AFEW From Rahul Mishra, AK|OK From Anamika Khanna Launch at Saks

Creating superbrands to emerge out of India has lengthy been a dream — and two well-known Indian designers are taking the subsequent step, launching solely with Saks on Thursday.

Saks has teamed up with internationally acclaimed designer labels AFEW Rahul Mishra and AK|OK Anamika Khanna, because the manufacturers’ unique retail associate in america. This isn’t the luxurious retailer’s first time partnering with an Indian designer — in March 2023, Saks hosted a limited-time pop-up with Sabyasachi at Saks Fifth Avenue Beverly Hills that includes a particular purple carpet capsule assortment known as Cinématique that was curated particularly for the partnership that featured couture, ready-to-wear, equipment and a choice of one-of-a-kind excessive jewellery items. 

“We’re thrilled to introduce two globally celebrated manufacturers to Saks’ preeminent luxurious assortment,” stated Tracy Margolies, chief merchandising officer, Saks. “It’s a precedence for Saks to foster the invention of numerous expertise and inventive voices from internationally. We’re excited to associate with Rahul Mishra and Anamika Khanna to supply their refreshing takes on timeless, on a regular basis dressing to Saks prospects, and we stay up for celebrating Indian heritage and artistry by way of these model launches.”

“This partnership could also be a key ingredient to create a superbrand to come back out of India,” Rahul Mishra stated in an unique dialog with WWD, talking concerning the upcoming launch of his one-year-old able to put on label AFEW (an acronym for Air, Hearth, Earth, Water). The label’s spring 2025 assortment debuted at Paris Trend Week final month. 

“And by Oct. 17 it’s prepared for retail in New York. You recognize there’s been plenty of preparation,” he stated, of the gathering that options vibrant flowers and hues with prints, embroideries and appliqué surfaces.

Mishra’s designs have acquired international acclaim since he gained the Worldwide Woolmark Prize in 2014. The Rahul Mishra prêt-à-porter line has showcased on the Paris Trend Week from 2014 to 2020 till his foray into excessive couture as the primary Indian designer to be invited to showcase on the high fashion week in 2020. 

With AFEW, he stated he had an opportunity to each “return to his love for versatile separates, rooted in consolation and a robust sense of individuality, and to have a look at a distinct client.”

“This collaboration is taking a look at scale,” he stated. “Once you have a look at scale, there’s a restrict to what you are able to do, however with AFEW, we’re envisioning a time forward of nice hope to make India’s first international ready-to-wear model. This partnership might be a robust pivot. Saks has essentially the most highly effective, most organized vogue retail on the earth.”

The costs for his assortment of 33 gadgets at Saks vary from $270-$1,490.

Anamika Khanna, who is likely one of the high designers in India, agreed that launching with Saks is “a really thrilling second,” she stated.

“Entering into the worldwide house is one thing we at all times envisioned is a particular second, and that too with model that’s so near my coronary heart,” she stated.

Talking concerning the U.S. market, Khanna stated that she sees a “complete lot of acceptance to much more.”

“The curiosity in Indian embroidery has been there from a time immemorial, however there’s additionally the curiosity in prints and flexibility of clothes and lounge put on. It makes it fascinating and completely different — and AK|OK is about simply that — consolation and luxurious. The concept is to be dressed up comfortably from day to night with such simple to combine and match choices,” she stated. 

Her assortment is nothing if not colourful, and reflecting a change in her personal design outlook. “Ivory has been my obsession perpetually,” she stated with fun. “However I’m instantly seeing myself opening as much as yellows, blues — the world of coloration is opening up for me. Trend is about change, I can’t be caught,” she stated. The costs for her assortment of 27 gadgets at Saks ranges from $215-$850.

A collaboration with H&M for India and choose international locations in September introduced Khanna into the limelight. “That assortment offered out in 10-11 minutes,” she stated. “It was an enormous studying expertise, you’re employed with completely different genres you develop that a lot,” she stated. 

Each designers have partnered with Reliance Manufacturers Ltd.