Indian Luxury Labels Re-defining Menswear in 2023

Universal Dresser Menswear embraces the path of self-discovery, as SNOB offers myriad options for a dapper gentleman, while Mumbai’s pride Kunal Rawal, pays tribute to childhood nostalgia charming men, with his deft deconstruction.

SNOB By Mani Shankar - a Luxury Fashion Band

The guiding principle behind SNOB’s stylish catalogue lies in its name. The brand doesn’t just believe, there is a snob living in all of us, but also seeks to remove the negative connotation attached to the word. The brand plans on achieving this, by encouraging us to embrace our superior fashion sensibilities, instead of shying away from them, allowing the snob within us to shine through.

To guide you on this path of self-discovery, the designs are minimal, contemporary, and sophisticated. Perfect for men who take great pride in their fashion choices. The offerings have a superman vibe and are designed to empower souls, who believe in the impossible.

Design Language:

Most of our country thinks of Indian wear as something that you wear at festivals, weddings or maybe at a housewarming. “Well, our attempt is to change that. We want to transform this old-school thought process, into something that is extremely progressive and hip. Our clothing is about comfort and sophistication. It can be worn anywhere and everywhere, depending on how you choose to style it. It is this flexibility that makes our aesthetics global. Our clothes are extremely athletic and have this spirit to win. I draw a lot of my inspiration from my boarding school, and you will find a lot of traces of this, through our storytelling,” says Mani.

Menswear over the years:

Menswear in India has come a long way. If you go back to the 90s or even early 2000s, designer clothes meant heavy embellishments, surface work and exaggerated hype. Almost like a decorated Christmas tree. Those were the days when the market understood and consumed maximalist fashion, where the more the merrier! It’s taken years of persistence and perseverance, from the maestros such as Rajesh Pratap Singh to show the country the concept of ‘less is more’. “Today we have many designers, who believe in a minimalist style. We think a strong design language, lies in clever detailing, and intelligent style that resonates with the masses. Today fashion in India is a lot more democratic and seamless. The market is always two-sided and as a creator, I must say, we are extremely fortunate, and thankful to all our supporters, consumers, and our followers, who have backed our ideology,” he adds. The market over the years has widened, and today there are mini clusters of people with varied tastes. In short, there is space for all. Unlike before, men today are not limited to old-school checks and stripes, where innovation was more of a gimmick --- like a marketing selling point. Gone are the days when a simple fabric innovation, or a fancy name to a collection, would fool them to buy the same thing repeatedly. “Today men want to hold an identity and they want to look different. They perceive themselves as younger, and more conscious. Indians today want to look global. Over the years, there is so much more confidence and self-belief, that today an Indian, is proud to be an Indian. This belief has worked like a drug that has changed everything. Look at the way we consume fashion, food, music, cinema, travel and so much more. It’s a whole new world that is changing at lightning speed,” he adds. Thanks to the Internet and social media, people are exposed to everything and are adapting newer ways, by the second. While fast fashion will continue to thrive, slow fashion will always resonate with the experts, who have understood the true meaning of life. “A little tribute, I must give to all our Indian women, who have always led the way and influenced their fathers, husbands, brothers, sons and even friends in adapting to the good life. In making that extra effort to convince the men to come out of their comfort zones and explore, experiment and enjoy,” he concludes.

Kunal Rawal - Indian Luxury Menswear Brand

The eponymous Indian luxury menswear brand shares the design aesthetic of its founder, Kunal Rawal—as it intermingles the contemporary with the classic, always with a forward-looking spirit. The brand challenges preconceived notions about fashion and introduces elements of surprise and experiments with boundary-pushing designs that combine the finest made textiles with unique silhouettes, patterns, prints and concepts. “Our portfolio of accessible and aspirational collections includes ready-to-wear and bespoke clothing for men, available in key locations in India—Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore, and online at www.kunalrawalofficial.com,” says Kunal.

Mumbai Meri Jaan - Mumbai Inspired Styles

Kunal Rawal creations are drenched in inspiration. You will notice triple and double stripes inspired by car racing. Rodeo colours are inspired by Kunal Rawal’s dad’s classic cowboy movies. Inspiration is drawn from the military — in motifs, textile plays and more. And from grunge, but by using the mood to make luxe garments. “Technology inspires us — sweat-absorbing lining, anti-paparazzi fabric — we love innovating. The most prominent inspiration—is the love for Bombay—the city where I grew up. From paanwalas to authentic street style from the garment hub in MIDC Andheri, to nostalgic childhood memories growing up in Juhu—Bombay, is a melting pot of feelings, people, sights, flavours, colours—and it is all ingrained in our clothes,” says Kunal.

Mood Rush: Brand Language

“I am my own unique selling point—my experiences, my headspace, me,” he adds. “We are a mecca of menswear where you will be able to find something for every occasion, body type, age, mood, or taste. Our clothes are designed with the versatility of a modern man in mind, and the functional purposes of a young heart at soul,” he adds. Being a menswear brand in a country that has so much diversity, KR wants to champion it, without playing it safe. They don’t always conform to rules, and we often reject tradition by modernising it. Unifying this ideology is not always easy, but it is worth it. “We take risks. We make mistakes. We have opinions. We learn. We grow,” he adds.

Following in the footsteps: About Kunal Rawat the Designer

Kunal Rawal was exposed to the world of fashion from a very young age thanks to his dad’s business in the textile industry and export trade. He graduated from the London College of Fashion, where concepts like wearable fashion and couture excited him. Kunal worked at TopShop as an assistant menswear designer, and enjoyed a great experience in retail. On returning to India, he realised fashion isn't taken seriously here, the way it is abroad, so he launched a brand called Dstress featuring signature hand-painted shirts, kurtas, caps, flip flops, etc.

Before launching his eponymous label, Kunal became the youngest designer selected by Lakme Fashion Week in 2006; he was the creative head at Provogue, the country’s number one shirting company at the time. He took on a variety of creative briefs like creating merchandising ranges for cricket teams, and uniforms for hotels and restaurants in London. To reach the masses, he dabbled in costume design—which taught him the art of transitional clothing, deconstruction and how to convey character personalities through hundreds of different looks. Everything he did, creatively charged him to want to do more. Everything he learns along his journey he applies to his brand today. From providing a proof of concept and working out of his dad’s factory to organically growing the brand over the years, entering the elusive wedding wear arena and opening four stores, one at a time— Kunal Rawal has arrived at a pivotal position as an authority in Indian menswear. As a self-proclaimed perfectionist, Kunal obsesses over the details, is unafraid to try something different, and designs everything that comes out of the label himself.