AKHL was founded by Akhil Nagpal in 2019. After graduating from the renowned Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in 2017 with various awards, he worked with Peter Pilotto in London and Manish Arora and Amit Aggarwal in Delhi before starting his label in 2019. AKHL is defined by its commitment to innovation, experimentation and the crafting of evocative pieces of fashion by contemporising Indian handcrafting techniques. Essential to its designs are distinctive and complex textiles, engineered using unusual and often upcycled materials, employing a wide range of processes including hand weaving, traditional Indian hand embroidery, hand printing, applique and spectrum dyeing. Ultimately, these signature textiles, in conjunction with handwoven and new age fabrics, are meticulously tailored into inventive and evocative luxury womenswear. AKHL showcased its inaugural collection at Lakme Fashion Week SS20 as the winner of the prestigious Gen Next programme and has been featured in top fashion magazines including Indian editions of Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and Grazia.
