Spring found Sachin and Babi Ahluwalia in the midst of a colorful garden party. The Ahluwalias are well aware of who they design for, and for spring they leaned into their strengths: Occasion-wear, versatile day-to-night separates, and the sophisticated eveningwear details that have become their signature.
“We are a social brand,” said Babi. “Our clothes are designed for special moments for our ladies.” There were watercolor floral prints in brushed cottons and silks, draped column gowns in airy chiffons (cut in varying degrees of modesty to cater to all their customers, Babi said), dresses and separates in teal and black silk moire, and playful bubble hem mini dresses. The floral pieces brought texture and a directional daywear angle to the collection, but the Ahluwalias were at their sharpest in the subtle details decorating their true eveningwear selection, particularly the monochrome column gowns with jeweled ornaments and the elegant, deftly cut black and white frocks with bow and embellishment accents.
Playful as their clothes often are, Sachin and Babi are very pragmatic when it comes to approaching their collections. “I mean, it’s grand to create the dream, but if nobody’s living in it, that doesn’t bring me any joy,” said Babi. That’s why all the label’s styles are grounded in wearability. This mindfulness has served them well, and it comes through in the subtle details they add to even their most commercial pieces, like the smocking on the back of skirt waistbands and tops to allow the customer some ease and breathing room at the waist and rib cage.
The Ahluwalias are banking on their clients being back out on the social scene and in search of the perfect dress for their next function, and with this well-edited assortment of dresses and dressed-up separates, they might just find what they need here.
