LOUD & PROUD
LOUD & PROUD
Karan Torani is championing Indian crafts, colour & culture with his eponymous occasionwear
label. The maverick designer talks to Poorvi Singhal about his influences & his love for Indian weddings.
For most, Indian maximalism may be making a comeback this season. But for designer Karan Torani, it never left. Instead, it lives and breathes in the country’s all-embracing culture where every festival is an occasion to dance, colours bursting forth with every new dawn, and tradition reinventing itself with every celebration. Torani infuses his collections and storytelling with these nuances, ensconcing you in a world of nostalgia. Be it his latest campaign, ‘Juloos’, shot at the iconic Red Fort in New Delhi, featuring an ensemble cast that includes Bridal Asia founder Divya Kapoor Gurwara and actors Jim Sarbh, Randeep Hooda and Mona Singh. Or ‘Leela’, starring Tamannaah Bhatia as Radha, where every piece is handcrafted and inspired by Indian mythology and nostalgia.
Launched in 2018, Torani’s eponymous label was influenced by his love for colour and kitsch, which finds its way back to his childhood and Sindhi lineage. This, he feels, has shaped his understanding of his art and the world. “Born and raised in Delhi, I have never felt bound by a singular identity but rather shaped by a confluence of histories, traditions, and voices.” Torani is a celebration of that plurality—an homage to the timeless spirit of India through the lens of a boy, whose roots trace back to Sindh, but whose realities were shaped in Delhi.
In recent years, Torani’s label has been ubiquitous, whether it is dressing Kiara Advani, Deepika Padukone or our covergirl Bhumi Pednekar in his occasionwear, or designing a heart themed haldi for Radhika Merchant last year. The brand places Indian handlooms and textiles at its centre, while still having fun with modern aesthetics. From Bihar’s Madhubani to Gujarat’s Bandhani, Kolkata’s mulmul to Madhya Pradesh’s Chanderi, Torani’s creations are a love letter to these crafts. And then there’s his use of colour. “There is a certain empowering madness in being a maximalist —an unapologetic indulgence in excess, in detail, in dream. I’ve never shied away from embracing it,” says the designer. In conversation with Bridal Asia, he talks about the evolution of his brand and the modern Indian bride.
BRIDAL ASIA (BA): STORYTELLING IS THE BEATING HEART OF THE TORANI UNIVERSE. TELL US MORE.
KARAN TORANI (KT): Every craft begins with a story, and every story finds permanence in craft. At Torani, we believe that fashion is not merely an expression but a preservation of memory: woven, embroidered, and passed down through time. What we create today becomes tomorrow’s heirloom, carrying forward the legacy of artistry through generations. And fashion is not just an exercise in glamour or craftsmanship. It’s storytelling woven into fabric, architecture, and identity.
BA: HOW DID INDIA’S UNIQUE ENERGY INFORM YOUR RECENT CAMPAIGNS ‘JULOOS’ AND ‘LEELA’?
KT: India is the land where colours, identities and stories converge, ever-evolving and boundless. Every few kilometers this mystical land tells a new tale, births a new ethnicity, and weaves a tapestry of creative expression. For any artist or designer, India is a goldmine of inspiration. My campaigns are an ode to this dynamism, where I have woven together the diverse threads of our nation into visuals that celebrate the unexpected harmony of colours, embroideries and textures.
BA: WHAT MADE BRIDAL ASIA FOUNDER DIVYA KAPOOR GURWARA THE IDEAL MUSE
FOR ‘JULOOS’?
KT: Before there were fashion weeks or the buzz of bridal couture as we now know it, there was Bridal Asia. And at its helm, Divya: a quiet but formidable force who shaped the Indian fashion landscape with her vision and grace. I’ve admired her long before Torani had a name; not just as a fashion entrepreneur who deeply understands the business, but as a patron who has offered a soft shoulder and a strong spine to many designers finding their feet, myself included. Through every show, every message of encouragement (and those thoughtful critiques I’ve cherished just as much), she’s remained a guiding light. So when I invited her to be part of ‘Juloos’, she humbly asked, “Are you sure I’ll add anything to this?” And yet, there she was—effortless, generous, grounded, doing everything we dreamed of with the warmth of a parent and the elegance of a muse. Her presence was not just special, it was essential.
