Tarun Tahiliani, the master Indian fashion designer, knows his roots, but he is not bound by them. They are points of departure for him. The jama, the bandi, the lungi, the dhoti are not things of the past, they are blueprints for reinvention for his latest OTT collection, a luxury womenswear pret brand.
At the 25th year of Lakmé Fashion Week 2025 in partnership with FDCI, Tahiliani's Season 2 of OTT has re-sculpted the elements that "are inherently ours (Indian) and reworked them into something that fit seamlessly into the modern wardrobe".
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Unveiling his new collection in partnership with the Singh Twins, Tahiliani hasn't just laced nostalgia of heritage with modern wardrobe. He has picked pieces of our culture and experience that combine craft with ease, India with the world, heritage with a forward-thinking aesthetic. For him, OTT carries this DNA.
Image of model striding down the runway. Power dressing with contemporary ease.FDCI
The show opened with models integrating selections from archival pieces and the current collection to present the versatility of the collection on stage as well as re-styling pieces in real-time to demonstrate how garments could be layered, draped, and worn in multiple ways.
From sharp silhouettes, effortless drapes, and deliberate details, Tahiliani isn't looking back, he is weaving Indian fashion forward. The new Summer 2025 collection remains genuine to OTT's signature Indian modern aesthetic, offering versatile modular separates that reimagine Indian tradition with a contemporary twist.
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In an exclusive interview with Esquire, Tarun Tahiliani unravelled the story of OTT Season 2—a collection that combines Chikankari and Rabari embroidery that speaks about the everyday luxury.
On approach to luxe prêt label and heritage couture
"With couture, the approach is much more personal, often bespoke—it’s about telling a grand story, a celebration of craft at its most opulent. OTT, on the other hand, is about making that craft part of everyday life. The focus here is on ease, versatility, and creating pieces that can be lived in, layered, mixed, and matched over seasons. The detailing remains, but the attitude is effortless."
On Chikankari and Rabari as the heart of the collection
"Chikankari and Rabari embroidery are two of the most exquisite textile crafts we have. Chikankari has a delicacy, a quiet sophistication, while Rabari has boldness, movement, and strength. I love the juxtaposition of these two—one soft and lyrical, the other powerful and graphic. It’s the perfect balance of contrast and harmony."
Highlighting texture, movement, the model's styling exudes contemporary urban womenFDCI
On His Ideal OTT Multifaceted Urban Woman
"She is self-assured. She has an effortless sense of style. She understands tradition but wears it with a modern lens. She’s someone who is constantly evolving, yet never losing her essence."
On His Favourite Piece From The Collection
"There isn’t just one piece, because the beauty of this collection lies in how each garment builds on the next. But if I had to pick, it would be the draped jackets layered over structured separates—the kind of pieces that blend craft with ease, India with the world, heritage with a forward-thinking aesthetic. It’s what OTT is all about."
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On Working With Singh Twins’ Again
"There’s nothing as exuberant as the Singh Twins when it comes to colour and vibrancy. The way they’ve reinterpreted the miniature school of painting is a fantastic evolution—there’s a certain defiance in their work, a refusal to conform to art-school expectations, which I love.
But more than that, their paintings capture this tension between heritage and modernity, between traditional values and a rapidly globalising world. And that’s what India Modern is about—not just preserving the past but allowing it to evolve, to find new meaning in contemporary expression."
A model walking down the runway in OTT Season 2 collection that redefines modern urban women's wardrobe.FDCI
A model featuring draped silhouette, with a deep V-neckline, cinched at the waist with a delicate belt.FDCI
On First Ever Lakmé Fashion
"Of course, I remember it! The first show is always special. But more than that, I remember the moments in between—the energy backstage, the madness of getting everything together, the last-minute fixes, the people who’ve been part of this journey. Every show has had its own memories, but the constant has been the passion and the excitement of creating something new."
On Technology and Vision Of OTT In Next 25 Years
"We envision OTT pieces becoming timeless staples in every woman's wardrobe—cherished essentials that she can continuously build upon with new additions from the brand, each resonating with her evolving style.
Over the years, these pieces will transform with her, finding fresh interpretations and new ways to be worn, becoming an extension of her self-expression through different phases of life.
Ultimately, we hope these garments carry meaning beyond a single generation, allowing her children to discover their own connection to them—mixing, matching, and reimagining them in a way that reflects their own unique voice."
