Nachiket Barve

Summary

Fashion and costume designer Nachiket Barve is an alumnus of the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad. He was the only student to be awarded a scholarship by the French Government to study at ENSAD, Paris. What’s more the Indian fashion designer completed his final project with mentors Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla, was an intern at Celine -a subsidiary of Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy- and also worked with textile designer Neeru Kumar.

History

An alumnus of the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad.. Nachiket Barve was the only student to be awarded a scholarship by the French Government to study at ENSAD, Paris. What’s more the Indian fashion designer worked with haute couture ateliers learning handmade flower making, pleating and working with feathers, leather and accessories. Barve completed his final project with mentors Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla and was an intern at Celine -a subsidiary of Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy- and with the textile designer Neeru Kumar.

Per Elle: “Driven by curiosity and authenticity, Nachiket is a minimalist through and through. Ever since he launched his eponymous label in 2010, the designer has showcased contemporary collections rooted in art and history that transcend across trends.” The appeal of the luxury label transcends generations and is worn by noted celebrities such as Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Elizabeth Hurley, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Anushka Sharma and Sonam Kapoor Ahuja among others. Nachiket firmly believes that good design should add joy and value to the life of every customer and design should be accessible and inclusive.

In March 2007 Nachiket launched his eponymous label at Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai. Since.. he has been invited to show his designs at Buenos Aires Fashion Week in Argentina and Coterie in New York City. In 2010, Nachiket won the British Fashion Council and Elle “Fashion Entrepreneur of the Year” award where he represented India. In 2012, British Fashion Council invited Nachiket Barve to showcase a collection at the annual Alchemy festival in South Bank, London.

Versatile in his approach to design, Nachiket has been a pioneer in the space of design collaborations. He has created successful collaborative capsules for a plethora of brands such as bed linen for Bombay Dyeing, custom created desserts and packaging for Le 15 Patisserie, fine jewellery with gold, diamonds and enamel for Jet Gems, Space design for Asilo, St.Regis and been the first designer to collaborate with Yauatcha, India. he has also been designing Uniforms for Corporates including Jio World Centre and Educational Institutes including the Dhirubhai Ambani International School in Mumbai.

Nachiket Barve started designing costumes a decade ago and has never looked back since then! Having been a part of acclaimed films, he has been awarded the State Award and other prominent costume design awards including the Zee Award for his work in films such as ‘Katyar Kaljaat Ghusali’ and ‘Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar’. He has also designed costumes for the period drama ‘Tanhaji; The Unsung Warrior’. Currently he is designing costumes for ‘Adipurush’ starring Prabhas, Saif Ali Khan and Kriti Sanon, a biopic on the Maratha Warrior Bajiprabhu Deshpande and the battle of Paavan Khind. Nachiket Barve was awarded Best Costume Design at the 68th National Film Awards for his work designing costumes depicting Maratha culture for the film.

Per Vogue: Nachiket Barve explains: “As a designer, I also had to hold back. For instance, with Kajol’s character, Savitribai, I stayed away from embroidery of any kind—as supposed to my design sensibility today. It would be historically incorrect. There was scope of over 1,800 costumes to be envisioned for the film. Here, you exist within the universe of the period. Whereas, in fashion, it’s a different dialogue with the zeitgeist [of fashion] and the client.”

As per his official website- Nachiket Barve is a passionate wildlife enthusiast and photographer, connoisseur of Indian Crafts in his personal life. He is inspired by nature and that spirit informs his vision and work as a designer. He is an avid traveller, dog lover and an ardent collector of coffee table books on design as well as an enthusiastic chef.

