Indian made brand Varana opens in Mayfair, London

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Sep 21, 2017

As part of London Design Week, the Indian fashion label Varana opened its flagship store in Mayfair, London.

Varana is an Indian label that specialises in turning Indian embroidery and printing into a modern and experimental vision. Sujata Keshavan, the Creative Director, Head of Design, and one of the label’s co-founders, explained: “Varana takes its name from Varanasi, which I imagine is the heart of India. I was on a boat with my son when I thought of the name. That’s why our logo is like a river. Our aim is to showcase the finest textiles and skills, and our USP is stitched garments. Our fabric is bespoke, using the best quality of raw materials. We have international designers on board who give our Indian textiles contemporary cuts. There are things that designers take for granted and which Varana pays close attention to, from the finishes to detailing.”

Varana, which takes its name from Varanasi, was founded in 2015 by Sujata Keshavan, Ravi Prasad, and Meeta Malhotra. Keshavan has headed the graphic design firm Ray + Keshavan Design for over 25 years; Prasad worked with bringing the Himalaya brand to 92 countries; and Malhotra has worked as a brand strategist for a number of brands including Xerox. Mayfair is the brand’s first flagship presence and their spring/ summer collection is also available in department store Harvey Nichols, London.