Paris Haute Couture Week. He is celebrated not only for his technical brilliance – his use of hand embroidery, three-dimensional motifs, and traditional artisan techniques – but also for his commitment to slow fashion and sustainability. His work isn’t just high glamour; it’s deeply rooted in community and craft, often involving collaboration with artisans back home.
Gaurav Gupta brings a completely different but equally compelling voice. Known for his sculptural, futuristic designs, Gupta blends Indian craftsmanship with bold, avant-garde silhouettes. His work has been worn by international stars: Shakira wore a beautiful sculpted silk custom couture gown on her world tour, Cardi B presented an award at 2023 Grammy’s wearing a stunning blue couture piece, Beyonce wore a neon green sari-inspired gown during the iconic Renaissance tour, and Aishwarya Rai Bachan wearing the Venus Sculpture gown at the 75th annual Cannes Film Festival – underscoring how Indian couture is being embraced on global stages.
Together, these designers represent a new chapter for Indian fashion: one where tradition and modernity isn’t a compromise, but a creative dialogue. Their international visibility, through flagships, runway shows, and high-profile clients, shows that Indian couture is being recognized not as “ethnic wear,” but as luxury fashion with a universal language.
Anita Dongre’s Beverly Hills flagship is much more than a milestone, it is a symbol of how Indian craftsmanship and design have matured into a globally relevant force. But she is not alone. Designers like Sabyasachi, Rahul Mishra, and Gaurav Gupta are each carving their own paths, weaving Indian heritage into the fabric of international couture.
At its heart, this is not just fashion. It is a story of identity, craft, and ambition – one that connects artisans in small villages to clients in the world’s most glamorous markets. Indian couture has crossed oceans. And in places like Beverly Hills or New York, its legacy is being written in real time.
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