Vision

For far too long, the fashion- conscious Indian who doesn’t fit into fashion’s definition of sizing has been relegated to wearing whatever is available. Nachiket Barve’s design philosophy is to challenge pre-existing norms and make fashion relevant to every one no matter race, age, size or body type. His collections allow wearers—of all shapes and sizes—to embrace themselves in all their stylish glory. Barve firmly believes that fashion should be accessible to everyone, encouraging wearers to embrace their authentic selves. His creations go beyond mere trends, emphasizing the importance of design that enhances the personal identity of the wearer rather than following fleeting fads. Through his work, Barve aims to create fashion that celebrates diversity and allows each person to feel confident and stylish.

A significant aspect of Barve’s design philosophy is his commitment to craftsmanship and sustainability. His collections feature intricate handwork, such as delicate thread embroideries, floral appliqués, and beadwork, all of which require painstaking hours of labor by skilled artisans. By prioritizing traditional Indian craftsmanship in his designs, Barve not only creates timeless pieces but also ensures the preservation of indigenous craft techniques. This approach underscores his dedication to sustainability and ethical fashion, as he works to make high-quality, artisanal fashion both modern and relevant to global audiences.

Driven by a passion for authenticity, Nachiket Barve strives to make a lasting impact in both the fashion and film industries. His work in costume design, particularly for films like “Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior,” showcases his ability to combine historical accuracy with creative expression. In his vision, design is more than just an aesthetic pursuit—it’s a means of storytelling, where each piece reflects the wearer’s individuality. By combining fashion with narrative, Barve’s work transcends design to become a deeper form of self-expression and cultural preservation.

Mission Statement

Mumbai-based fashion designer Nachiket Barve does not believe in following trends as he feels that fashion design should be a form of self expression and individuality. With this in mind he crafts collections that are creative, innovative and contemporary and each of the pieces are immediately recognised as his.

Products and Services

Nachiket Barve designs contemporary Indian collections rooted in art and history. The occasion wear is an extension of his signature style yet the additional three-dimension appliqué and hand embroidery keeps the ensembles fresh and wearable. The surface ornamentation in each collection takes master craftsmen and artisans hundreds of hours to handcraft, in particular the cutwork, intricate thread embroideries, hand-cut floral appliqués and beading.

Awards and Recognition

Nachiket Barve has been awarded the National Film Award for Best Costume Design for ‘Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior’ in 2022. He has been awarded the Young Entrepreneur Award by the British Council, as well the Woolmark Prize. The label has been lauded by acclaimed International thought leaders including Suzy Menkes and Carine Roitfeld. Nachiket Barve’s work has been featured in books on Indian design. It was the first Indian label to collaborate with ‘Rent the Runway’ in the US. The label retails from top end designer stores in India and globally. The label has been extensively featured in publications such as Vogue, Bazaar, Elle, Grazia, Cosmopolitan, Man’s World and verve. The label is showcased at fashion weeks in India and across the world including London Fashion Week, Buenos Aires Fashion Week and in Paris.

References

• Official website Nachiket Barve
• Brand history Nachiket Barve
• Facebook profile of Nachiket Barve Facebook
• Indian designers at Coterie DNA India
• Nachiket Barve On Winning The National Award And Prioritising Authenticity Over Opulence Elle
• Nachiket Barve wins Best Costume at 68th National Film Awards Fashion Network
• Instagram profile of Nachiket Barve Instagram
• Land of the rainbows Verve
• Wikipedia profile Wikipedia
• Nachiket Barve brings alive beauty of Dutch still life paintings India Today
• Success story: How Nachiket Barve became a top Indian fashion designer Apparel Resources
• Designer Nachiket Barve shares his design journey Times Of India
• Nachiket Barve breaks down the costumes he designed for Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior Vogue
• Nachiket Barve On The Art Of Storytelling Through Costumes Femina
• Designer Nachiket Barve on his National Award Times Of India
• Nachiket Barve debuts his first-ever menswear collection India Today
• Nachiket Barve Vogue
• Fashion’s Candid Storyteller: Nachiket Barve Man’s World
• Nachiket Barve gives t2 an insight into the redefined and evolved design aesthetics of his label t2