With intricate handcraft, fluid silhouettes, and a signature blend of tradition and rebellion, Anamika Khanna continues to redefine what it means to be a modern Indian bride. In an interview with Jyoti Verma, the ace designer unpacks what young brides are wearing down the aisle, how celebrity weddings have shaped bridal aspirations, and why true couture always begins with the bride’s spirit.
Gone are the days when a bridal lehenga was defined by weight, width, and a fixed colour code. In today’s India, bridal fashion is a language of identity, and few designers speak it more fluently than Anamika Khanna. With a label that seamlessly blends heritage techniques like zardozi and chikankari with cutting-edge silhouettes, Khanna has built a couture house that resonates across generations, red carpets, and continents. She has pushed the boundaries of traditional Indian fashion by brilliantly blending time-honoured Indian techniques and fabrics with contemporary Western shapes and styles.
“Gen Z is beautifully rewriting the rulebook,” she says. “They want meaning in their choices: something personal, not just traditional for the sake of tradition.” According to Khanna, today’s brides and grooms are not just shopping for a look; they are crafting a statement. Whether it’s rewearable couture or heirloom-inspired detailing with a modern spin, every element is curated to reflect their inner world.
While lehengas still hold sway, the silhouettes have become bolder and more experimental. Think sculptural draped skirts, blouses with asymmetric cuts, capes replacing dupattas, and even pre-stitched sarees that blur the lines between structure and ease. “The saree is definitely having a renaissance,” says Khanna. “But it’s worn with a new-gen, rebellious edge.”
A Palette of Possibilities
Colour trends are also evolving with nuance. “There’s a resurgence of sindoor reds, rusts, and deep vermilions, but worn in thoughtful, non-obvious ways,” she notes. At the same time, offbeat tones like stone grey, burnt gold, and charcoal are becoming quiet favourites. Pastels remain popular too, but now they are often paired with metallics or worn in unexpected contrasts that reflect the bride’s personality.
Nowhere was this balance of heritage and individualism more visible than at the much-talked-about wedding of actor Athiya Shetty and cricketer KL Rahul in 2023. For her intimate Khandala wedding, Athiya wore a rose-pink chikankari lehenga from Anamika Khanna’s atelier, detailed with zardozi and jaali embroidery. “She was my biggest inspiration,” Khanna shared in an interview. “She wanted something timeless, subtle, and elegant. No cancan, nothing loud, just a lehenga that flowed with her, not against her.”
The bespoke outfit, which took nearly 10,000 hours to handcraft, reflected Athiya’s personality to perfection: soft, assured, and fuss-free. “It wasn’t just a look. It was her,” the ace designer added.
Royalty, too, finds its dream dress in Khanna’s world. The Princess of Faridkot, Gurmehak Brar, searched high and low for her perfect bridal ensemble before discovering it in a peach-pink Anamika Khanna lehenga. Worn for her Anand Karaj ceremony in January 2025, the lehenga married heritage with a soft pastel palette that felt regal yet grounded.
Another interesting wedding featured a six-event celebration where every outfit, from a pistachio sharara with zardozi detailing to a jazz-inspired lavender lehenga, a mustard yellow organza saree, a dramatic flaming red sangeet ensemble, and a pearl-lined Anand Karaj look, was custom-designed by Khanna. The final reception outfit, a metallic off-shoulder blouse with a sculptural black skirt, was inspired by one of Khanna’s archived pieces from over a decade ago. Across all these events, the designs wove together tradition, vintage references, and global silhouettes to create a deeply personal bridal story.
Crafted With Soul
Each Anamika Khanna creation is steeped in fine artistry and a commitment to Indian craftsmanship. She uses handwoven silks, organzas, and traditional embroidery forms, but the way she presents them is global. Her collections have featured bold inspirations, always marrying concepts with craft and tradition with innovation.
In today’s evolving bridal trousseau, Khanna spotlights an unexpected star: the blouse. It is no longer an afterthought, but the showstopper, she says. “Sculptural, architectural, and boldly expressive blouses are taking centre stage. Think exaggerated sleeves, asymmetric necklines, even blazer-inspired silhouettes. There is a sense of freedom, and Gen Z is embracing it to make a bold statement. This celebration of individualism defines today’s couples. They do not just wear fashion. They curate it. It is about blending legacy with authenticity, and telling a story that is uniquely theirs,” she adds.
For brides who want to figure out their individualistic character, Khanna has an advice that is as handcrafted as her couture: “Figure out what you want to say and stay true to that. Fashion cannot just be noise. It has to mean something.”
In a world chasing trends, Anamika Khanna’s bridal vision reminds us of the enduring power of self-expression, craft, and couture that speaks in whispers rather than shouts. For brides who wish to be remembered not just for what they wore, but for who they were, this is where the story begins.
Follow Vows & Vacays on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram
for the latest in fashion, lifestyle, and luxury wedding inspiration
