Fashion designer Arjun Khanna talks about his eclectic, new flagship store in Kala Ghoda and his love for military uniforms

Designer Arjun Khanna’s store is like a vintage museum. From superhero toys to old cameras and his beautiful creations, there is so much to see and get inspired

By Riddhi Doshi

Life-size, black and white photographs of military personnel from different countries greet you in the lobby of fashion designer Arjun Khanna’s new flagship store in Kala Ghoda, Mumbai. Once inside, there is so much to see, like in a vintage museum. There are old trunks, rows of vintage cameras, military uniforms, superhero toys, an old typewriter, military badges and, of course, Khanna’s creations – denim jackets for him and her, bags made from recycled materials, sherwanis, band galas with vintage watch dials as its buttons and coffee hampers of his newest venture in the beverage industry.

Fashion designer Arjun Khanna

Khanna’s vibrant and eclectic store is a window into the organic, free-spirited fashion practice he has been enjoying recently. “I haven’t participated in fashion shows for a few years now,” he says. “Everything had started looking similar to me. Everyone was doing the same kind of things – the lehenga-choli, saree-blouse, even the haircuts and hairstyles of the models. I also had a name for, the looks ‘The bleached brigade’ as everyone gave their models bleached hair. It was getting too monotonous,” he says.

The Covid-19-induced lockdown and his almost compulsive, meditative work of ideating, and drawing sketches while cooped up at home helped him break free in many ways. “My practice now is very organic. I don’t do launches or major marketing events. I work as an artist. If he feels like painting something, he will, not waiting for the Fall/Winter or the Spring/Summer season,” he says.

“Clothes to me are beyond fashion They’re a lifestyle they need to be worn and in some cases worn out! Nothing looks cooler when you wear your clothes and don’t let the clothes wear you! Like most often I see ‘brand sluts’ loose their individuality or personality of the person wearing them.”

And that free spirit can be seen in his 1300-square-feet, self-designed store. Though the wedding season is the one he still prescribes. “If a designer wants to thrive in the Indian fashion industry, the shaadi season has to be serious business,” he says.

Fashion designer Arjun Khanna’s band galas.

A seating area in Khanna’s eclectic Kala Ghoda store.

And barring a few party pieces and jackets of his very fine, exquisite collections of band galas and sherwanis, almost all his collections are inspired by vintage and military. “I am not sure why, but uniforms have always fascinated me,” he says. “In fact, I wanted to become a pilot, but my family didn’t want me to because of the risk involved.”

But the love and fascination for the uniform have stayed on. “I love the regalia, the celebration of the uniforms,” says Khanna.

Not just from India but even on his international travels he picks up uniforms from flea markets and includes different elements of those in his collection. “One of my Bandhgalas, the French bandhgala, is also inspired by the cut of the French airforce uniforms.”

In his recent collection of recycled military jackets too, one can see elements of the uniform – the badges, stars and the cuts.

These cuts, silhouette and tailoring, Khanna believes are his forte. These are what make him stand apart. “I strive to make my clothes luxurious and comfortable, be it a suit, a band gala or a denim jacket I love that people enjoy my fit and use of tailoring with the right amount of detailing and correct usage of textile,” he says. And that’s the reason why even the second generation of grooms come to Khanna for their wedding outfits.

You must also read
7-10, an Indian sneaker brand founded by Shibani Bhagat wants to tap into the growing sneaker culture in India.