Robin Behl Takes On Antarctica In Custom Shivan & Narresh

There are places on this planet where the idea of style has no seat the table. Antarctica is one of them. The place doesn’t care who you are, where you come from, or what story you’re trying to tell. Instead, it strips everything down to survival. The climate is so rigid and the landscape so indifferent that it has a way of shrinking us to quiet and fragile.

So obviously in December 25, 2025, an Indian athlete ran 42 kilometres across Antarctic ice in custom-built Indian luxury gear.

Indian athlete Robin Behl has now become the fast Indian to complete the Antarctic Ice Marathon – a little short of 5 hours and 5 minutes – in temperatures dipping to -40 degrees Celsius. Draped in the Indian flag, wearing a bespoke kit created by Shivan & Narresh, it was a moment that quietly redrew the map of where Indian design and Indian ambition can and do exist.

“Enduring 42 kilometres on ice, with temperatures dropping to –40°C, harsh winds, deep snow, and near-whiteout visibility, demanded exceptional physical conditioning and overwhelming mental strength,” Behl says. “It’s 80 percent mental. Your thoughts can take you to a very dark, lonely place.”

That loneliness is a recurring theme when he talks about the run. Not fear exactly — more a kind of disorientation. “There were moments when I looked up and felt like I was on a different planet,” he says. “And then there were moments of pain, when the wind picked up and you’re just trying to stay in rhythm. This was my first marathon — and it happened on ice.”

Meanwhile, for Shivan & Narresh, the challenge wasn’t about making a statement piece, but also about building something that could endure the demands of Antarctica without surrendering the brand’s design identity. The label has always traded in the idea of glamorous escape, of modern luxury tied to travel and movement. But Antarctica doesn’t do glamour. It barely does hospitality.

“Antarctica isn’t a runway,” the designers admit. “It’s hostile and actively trying to kill you.”

The solution wasn’t to abandon fashion — but to redefine what it means in a place like this. “Our ethos has always been about celebrating glamorous holidays across lifestyles — from sun-drenched beaches to snowy ski slopes,” they say. “Bringing that spirit to Antarctica meant translating the same sense of style, playfulness, and personal expression into one of the world’s harshest environments.”

The foundation of the kit was Shivan & Narresh’s cold-climate three-layer system: a thermal base, insulating mid-layer, and protective outer shell. And this was reengineered specifically for Antarctic conditions.

As the designers explained carefully, the base layer sits close to the body, regulating temperature and wicking moisture so sweat doesn’t become a liability. The mid-layer provides insulation without bulk, allowing movement while maintaining warmth in temperatures ranging from –20 degrees Celsius to –40 degrees Celsius. The outer shell is windproof, built to withstand icy gusts of up to 40 km/h, effectively acting as a mobile barrier between the body and the environment.

Every detail was obsessively considered. Zips were placed exactly where airflow was needed. Stretch panels were positioned to support stride and flexibility. Seams engineered were for durability under constant friction and movement.

“Every seam, zipper, and stretch panel had to let me run, stride, and climb freely,” Behl said about the S&N kit. “If it’s not technically sound, it beats the purpose. And they hit it spot on.”

“I loved it immediately. I didn’t need a second or third opinion. It fit perfectly. It gave me warmth. It gave me freedom. And it looked amazing,” he admits.

He laughs, almost sheepish. “I even got an unofficial ‘best dressed in Antarctica’ award.”

What makes the collaboration remarkable isn’t just that the gear survived Antarctica — it’s that it carried a distinct visual language into a place that usually erases everything.

The kit featured Shivan & Narresh’s Légèrmash print, created exclusively for the run. Rooted in 90s pop culture and the brand’s archival Leger Leisure motif, the print is deconstructed and reassembled in a collage-like aesthetic. It’s bold, graphic, unapologetic.

“The inspiration came from movement, resilience, and bold expression,” the designers explain. “Originally, the print was an ode to a playful, hands-on design process from a pre-digital era. Reimagined for Antarctica, it created a striking visual identity against the icy landscape.”

Also, for Shivan & Narresh, working with an athlete, rather than a traditional muse, forced a recalibration.

“Functionality became non-negotiable,” the designers say. “Unlike a model, the garment couldn’t sacrifice performance for appearance. Watching Robin move through extreme conditions pushed us to rethink mobility, durability, and adaptability from the ground up.”

Behl’s own movement background or surfing, climbing, and martial arts shaped the silhouette. He didn’t want armour that restricted him. He wanted something that moved with him, something that felt like an extension of his body rather than an obstacle.

“I just needed something that gave me freedom and made me feel like myself,” he says. “They had it right there.”

There’s timing at play here that feels more intentional than coincidental. Shivan & Narresh completed 15 years as a brand in 2025 — a milestone that prompted reflection as much as celebration.

“Ski and Après Ski has been integral to our brand promise since we founded in 2010,” they say. “The launch of our latest ski collection, paired with Robin’s expedition to Antarctica, created a seamless synergy.”

Their five iconograms — Swim, Resort, Cruise, Safari, Ski — have always positioned the brand as travel-forward. Antarctica, in many ways, is the most extreme destination of all.

For Behl, it was more than just about running. “It was a beautiful moment to wave the Indian flag while crossing the finish line in my Shivan & Narresh outfit,” he says. “I couldn’t have been happier.”

He describes the entire experience as dreamlike — humbling rather than heroic. “Being out there shows you how small you are,” he says. “It taught me not just physically and mentally, but how to regulate my body, how to fuel, how to generate heat. It was strategic. Layered. It taught me layers of growth as a practitioner.”