The 50 shades of fashion have become even more iconic, with emerging fashion designers transforming clothing into more than just a mere piece of cover. They are revolutionising identities and continue making history with one-of-a-kind trends that deserve more recognition. Emerging fashion designers are pupils of keen eyes who dissect society and identify styles in the most unusual.
Fashion is a tale from the urban streets and rural dreams. Emerging designers who have experienced the best of both worlds know how to tailor designs to match utility that creates a statement. How would we know so much about the designers’ brains? Well, we interviewed some of the pioneers. Not literally, but intellectually. We have gathered two of the top emerging designers of the industry, Shivani Agarwal, Vilvin Sabu and Saundarya Mishra, to share their experiences and rollercoasters in establishing themselves in the industry and making a name through their designs.
A New Wave in Fashion: What Do Trailblazers Bring To The Industry
When trends and styles take centre stage rapidly, there are some that motivate budding designers to innovate and experiment constantly. These designers emphasise creating beautiful, sustainable pieces while promoting this practice among their customers. They go against the conventional categories of fashion divisions and make their pieces gender-neutral.
Why should you consider these emerging designers? Well, they are heroes when it comes to understanding modern consumer needs. They penetrate society and find creativity in the most unusual to make expressive pieces. If you are someone who is exploring their identity through fashion, then your answer might lie amongst these budding designers.
From The Minds Of The Young Masters
Emerging fashion designers come up with their styles through inspiration, years of research, creativity and practicality combined. But the tale is even more mesmerising, so let’s hear from the mind of the masters.
Saundarya Mishra
What words can’t express, Saundarya Mishra displayed it through fashion. She found the art paving the way for fashion to communicate individuality and cultural nuances without saying a single word. She found the fabrics and their use in creating styles that influenced people’s confidence fascinating. The desire to create something impactful yet personal formed her sealed her deal to pursue her dreams.
Saundarya’s design philosophy stems from a place that strongly believes in merging lasting elegance with contemporary flair to create personalised masterpieces. Creating fashion that celebrates individuality ignites her to design pieces that are seamlessly adaptable while keeping up with the latest trends. While that only describes the outline, Saundarya Mishra emphasises detailing and storytelling in every piece, even when scaling the brand through the dynamic market.
“Confidence, empowerment, and connection. I want them to feel like they’re wearing something uniquely theirs—a piece that complements their personality and elevates their sense of self.” – Saundarya Mishra.
The culture and heritage that surrounded Saundarya Mishra played a key role in determining her goal. Her cultural roots and traditional outlooks on fashion, textures, colours, and stories shaped her vision. She turned her vision into action by creating a network of design processes inspired by life and introduced it to the market after quality testing.
The handles that facilitated the growth of Saundarya Mishra’s fashion identity were the unique perspectives she used to communicate with her audience, leveraging various online and offline channels. Yet, the challenge that kept her awake and striving harder was to create fulfilling pieces that streamlined the logistics of reaching her target. With every piece that she created, she had to incorporate not only artistry but also commercial viability, which was a tough balance to learn.
While fast fashion makes trends accessible, its environmental impact is concerning. Saudarya blends sustainability with every practice she follows, from using ethically sourced materials to minimising waste during production. She explores innovative practices to reduce environmental impact.
Saundarya looks forward to a future where her brand expands globally, collaborating with like-minded designers and creating collections that challenge the norm. She concluded with her passion for exploring eco-friendly athleisure and functional wear—clothing that combines aesthetics with utility while remaining sustainable.
Vilvin Sabu
Inspired by India’s vibrant heritage, Vilvin Sabu pursued her passion for storytelling through fashion, refining her craft at the London College of Fashion. Driven by the power of design to affect individuals and society, she embraces fashion’s growing challenges to create captivating and innovative designs.
Launching her label, Vilvin Sabu channelled her passion to the works and collections she creates, viz., individuality and timeless elegance. The motto of her brand is to resonate with her audience and encourage them to embrace their unique identities through style. People, especially brides, who wear her pieces must feel a sense of personal fashion sensibility rather than just an adorned garment.
Vilvin’s design philosophy centres on elegance, blending bold style with comfort and sophistication. Her bridal collections balance ethereal luxury and affordability, reimagining traditional aesthetics through contemporary silhouettes. Vilvin caters to eco-conscious brides seeking classic yet modern designs by embracing simplicity, intricate details, and sustainable practices. Designers must prioritise sustainability and craftsmanship, fostering a deeper connection between people and their clothing.
