From multi-brand outlets across USA, UK, UAE and Canada, to international stores by designers like Sabyasachi and Manish Malhotra, our edit features the places you can shop your bridal lehenga or sari from if you’re based out of India
In retrospect, an Indian bride living overseas in decades past must have made at least one trip, if not more, to India to make one the most significant sartorial purchases of her life: her wedding outfit. But with the rising popularity of grand Indian weddings being held overseas, major cities where Indians have settled for decades now have their own multi-designer boutiques to make the task less tedious. From conventional to contemporary wedding wear—including lehengas, kurtas, and saris to jewellery and everything in-between—the new crop of single- and multi-brand outlets across major metropolitan cities around the world are offering wedding options for the Indian diaspora based near their retail locations.
We’re putting the spotlight on a city-wise segregated list of designer stores that represent works by some of the most influential Indian fashion designers. Scroll ahead for all the hotspots.
United States of America
The Mall At Oak Tree, New Jersey
The brainchild of Chirag Batra, The Mall At Oak Tree was introduced to provide patrons of Indian fashion with leading fashion and jewellery labels under one roof. The space offers a wide mix of bridal, trousseau and prêt collections by noteworthy Indian designers like Ritu Kumar, Tarun Tahiliani, Falguni Shane Peacock, Payal Singhal, Gaurang Shah and many more at their New Jersey-based boutique. Themallatoaktree.com
Anita Dongre, New York
Image: Anita Dongre
In May 2018, leading designer Anita Dongre, best known for her signature gota patti work on traditional wear, expanded her international footprint with the opening of a colossal flagship store at the heart of New York. The space is not just home to the bridal couture, menswear and prêt lines, but also has a dedicated section for their sustainable luxury brand Anita Dongre Grassroot’s fine jewellery and ready-to-wear offerings. Brides, grooms and their families can also enjoy the luxury of the label’s bespoke services at this three-storied boutique.
Address: Anita Dongre, 473 West Broadway, New York. Tel: +1(646)4905755
The Grand Trunk, California
Perched in Pleasanton, this multi-brand store was founded in 2005 by Komal Sodhi Anand—the name credited for producing and choreographing Sabyasachi Mukherjee’s debut show at Miami Fashion Week 2004. Today, the boutique hosts a wide array of lehengas and saris by Sabyasachi, Anamika Khanna, Anushree Reddy, Payal Singhal, Astha Narang, Varun Bahl and Anita Dongre along with wedding fashion for grooms. Thegrandtrunk.com
Pia Ka Ghar, California
Another Californian boutique retailing wedding wear by top Indian fashion designers, the eponymous Pia Ka Ghar was conceived by Pia Ganguly in 2010—making it one of the oldest of its kind. Ganguly started her enterprise to empower women engaged in kantha, the Bengali art of stitch painting. Today, the store is home to wedding lehengas, saris, sherwanis, jewellery and more by designers like Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Rahul Mishra and Ritu Kumar, among others. Piakaghar.com
The Bollywood Closet, Atlanta
Founded by Kolkata-born, Atlanta-based Barkha Jayaswal in 2012, The Bollywood Closet facilitates the Sabyasachi bridal experience for several clients as the official retailer for the couturier across USA and Canada. The studio offers Sabyasachi’s latest lehengas, saris, jewellery and menswear along with holistic services for each client—including fittings, styling, personal shopping, etc. Thebollywoodclosetusa.com
Studio East6, Chicago
Founded in 2013, Studio East6 is a multi-brand studio located right in the heart of Chicago. It offers a well-edited selection of couture pieces by sought-after designers like Payal Singhal, Ridhi Mehra, Preeti S Kapoor and Madsam Tinzin. Studioeast6.com
Canada
House Of Raina, Vancouver
Image: House Of Raina
A multi-brand designer store in Vancouver, House Of Raina opened its doors to public in February 2018. Mother-daughter duo Rita and Raman Johal noticed a dearth of Indian traditional bridal wear in their city, and decided to bring in an array of Indian designers for local brides-to-be. The boutique offers lehengas and saris by renowned designers like Shyamal & Bhumika, Payal Singhal, Rohit Varma and Tarun Tahiliani.
Live The Collective, Toronto
The eponymous store was founded as a passion project by two best friends for their shared love of sartorial style. The studio offers latest in Indian wedding fashion by designers like Payal Singhal, SVA by Sonam & Paras Modi and AM:PM, among others. Moreover, the space also offers personalised styling services. Livethecollective.ca
United Kingdom
Aashni + Co, London
Image: Facebook.com/aashniandcoofficial
In a short tenure, Aashni + Co has redefined Indian luxury retailing in London, establishing itself as the most desirable Indian designer store for contemporary and bridal wear in Notting Hill. Since its launch in 2012, the brand has provided the residents of United Kingdom access to visionary South Asian designers, with offerings ranging from haute couture, ready-to-wear, jewellery and accessories. Designers in their repertoire include Anamika Khanna, Anushree Reddy, Gaurav Gupta, Manish Malhotra, Sabyasachi, Payal Singhal, Rahul Mishra, Ridhi Mehra, Rimple and Harpreet Narula, Varun Bahl and many more. Aashniandco.com
Este Couture, London
Launched with a focus to make couture bridal wear accessible to Londoners, Este Couture has expanded to incorporate ranges for every wedding-related occasion today. The boutique compiles pieces by some of the most acclaimed designers from India—Payal Singhal, Varun Bahl, Masaba, Gaurav Gupta and the likes—and provides private appointments to ensure that their patrons are privy to undivided attention and the highest quality of service. Estecouture.com
Bibi London
This Essex-based store offers lehengas, anarkalis, saris, gowns and suits for Indian brides-to-be in their region. Dedicated collections by popular fashion designers like Anamika Khanna, Anushree Reddy, Jayanti Reddy, Payal Singhal, Sabyasachi, Shantanu & Nikhil and Tarun Tahiliani are all stocked under one roof here. Bibilondoncouture.com
United Arab Emirates
Rivaage, Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Image: Facebook.com/rivaageboutique
Sprawling across two stories, Rivaage’s store in Dubai brings together some of the best names in Indian fashion like Tarun Tahiliani, Vikram Phadnis, JJ Valaya and Satya Paul. The boutique retails everything from clothing to fusion and bridal jewellery, and also has an outlet in Abu Dhabi. Rivaage.com
Studio 8, Dubai
Founded by entrepreneur and fashion promoter Sarah Belhasa Rashid, this multi-designer boutique, located inside the Dubai Mall, features handpicked collections by both Asian and Middle Eastern designers—featuring Manish Malhotra from India, Priya Kataaria Puri from Kuwait and Hatem Alakeel from Saudi Arabia, among others.
Address: Studio 8, Level 1, Dubai Mall, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Hong Kong
Sanskrit, Hong Kong
A one-of-its-kind studio in Hong Kong, Sanskrit showcases the works of leading fashion and accessory designers in India. Opened in 2002, the multi-brand outlet carries collections from over 35 leading Indian designers, including Rohit Verma, Payal Singhal, SVA by Sonam & Paras Modi and Sonaakshi Raaj. Sanskrit.com.hk
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