Menswear Designers Who Are Changing The Game For Indian Men
With their passion for menswear, they also have something more in common- the Lakme Fashion runway as their launchpad
It’s easy to ignore menswear at fashion week. Or at least, it used to be. For years, the runways were dominated by lehengas, gowns, and bridal drama. Menswear, if it showed up at all, felt like an afterthought. A kurta here, a sherwani there, maybe a brooding male model in black.
But that script is finally changing now.
At Lakmé Fashion Week today, the menswear is anything but basic. It’s layered, experimental, sharply tailored, sometimes genderless, often political, and always pushing the conversation forward. Part of this evolution stems from a new wave of designers who first cut their teeth on the Lakmé runway and have since redefined what Indian menswear can be.
Yes, the bandhgalas and classic suits are still there, but they're no longer the whole story. Designers are moving beyond the narrow codes once reserved for men—muted tones, conventional cuts, and cautious styling towards something bolder, freer, and far more expressive.
Moreover, streetwear, oversized silhouettes, co-ord sets, bold prints That was niche a decade ago is now part of everyday wardrobes in both metros and tier-2 cities. And that's not where the fashion-forwardness stops. Even traditional attire has undergone a remix. Kurtas are paired with bomber jackets, bandhgalas are cut in minimal, modern silhouettes, and sneakers have replaced mojaris at weddings.
The lines between casual, formal, and festive are blurring and it’s exciting to watch, off and on the runway, too. So, if you’re still picturing basic beige kurtas when you hear “menswear,” it’s time to reset. These five designers, who all debuted at Lakmé, have helped reshape the narrative entirely.
These five designers who all made their debut at Lakmé have changed the game.
Rahul Mishra
Rahul Mishra made his debut at Lakmé Fashion Week in 2006 through the GenNext platform, a space known for spotlighting promising new voices in Indian fashion. Since then, he has quietly, consistently transformed the way we perceive Indian menswear.
His work is deeply rooted in Indian handloom and craft traditions, yet it feels global in its sensibility through soft tailoring, hand-embroidered jackets, layered silhouettes, and a delicate interplay of texture and fabric. Mishra doesn’t chase trends—he builds narratives.
Dhruv Kapoor
Dhruv Kapoor debuted at Lakmé Fashion Week in 2014 as part of GenNext, and even then, his menswear felt distinctly future-facing. Over the years, he has developed a design language that’s sleek however subversive where tailored jackets come with asymmetrical hems, oversized coats are cut with military precision, and familiar silhouettes get reimagined with new proportions.
His collections often merge luxury tailoring with elements of streetwear and utility. Kapoor’s menswear challenges the conventional definitions of masculinity in Indian fashion as there’s drama, softness, and androgyny folded into his precision. For the Indian man who wants to move beyond safe dressing, Kapoor’s designs offer a bold new vocabulary that is smart, conceptual, and global without losing cultural edge.
Ujjawal Dubey (Antar-Agni)
Ujjawal Dubey made his mark at Lakmé Fashion Week in 2014, and it was clear from the first collection that his label, Antar-Agni, wasn’t here to play by the rules. Built on the philosophy of “the light within,” Dubey’s designs are fluid, free-flowing, and deeply introspective. His aesthetic is rooted in anti-fit silhouettes and gender-fluid drapes, crafted from textured cottons, muls, and khadi.
Over time, Antar-Agni has redefined how Indian menswear interacts with shape and movement. Gone are the structured jackets and stiff kurtas in their place, we find relaxed co-ords, wrap tunics, and layering pieces that blur the line between masculine and feminine. By rejecting convention and embracing the natural flow of fabric and form, Dubey has helped carve space for androgyny and individuality in Indian menswear.
Kunal Rawal
Kunal Rawal entered the fashion conversation in 2006 as one of Lakmé Fashion Week’s youngest GenNext designers, and his influence on Indian menswear has only grown since. He was among the first to strip occasionwear of its excess and repackage it for a younger, more contemporary audience. His style marries Indian silhouettes with modern construction: bomber jackets styled over kurtas, tone-on-tone embroidery, asymmetric hems, and versatile separates that move effortlessly from sangeet to street.
Rawal’s genius lies in his understanding of how Indian men actually dress and how they want to dress. By building collections that are stylish but not intimidating, detailed but not overdone, he’s made formalwear feel fresh again.
Shivan & Narresh
While Shivan & Narresh are best known for bringing luxury swimwear to India, their debut at Lakmé Fashion Week in 2010 marked the beginning of a much broader vision. Their menswear line, which launched a few years later, has redefined what holiday dressing looks like for Indian men.
Bold prints, structured resortwear silhouettes, and eye-catching colour palettes form the core of their aesthetic. But what’s especially interesting is how they’ve taken these elements and applied them to skiwear, ready-to-wear, and even celebrationwear without ever losing that relaxed, sun-drenched energy. Their menswear speaks to a confident, globally-minded consumer who doesn’t mind standing out, whether at a beach wedding or a cocktail in the city.