“When they put on a Vilvin Sabu creation, I want them to feel like the best version of themselves on one of the most important days of their lives.” – Vilvin Sabu.
Vilvin’s experience with diversity started as early as childhood, wherein she dabbled between India and Saudi Arabia, seeing the different cultural POVs of fashion, often stemming from a traditional approach. Surrounded by diverse cultures and aesthetics, it shaped her view of fashion, inspiring her to create pieces that best capture the transcendence of fashion across borders. With an intricate design process, Vilvin ensures her pieces are fresh with industrial trends and matches them to the aesthetic of her pieces.
As an emerging designer, building connections and networking with the best designers in the industry opened room for her to bring a spotlight to her brand. Social media also played a key role. With the fast world of fashion and creative demands, Vilvin didn’t restrict herself to the norm but constantly created rapport with the influences of art.
An unexpected challenge in the journey was the emotional toll of sharing her vision with the world. The fear of criticism or rejection can be daunting. Embracing vulnerability enabled her to grow as a designer, build resilience, and stay confident in my creative journey.
As of now, what are Vilvin’s future goals? “My primary goal is to push forward my new business that focuses on designing and producing collections for smaller labels. I aim to increase the number of designers we collaborate with, providing them with the support they need to thrive.”
Shivani Agarwal
Shivani Agarwal — The Silent Force Behind Iconic Fashion Labels. In a world where glamour takes the spotlight, there are few who quietly shape the very essence of what we see on the runway and in stores. Shivani, a remarkably grounded yet exceptionally impactful Fashion Technical Designer from Mumbai, is one such powerhouse.
While many recognize designers for their creativity, few truly understand the pivotal role of a Technical Designer —the unsung architect who transforms ideas into production-ready masterpieces. Shivani has been that invisible pillar for countless national and international fashion labels, bringing precision, structure, and soul to every garment she touches.
Born and raised in Uttar Pradesh, India, Shivani began her professional journey in the bustling fashion hub of New Delhi before moving to Mumbai, where her career flourished. Her technical brilliance and eye for perfection have made her a trusted name among leading brands that depend on her for turning concepts into flawlessly executed collections.
With years of experience, Shivani has led the design process from concept to production across diverse product categories. Her work begins with in-depth market research and trend analysis, shaping the foundation of every seasonal collection. She meticulously creates detailed tech packs, coordinates sampling, and ensures production quality, bridging the gap between design, merchandising, and manufacturing teams with seamless efficiency.
Her expertise spans women’s wear, men’s wear, kidswear, and specialized biker jackets for women, showcasing her versatility and command over multiple apparel domains. From leather garments and riding jackets to intricate graphic artworks and technical drawings, Shivani brings a rare blend of creativity and technical mastery.
A true perfectionist, she is proficient in CorelDRAW and Adobe Illustrator producing high-quality, production-ready designs that reflect each brand’s unique identity. Her clientele includes both emerging fashion startups and established global labels who rely on her ability to balance artistry with engineering precision.
Shivani embodies what it means to be both creative and technical — a designer who doesn’t just imagine beauty but constructs it, stitch by stitch, detail by detail. Her journey is an inspiration to those who dream of blending fashion with function and artistry with accuracy. In an industry that celebrates visionaries, Shivani stands as the visionary behind the vision—quietly crafting fashion’s most remarkable success stories.
Themes From Their Story
From the stories of Vilvin, Saundarya Mishra, and Shivani Agarwal we found several similarities. Still, the most significant one is how culture, surroundings, and upbringing can shape the way a designer views the world and industry. Their desire to create ethereal pieces of elegance is a unique way of communicating their ideas. The united vision to expand their labels and collaborate with like-minded designers shows how driven emerging designers are in the industry.
Looking Forward To The Big Picture
The future holds hope for emerging fashion designers. Their determination to enter the market and showcase their skills highlights the opportunities for emerging designers to explore their potential and achieve breakthroughs.
“Breaking through the noise.” Mesmerising pieces of art started with a dream that eventually hit the runway. As much as we enjoyed interviewing these fashion geniuses, we hope to see their pieces on popular forums in the near future.