In 2026 Indian luxury brands are going global, blending classic artistry with modern style. They’re not just about expensive wedding clothes anymore; they’re smart investments.
Think of a Sabyasachi outfit: it’s a piece of art that holds its value. Vintage garments from these top houses can sell on luxury resale sites for 60-80% of the original price because they carry deep cultural value.
While global giants like Gucci focus on logos and leather, Indian designers emphasize hand-embroidery (karigari) and ethical production. They appeal to savvy buyers who demand transparency and quality craftsmanship.
Just like a high-end designer suit justifies its price with tailored Italian wool, these Indian labels are expensive because they are labor-intensive, often taking hundreds of artisans 6 to 12 months to create one unique piece.
Whether you’re a fashion student studying textile traditions or a shopper looking for a valuable heritage item, this updated guide reveals the top 10 brands. We offer fresh 2025 collection highlights and clear price insights to help you make the best decision.
Indian Luxury vs. Global Giants: Why Choose Heritage Couture?
Global brands like Louis Vuitton and Gucci are famous for their easily recognizable logos, signature leather goods, and mass-produced ready-to-wear pieces. Their luxury is about accessibility and instant status—like a $2,500 branded handbag.
Indian couture, however, offers a luxury defined by intricate storytelling and bespoke artistry.
- Focus: Instead of mass-produced hardware, brands like Rohit Bal prioritize custom draping and detailed hand-embroidery, turning fabric into a canvas of Indian history and folklore.
- Value: This is not fast fashion; it is heritage couture that gets better with time, offering superior artisanal quality and ethical sourcing.
- The Look: While a Gucci bag is instantly recognizable in Milan, an outfit by Tarun Tahiliani offers effortless cultural elegance, perfect for destination weddings or international events.
By blending traditional techniques with modern needs, these Indian labels are capturing search intent for phrases like “investment Indian bridal wear,” “ethical luxury fashion India,” and “best Indian designers for international appeal,” establishing themselves as a unique and thoughtful choice in the global luxury market.
1. Manish Malhotra
Manish Malhotra’s eponymous label, born in 1998, remains a Bollywood powerhouse, dressing A-listers from Alia Bhatt to global icons like Adriana Lima in his 2025 haute couture showcase. Famous for reviving forgotten crafts like Chikankari from Lucknow, the brand’s output spans cinematic costumes to everyday luxe, with a 2025 pivot toward sustainable digital retail expansions. Its global footprint now includes pop-ups in Dubai and New York, where fans snag limited-edition pieces that blend filmy drama with wearable art.
Signature Craft & Price Range
- Signature Craft: Intricate Chikankari embroidery on Benarasi silks, fused with crystal draping for modern volume.
- Price Tier: Pret kurtas from ₹50,000; bridal lehengas ₹3-8 lakhs (premiums reflect 200+ artisan hours per piece).
- Why It’s Luxury: These aren’t outfits—they’re cinematic heirlooms with resale values holding at 70% after five years, thanks to celebrity provenance.
2. Sabyasachi
Sabyasachi Mukherjee’s 1999-founded atelier, now a $100M+ empire, embodies “organized chaos” through its 2025 “Modern Heritage Bridal” collection, featuring reimagined zardozi on velvet capes. With stores from Kolkata to LA, the brand’s philosophy of “personalized imperfection” draws from French impressionists and Awadhi weaves, patronized by everyone from Priyanka Chopra to international tastemakers.
Signature Craft & Price Range
- Signature Craft: Revival of heritage textiles, specifically Banarasi silk and hand-dyed velvets with gota patti edging.
- Price Tier: Ready-to-wear sarees from ₹1.5 lakhs; haute couture bridal from ₹5 lakhs upwards (cost drivers: rare Nakshi kantha stitching by rural cooperatives).
- Why It’s Luxury: It’s not just a dress; it’s a piece of Indian history, with auction values soaring for archival pieces worn at high-profile events.
3. Ritu Kumar
Pioneering since the 1960s, Ritu Kumar’s label champions block-printed heirlooms, with her 2025 lines emphasizing eco-dyes from Rajasthan. Retailing in Paris and NYC, it bridges ancient motifs with fusion wear, dressing royalty and Miss Universe winners alike. Sub-lines like “Label” cater to the urban sophisticate seeking sustainable glamour.
Signature Craft & Price Range
- Signature Craft: Hand-block printing on mulmul cottons, layered with Chikankari for ethereal fluidity.
- Price Tier: Everyday kurtas ₹40,000-1 lakh; trousseau lehengas ₹2.5-7 lakhs (transparency: premiums fund artisan villages employing 500+ women).
- Why It’s Luxury: Timeless classics that appreciate like art—vintage Ritu pieces resell at premiums on global consignment sites.
4. Tarun Tahiliani
Tarun Tahiliani’s atelier, a FDCI founding member, redefines “Indian modernity” via his 2025 “Timelessness Eternal” runway at India Couture Week, blending sari drapes with laser-cut chiffons. Known for sculptural bridal, it extends to menswear and interiors, with a focus on zero-waste innovation.
