Nikhil Thampi X Indya Collaboration Reimagines Ethnic Wear In the Coolest Way

From femme tuxedos fitted with precision and decked with gilded accents to bodycon gowns that transform women into modern warriors, designer Nikhil Thampi’s luxe creations have always had an extra edge.

But, enter Nikhil Thampi X Indya collection and you are in for a gorgeous surprise – traditional ethnic wear tweaked to fit into your contemporary world in a palette suited for all skin types and in silhouettes that flatter all body types.

“Even though our personal label is very niche and extremely luxury-oriented, when Indya approached us for a completely mass-produced, commercial range…it was pretty exciting for me to appeal to a larger audience,” says Nikhil.

One collection fits all

The designer has introduced a fresh aesthetic with this extensive collection consisting of 41 outfits spanning over multiple hues in a day, right from the rising sun to the moonlit night. He agrees that this collaboration was very different from his personal label’s aesthetics.

“For me, this became a learning experience because I had to edit down and design less. And, I think it turned out very well. The audience response has been amazing so, we are very excited about the whole collaboration. As a designer, I always want to experiment. It’s a simple logic…I want all women to have a wardrobe filled with Nikhil Thampi, not just one piece from one collection,” he says.

Inclusivity and sustainability are also big factors of this collaboration.

Thampi stresses that all members of a bridal party can easily find something to fit their aesthetics, skin tone and body types. From a side cowl drape lehenga that is fashioned to double up as a dupatta to a pre-draped dupatta blouse with pockets, the Nikhil Thampi X Indya is a wearer-friendly and cost-effective collection just in time for the festive season.

Ask him about his favourite pieces and the designer says, “You cannot ask a mother to choose her favourite child! But if I had to pick one, then I would say cowl draped lehenga is my most favourite. Besides that, the pre draped dupatta blouse in the midnight blue section is so glamourous and comfortable that even when the models were wearing it, they were just twirling in it. That was such a great affirmation.”

Timeless sustainability

The beauty of innovative, classic designs is that they never really go out of style and that’s the brand of sustainability Thampi wants to endorse with this collaboration.

“For our personal label, we focus on luxury quotient so much because a piece that is bought today can still be worn 10 years down the line. The same logic has been applied to the Indya collaboration too. The prints are very generic, modern and something that you cannot get bored of. We have taken eternal prints such as polka dots and stripes and given them a modern twist. So, that’s how we are practising sustainability because our clothes do not lose colour or shrink after multiple washes. They can go on and on,” he says.

Touché to that!