Biography
Hailed the ‘ Karl Lagerfeld of India’ by the late superstylist Isabella Blow, Tarun Tahiliani has made a name for himself as one of India’s first international fashion designers. After earning his degree in business management from Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania, Tahiliani saw a gap in the market in his native country for upmarket fashion. In 1987, he founded the country’s first multi-brand boutique, Ensemble. Shortly thereafter, to build his technical design skills, he received an associate degree from New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology and launched his eponymous brand in 1994.
Although Tahiliani produces a number of lines, including prêt-a-porter, diffusion, and accessories, he is most highly acclaimed for his couture bridal gowns. Since 2009, he has hosted an annual bridal exposition in cities across India, where brands like De Beers and the World Gold Council set up booths to gain access to Tahiliani’s potential customers.
He currently owns boutiques all across India in Mumbai, New Delhi, and Hyderabad, and his designs are stocked around the world, including the Middle East, Japan, the United States, and Australasia. Having held runway shows around the world, from London to Milan, Tahiliani is also a founding member of the Fashion Design Council of India, the governing body of the country’s official fashion week.
He is celebrated for combining traditional Indian textiles with modern, Western-influenced silhouettes. His trademark – a glittering kind of opulence and richness – resonates with his selective and deep-pocketed clientele.