Anamika Khanna

Khanna's career started in the year 1998. In 2003, she was invited to Pakistan to show her bridal collections as a part of Bridal Asia.^[6] In 2004, she launched her international label: Ana mika,^[7] and showcased her collections at the Lakme Fashion Week's Grand Finale.^[8] In 2005, she displayed her collection "The Botanist" at the Will's Fashion Wee Spring/Summer edition,^[7] and took part in the London Fashion Week. She got exclusive contracts from British department store Harrods and was covered by the magazines: Glamour (Paris), Vogue (October 2005 edition in UK) and Vogue Best Buy.^[9]

In 2007, she participated at the Paris Fashion Week along with Manish Arora^[10] and in 2008 in the HDIL India Couture Week,^[11] presenting her signature cowl-shaped dresses that closely resembled the dhoti worn by Mahatma Gandhi.^[12] Sonam Kapoor walked the ramp for the first time and she was wearing a golden cowl-shaped gown embellished with zardosi with a top adorned with Mukesh work. She also participated in the Will's Lifestyle Fashion Week Grand Finale Autumn/Winter edition.

In 2009, she became the finale designer at the Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Fall/Winter edition.^[13] In 2010, she took part in The India Premier London Fashion Week's Autumn/Winter collection.^[14] In 2011, she showcased her creations at the Lakme Summer Resort.^[15] In 2012, at the Delhi Couture Week she showcased her signature dhoti-pants together with sari drapes and floor-length jackets.^[16] In 2013, at the PCJ Delhi Couture Week, her collection had shararas, capes, gilets, vests and coats with a color combination of black, white and gold. Tribal jewellery designed by Suhani Pittie, Anamika's sister, was also a part of the collection.^[17]

Khanna showcased her collection at Bvlgari’s India launch in 2014.^[18] She is also associated with Bvlgari Singapore. She also introduced a number of trends in adorning oneself at the Lakme Fashion Week Summer, 2015. Some examples include lip colours like dark burgundy and geometric shapes in the form of golden leaves starting from the temples and ending at the inner side of the cheekbones.^[19] In 2016, for her show at India Couture Week she associated with Amrapali Jewellers, Jaipur to debut her jewellery collection.^[20] The line-up included everything from traditional naths to timeless polki.^[21][22]

Sonam Kapoor was seen wearing Khanna's creations at various red carpet events, including Cannes red-carpet gala in 2013, Cannes 2014 and Cannes 2016.^[23][24][25] Kareena Kapoor had worn Khanna's creation at Lakme Fashion Week 2015 and at various red carpet events.^[26][27] Kapoor's sister, Karishma was also seen donning Khanna's label.^[28] Jacqueline Fernandez was seen on the red carpet at Jio MAMI 18th Mumbai Film Festival.^[29] Mira Rajput chose to wear Anamika Khanna lehenga at her wedding, she chose not just one but four outfits from the designer at her wedding.^[30]

Sonakshi Sinha has worn designs by Anamika, including a notable appearance at the IIFA Awards in a lungi-style skirt paired with a short embellished jacket.^[31] Getting together for an event with Madhuri Dixit, Deepika Padukone looked suave beyond words in an Anamika Khanna off-white netted saree with a long cape jacket.^[32]

Deepika Padukone wore an Anamika Khanna saree at the Time 100 Gala in New York in 2018.^[33] Shilpa Shetty, Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit, Alia Bhatt and Shraddha Kapoor have at least once graced an event in an Anamika Khanna's ensemble. Singer Kanika Kapoor recently hosted a Diwali bash for delegates of Dolce & Gabbana, she chose to wear Anamika Khanna at the special occasion.^[34]

Anamika Khanna designed the 10 kg velvet lehenga that was studded with pearls, gold and silver and was given as a gift by Simi Garewal to Lady Gaga – her celebrity guest at her talk show: ‘Simi Selects: India’s Most Desirable.^[35] Recently, Sonam Kapoor along with sister Rhea Kapoor wore outfits from Anamika's collection of Everything is AK-OK.^[36]