BA: WHAT MAKES BRIDAL ASIA A STRONG PLATFORM FOR YOUR BRAND?
KT: Bridal Asia has been a beautiful way for us to open a tangible retail window to our audience,
complementing our strong digital presence and our global markets. I have been present at most of the showcases, and it is great for interacting directly with our clients, listening to their feedback, answering their questions, and building relationships that go beyond just garments. Bridal Asia has been instrumental in helping us grow, not just as a brand, but as a community. It’s always been a space that welcomes authenticity and celebrates the personal touch, something we deeply value in everything we do.
BA: COULD YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE COLLECTION YOU’RE SHOWCASING THIS YEAR?
KT: This year is exciting as we unveil three distinct collections. Our bridal couture line remains at the heart of our offering, steeped in timeless craftsmanship and ceremonial grandeur. Alongside it, we will introduce a festive print collection —playful yet elegant, perfect for lighter occasions such as mehendis and haldis. And for the first time, we are presenting a glamorous cocktail line, a bold and contemporary expression of the Torani aesthetic.
BA: YOU HAVE DRESSED MANY BRIDES, INCLUDING CELEBRITIES. WHAT ARE SOME SHIFTS YOU’VE BEEN NOTICING IN HOW THEY APPROACH WEDDINGS AND INDIAN WEAR?
KT: The modern bride is deeply aware, educated, well travelled, and attuned to global trends. She is no longer bound by conventional expectations or the pressure to replicate a lookbook image. She is crafting a narrative that is entirely her own. Fashion is now being embraced as a medium of self expression rather than conformity. As a designer, I find this deeply rewarding, for true luxury lies in individuality.
BA: TODAY, THERE IS MORE TO THE TORANI UNIVERSE THAN JUST APPAREL. TELL US ALL ABOUT IT.
KT: Rather than sourcing generic accessories, we meticulously craft bespoke pieces that intertwine traditional artistry with our unique aesthetic. Our custom parandis, inspired by the South Indian jada billai, a studded hair accessory, are hand-embroidered to echo the opulence of bejewelled braids. Similarly, the Tahia, the traditional crown of Odissi dancers, has been reinterpreted using our signature fabrics and motifs. Each varmala is lovingly made from upcycled organza scraps, hand-tucked into delicate florals by the women from our Torani Design Foundation, where they are encouraged to incorporate their skills and craft into unique designs. We’ve forayed into handcrafted parandis, batuas, keychains, topis; each piece a vessel of culture and care.
BA: TRADITIONAL SILHOUETTES OR MODERN ITERATIONS—HOW DOES ONE CHOOSE?
KT: I see celebrities and cultural icons drawn to pieces that offer comfort without compromising on character. They are actively seeking out looks that hold the essence of India, yet speak a language of modernity. And that’s something brides should remember too—that while tradition, craft, and heritage are sacred, they only remain alive when they evolve. When they are worn, lived in, danced in, and find expression through silhouettes that feel as fresh as they are timeless.
BA: LASTLY, WHAT’S YOUR ADVICE FOR BRIDES AND GROOMS?
KT: Be unapologetically, wholeheartedly yourselves. Start with a blank page—a diary, a canvas, a quiet moment with yourself. Ask the small but meaningful questions. What fabrics do you feel at home in? Which colours stir something in you? Do you lean toward the subtle or the celebratory? Do you want something bold, or something timeless? Write down what you love and just as importantly, what you don’t. Let your instincts guide you, not trends, not celebrity wardrobes, not even the well-meaning opinions of friends and family. Because when the rituals are over and you look back at your photographs, you want to find a version of you that looks and feels authentic.
