The Shantnu & Nikhil Man Is A Hardcore Romantic
Beautiful men in even more beautifully draped outfits. Flowers, books, and clear-rimmed glasses. At the FDCI India Men’s Weekend 2025, Shantnu & Nikhil showcased what their Mirage man truly looks like
At Jaipur’s heritage Diggi Palace, designers Shantnu and Nikhil brought to life their latest collection, Mirage, at the FDCI India Men’s Weekend 2025. The collection was poetic, the presentation even more so. Beautiful men in even more beautifully draped outfits. The brand's signature was distilled into fluid silhouettes - culottes, billowing trousers, gathered pants, dhotis, and layered skirts.
Books, flowers, tan leather tote bags and clear-rimmed glasses - the perfect accessories for the new S&N man, a blend of the internet soft boy and the Bengali bhadralok. He enjoys poetry, frequently smiles to himself, and knows who Shams-i Tabrīzī is.
In an exclusive interview with us, the designers share their thoughts on reinvention, experimentation and the modern man.
On the Shantnu & Nikhil Man:
“The Shantnu & Nikhil man is someone who exists at the intersection of heritage and rebellion, someone who honours legacy but refuses to be bound by it. A name that instantly comes to mind is Timothée Chalamet. He embodies effortless reinvention, navigating the space between old-world charm and modern audacity. Whether it’s his fearless approach to menswear or his ability to channel depth in his craft, he is both grounded in tradition and constantly evolving - a true mirage.”
On why they think the modern man is ready to experiment with luxury and menswear:
“Because he is no longer seeking validation - he is defining his own sartorial language. For too long, Indian menswear has been confined by convention, but today’s man is reclaiming the romanticism in drapes, embracing fluidity, and reinterpreting power dressing. The shift is inevitable because Indian men have always had a deep relationship with textiles and craftsmanship - it’s in our DNA. Now, they are simply expressing it in a way that feels bold, effortless, and personal.”
On Mirage embracing drape and movement, especially in bottoms and why they believe men are ready for that shift:
“Because movement is power. Shantnu & Nikhil couture: Mirage takes inspiration from nomads, warriors, and kings - figures who lived by movement, who wore drapes not as ornamentation but as armour. The modern man is shedding rigidity for dynamism; he wants freedom, not restriction. Structured jackets paired with fluid bottoms create a striking balance - one that allows him to walk with the kind of quiet authority that doesn’t need to announce itself.”
The S&N man dressed in Mirage:
“His presence would be felt before he is seen. He wouldn’t demand attention - he would command it through movement, through an unspoken elegance. The way his culottes shift as he walks, the quiet defiance in a deconstructed silhouette, and the way his garments tell a story of heritage without feeling weighed down by it. He is a whisper in the air - impossible to ignore, impossible to define.”