Signature Craft & Price Range
- Signature Craft: Sari-gown hybrids with thread-veining and organza pleats for architectural drape.
- Price Tier: Cocktail gowns ₹80,000-2.5 lakhs; bridal ensembles ₹2-6 lakhs (why so? Bespoke fittings ensure one-of-a-kind heirlooms).
- Why It’s Luxury: Investment-grade versatility—pieces transition from wedding to boardroom, retaining 65% value in resale markets.
5. Rohit Bal
Since 1990, Rohit Bal’s poetic label—nicknamed “the couturier of romance”—unfurled its 2025 India Couture Week tribute with folklore-infused khadi, honoring his legacy through peacock-embroidered capes. Global acclaim stems from dressing the likes of Naomi Campbell, emphasizing fantasy over flash.
Signature Craft & Price Range
- Signature Craft: Hand-embroidered khadi with lotus motifs, evoking Mughal grandeur in fluid anarkalis.
- Price Tier: Evening jackets ₹1-3 lakhs; couture lehengas ₹3-9 lakhs (premium for 18th-century inspired gota work by heritage karigars).
- Why It’s Luxury: Collectible artistry with museum-worthy appeal—archival Bal fetches double in auctions for its narrative depth.
6. House of Masaba
Masaba Gupta’s 2009 brainchild, House of Masaba, injects whimsy into luxury with 2025’s vibrant block-print fusion line, inspired by her royal heritage. Affordable yet elevated, it targets Gen-Z with hijab-sarees and resort edits, sold via pop-ups in London and Mumbai.
Signature Craft & Price Range
- Signature Craft: Digital-floral prints on silk-chiffon, merged with quirky appliqués for playful fusion.
- Price Tier: Printed sarees ₹25,000-1 lakh; party lehengas ₹1-3 lakhs (value: quick artisan turnaround keeps costs shopper-friendly).
- Why It’s Luxury: Democratized heritage—resale thrives on Instagram hype, with pieces holding 50% value post-event.
7. Anju Modi
Anju Modi’s 1990 label revives rural weaves, as seen in her 2025 “Wanderlust Weaves” collection drawing from global travels—think Himalayan pashmina with Bengali kantha. A quiet force in bridal, it empowers 300+ artisans through fair-trade models.
Signature Craft & Price Range
- Signature Craft: Kantha quilting on recycled silks, for textured, travel-inspired storytelling.
- Price Tier: Suits ₹60,000-2 lakhs; bridal gowns ₹3-10 lakhs (transparency: funds community looms in Bengal).
- Why It’s Luxury: Ethical assets that gain patina—vintage Modi commands premiums for its soulful sustainability.
8. Anita Dongre
Anita Dongre’s sustainable empire, restructured in 2019, unveiled 2025’s “Grassroot Glow” with bandhani on organic cottons, supporting 45,000 artisans. From NYC stores to royal weddings, it’s the green choice for conscious couture.
Signature Craft & Price Range
- Signature Craft: Bandhani tie-dye on khadi, enhanced with solar-powered embroidery for eco-luxe.
- Price Tier: Kurtas ₹30,000-1.5 lakhs; sustainable bridal ₹2-5 lakhs (premiums offset ethical sourcing from arid regions).
- Why It’s Luxury: Future-proof investments—certified pieces resell at par, appealing to eco-savvy collectors.
9. Anamika Khanna
Launched in 1998, Anamika Khanna’s draped minimalism shone at FDCI x Lakme 2025 with deconstructed lehengas in raw silk. A favorite of Deepika Padukone, it fuses asymmetry with ancient weaves for understated opulence.
Signature Craft & Price Range
- Signature Craft: Asymmetrical draping with aari embroidery on unbleached linens.
- Price Tier: Draped sarees ₹1-4 lakhs; couture sets ₹3-8 lakhs (cost: custom asymmetry demands expert tailors).
- Why It’s Luxury: Versatile heirlooms that evolve—resale boosts from celebrity endorsements keep values buoyant.
10. Manish Arora
Manish Arora’s 1997 psychedelic haven exploded with 2025’s “Neon Nomad” global collab, layering mirror-work on neon silks. From Paris runways to Delhi ateliers, his sub-labels like Fish Fry infuse street-art vibes into couture.
Signature Craft & Price Range
- Signature Craft: Psychedelic mirror appliqués on fusion fabrics, nodding to folk without kitsch.
- Price Tier: Statement jackets ₹80,000-2.5 lakhs; runway lehengas ₹2-6 lakhs (premium for experimental hardware embeds).
- Why It’s Luxury: Bold collectibles with pop-culture cachet—limited editions resell at 80%+ in art-fashion hybrids.
Start Your Own Journey in Fashion
These brands prove that Indian fashion is not just about clothes; it is about culture, history, and art. The demand for skilled designers who understand these traditions is growing every day.
If you have a passion for style and want to learn how to create your own designs, you can turn that dream into a career. Whether you want to start your own label or work with top luxury houses, the right training makes all the difference.
Take the first step today. Check out the Fashion Design Course at JD Institute to learn from the best and craft your legacy.