Oprah donned Khanna's outfits at various occasions, from the Women in the World Summit to special reception at the Black Panther^[37][38] Other celebrities including Deepika Padukone, Nita Ambani Isha Ambani, Shloka Mehta, Radhika Merchant, Katrina Kaif, Neha Dhupia are seen wearing her creations at various occasions.^{[31][39][40][41][42]}

Khanna has designed collections for a number of Bollywood movies like Mausam, Fashion, Aisha, and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. She was the costume designer for the lead actress of the movie Prem Ratan Dhan Payo released in 2015.^[43] Khanna has designed the outfits that Simi Garewal wore in her talk show: ‘Simi Selects: India’s Most Desirable’.^[44]

• Lakme Fashion Week (1999): Khanna was among the 33 designers, who were part of India's first Lakme Fashion Week at Taj Palace, New Delhi.
• Wills Fashion Week, 2005:She presented her spring/summer collection titled The Botanist at the WFW. Her collection consisted of clothes made from muslin and chiffon.
• Paris Fashion Week (2007): Khanna presented her designs at the Paris Fashion Week.^[45][46]
• HDIL India Couture Week (2008):Khanna's collection involved her signature dhoti-pants. The clothes were created using fine cotton, chiffon, satin and georgette. The focus of the collection was on cuts and drapes.^[7]
• Lakme Fashion Week (2009): Khanna at the Lakme Fashion Week presented a bridal collection featuring modern silhouettes, flawless embroidery and a wide variety of colours.^[47]
• The India Premier London Fashion Week (2010): Khanna participated in the Autumn/Winter edition of The India Premier London Fashion Week.^[48]
• Lakme Summer Resort (2011):Khanna presented her collections that consisted of kurtas embroidered with chikan work, pajamas, lehengas, churidars, Jodhpuri pants and mojris.^[15] Her collection was primarily black and white.^[49]
• Delhi Couture Week (2012): Khanna presented a collection that comprised Kashmiri embroidery, zardosi and Parsi gara. In addition to dhoti-pants, her collection also featured floor-length jackets and waistcoats.^[50]
• PCJ Delhi Couture Week (2013): Khanna's collection featured clothes created from traditional wedding wear .^[51]
• India Couture Week(2014): Khanna presented her collection called ‘Luxury 2014’. It consisted of embroidered vests, lace capes/kimono, lehengas, saris, and churidars.^[52]
• Lakme Fashion Week (2015): Khanna was the finale designer and Bollywood stars Deepika Padukone and Kareena Kapoor Khan walked the ramp in outfits that she designed (a black cropped top with a pair of wide-legged pants for Deepika while a black, silver and white ensemble for Kareena).^[53]
• Indian Couture Week (2016): Khanna showcased her collection with Bollywood fashionista Sonam Kapoor as the show stopper, dressed in a loose blouse and a hued floral embroidered half saree. She further extended her aesthetic by foraying into jewellery design by collaborating with Amrapali Jewelers, Jaipur royalty-inspired range of costume jewellery.
• India Couture Week (2017) :^[54][55]
• Lakme Fashion Week (2018): Khanna presented her collection at the grand finale with Kareena Kapoor Khan as the showstopper; it was influenced by various tribes of the world and was an amalgamation of the modern and experimental.^[56][57] There was deconstruction, fringe and print in a palette of crème, ecru, red and the blackest black. The collection was about tribe of strong and powerful women who are not afraid to ‘do their own thing'.^[58]
• Everything is AKOK, RTW SS19: With SS19 Khanna launched her first collection on Instagram. The collection was inspired by what she describes as underground warriors, women who like her, battle immense challenges but are able to pull through and make the world a more caring, interesting, and beautiful place: living goddesses who are anything but just domestic and refuse to stand still on a pedestal.^[59]