How Anamika Khanna translated a personal stillness into a new language of opulence

Fashion

You can feel a sense of quiet radiating out of Anamika Khanna’s latest collection. A stillness not born of timidity or uncertainty, quite the opposite. It is founded in a serene confidence that doesn’t need to make noise to get noticed, and it stems from the designer herself – clearly there has been an internal shift. The collection plays out like a sartorial manifesto, and its origins are deeply personal, shaped by a period of stillness that Khanna intentionally decided to take. “That pause forced me to slow down and truly listen – to my body, to my work, to life,” she confesses. What emerged from that introspection was a new design ethos. For her, sustainability became less about materials and more about a mindset, a fundamental balance. She puts it simply: “It’s about knowing when to stop.” You can see this philosophy of intentional opulence manifested in each ensemble. Look closely, and a pearl-encrusted yoke becomes a deliberate, weightless anchor.

The fluid drape of a dhoti skirt is cut with a calculated ease. Khanna insists this approach is “deliberate, not indulgent,” a world where every detail must serve a purpose and every stitch needs room to breathe. This is a collection, she says, that champions a measured extravagance where details
are hidden in the space between the stitches.This newly forged sensibility is tailored for the modern Indian woman – and anyone with an intent to honour their roots. “The biggest change is confidence,” she observes. “Indian women today wear their heritage with pride as identity, as power.”

Her clients now wield the designer’s culture as an assertion of self. The collection meets this evolution with pieces that bridge roots and reality: a classic kurta deconstructed into an asymmetrical draped top, or a sari pallu sculpted into a pearl-encrusted harness.

To translate this intimate narrative into a compelling visual campaign, Khanna collaborated with stylist and producer Rhea Kapoor. Their partnership was a meeting of aligned sensibilities, with Kapoor building the world where these clothes would live. “The campaign visuals, produced and styled by Rhea, are incredibly powerful. Beyond the clothing, there’s a distinct mood – a sense of confident serenity and modern regality,” Khanna notes. The collaboration was defined by its transformative alchemy. Khanna recalls how a garment, conceived in the solitude of the studio, would reveal new dimensions under Kapoor’s gaze.

“When I design, I see a piece in a very specific way. But when someone like Rhea comes in, she sees it through her own lens,” she explains. A specific styling choice – an unexpected pairing of jewellery, a particular layering – could unlock a new emotion in the garment, expanding its story beyond the creator’s original intent. This deeply personal collection also finds a surprising resonance in the Middle East. Khanna sees a kindred spirit in the aesthetic of a city like Dubai, a place she describes as, “boldly futuristic yet deeply rooted in tradition.” The connection makes sense; it’s grounded in a shared language that understands opulence as artistry and heritage as something dynamic, not static. This dialogue reinforces her conviction that Indian fashion can stand on the world stage, confident in its own cultural power. A vision supported by a new internal energy: Khanna’s sons are now integral to the business.

Their involvement has sparked a vibrant dialogue, freeing the designer to plunge deeper into pure ideation and creation while they help steer the brand’s future. Running through it all – every collaboration, every design – is Khanna’s unwavering faith in the human hand. In an industry increasingly seduced by digital perfection, her atelier stands as a temple to timeless craft. “There is a kind of luxury that only the human hand can create,” she states, her conviction clear. She champions the slight irregularities in zardozi, the soft bleed of hand-painted pigment – seeing them as the unique signatures of a piece’s soul, and not as flaws. This commitment ensures that every piece is a repository of time, skill, and human spirit, making it truly one-of-a-kind. These are designs that can stop you in your tracks.

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Images: Supplied