Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla: Art, Fashion & Drama in 40-Year Legacy

In conversation with News18, Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla talk about how the confluence of art and fashion has inspired their 40-year legacy.

Two masters of design, Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, brought “A Thousand & One Nights” to life at Art Mumbai. The show featured 27 performers and a crew of 112 people. As a result, the runway became a vibrant stage of movement, drama, and couture. The duo presented creations from chapters such as The Divine Dancers, The Muses, The Devotees, The Seductresses, and The Royals. Each sequence flowed into the next, creating a strong visual narrative.

Tabu appeared as the showstopper. She wore an archival piece inspired by Purana Qila, which Abu Jani sketched 35 years ago. Her presence added depth to the performance. Moreover, the designers entered their 40th year with renewed passion, proving once again why they are considered industry icons.

In conversation with News18, Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla, talk about how the confluence of art and fashion has inspired their 40 year legacy and who has been the inspiration behind their love for reinventing Indian crafts.

Do you believe fashion is art in movement? And how has it shaped your legacy as designers and storytellers of fashion?

Fashion, according to the duo, is “art in movement.” They believe it carries glamour, energy, and storytelling. Their Jio World Plaza store reflects this belief. It showcases fabrics, paintings, sculptures, and several Indian art forms. Therefore, the store feels less like a showroom and more like a cultural space.

How has the confluence of art and fashion inspired your 40 years of designing?

We could write a book about that. Our work exists in the space where art and fashion overlap. In our minds, there is hardly any difference between the two. We are ever moved by colours and textures, and we constantly seek to express our experience through pure fabrics and hand embroidery.

What’s the story behind your love for reinventing Indian crafts and celebrating it through your design language?

We grew up adoring the women in our lives. The way they dressed and carried themselves with utmost grace had us spellbound all the time. Our mothers, sisters and aunties would dress in the finest weaves and hand-embroidery.

As we got older, we noticed that the quality of such crafts was diminishing due to the increasing demand for mass-produced goods. The chikan stitches became less refined. Nylon replaced pure cotton, and we realised that we have a monumental purpose ahead of us. That is, to preserve the integrity of Indian crafts and continually pursue different ways of reinventing them.

A Thousand & One Nights showcase saw each collection embrace a creative narrative through performance. What inspired this expressive storytelling?

Our undying love for drama! Presenting couture with context honours the many elements that go into making something memorable. With art, design, dance and music, we merge our love for a classic tale that nourished our creativity, with the decadence of handcrafted glamour.