Anamika Khanna On The Expansion and Future of AK|OK

The Kolkata-based designer Anamika Khanna is, at heart, an artist. She has a rare ability to blend age-old fabrics and traditional craft techniques with a modern design approach, creating fashion that imagines Indian craftsmanship in ways that feel unmistakably modern and deeply relevant. From becoming the first Indian designer to showcase at Paris Fashion Week in 2007 to designing Isha Ambani’s 20,000-hour Met Gala 2025 outfit—a stunning mix of zardozi embroidery, Banarasi weaves, and the bold flair of Black dandy style, Khanna has consistently elevated Indian craft on the world’s most closely watched stages.

As her design journey evolved, so did the needs of her audience. Seeing a growing demand for clothing that went beyond wedding wear, Anamika launched AK|OK, a younger, millennial-oriented label focused on elevated occasion wear. The brand reflects how people want clothes today—easy to wear, expressive, and versatile, while still being rooted in craft. This idea came alive at her finale show for the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour: Crafts Fashion’s New Revolution,  presented in collaboration with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI). The collection questioned traditional ideas of craft, showing it not as something fixed in the past but as something that can grow and change. AK|OK took familiar techniques like zardozi, chikankari, and mirror work and reworked them with sharp tailoring, metallic touches, and space-inspired prints.

“Blenders Pride Fashion Tour sits at the forefront of fashion, and this year’s ‘Future Is Crafted’ concept pushes that boundary even further. Partnering with them allows me to help shape this vision and define what comes next in fashion,” Khanna shared. The momentum around AK|OK has only grown, marked by the brand’s London Fashion Week debut last year. Reflecting on the moment, she said, “Presenting AK|OK at London Fashion Week felt like a full circle. We wanted to introduce the brand in a way that felt honest—focused on craft, ease, and silhouettes that travel effortlessly across cultures. Seeing how naturally the pieces resonated there reaffirmed that AK|OK is about a global conversation, not geography.” It is this clarity of purpose that has contributed to the brand’s success in a remarkably short span of time.

Despite her global stature, Khanna’s creative process remains deeply personal. Speaking about a pre-show ritual, she revealed, “For every show, I carry a silver coin that my mother gives me. She’s not always physically there, but the coin somehow always is—it arrives in an envelope before the show. I need to have it with me before the showcase begins. It grounds me and gives me strength.” Backstage, however, the designer is far from serene. She admits to being visibly nervous, constantly spotting faults and wanting to fix things until the very last moment. “I’m extremely self-critical, so my mind is completely focused on details and problem-solving rather than the runway itself.”

When it comes to design, Khanna is a firm believer in creating pieces that transcend trends and remain meaningful to the wearer. “My creative vision is about reimagining Indian craft in a way that feels modern and relevant today. I love working with contrast—traditional techniques like zardozi and hand embroidery paired with sharper, contemporary silhouettes. Drapes are central to my work, but I’m always evolving them. For me, it’s not about seasons, but about creating personal, timeless pieces that the wearer can make their own.”

“Fashion today is deeply personal, and a one-size-fits-all approach simply doesn’t work anymore,” she notes. Looking ahead to 2026, Khanna observes a stronger focus on individuality, where people choose pieces that reflect who they are rather than what is trending. When creatively stuck, she instinctively steps outside the world of fashion. Inspiration comes from history, lived experiences, art, movement, and landscapes. Nature, with its quiet strength and fluidity, grounds her, as do stories of heritage crafts and the raw honesty of human emotion. Sometimes, it is something fleeting—a texture glimpsed in a market, the rhythm of a city, or a memory of a place she has loved. Her sons also play an important role in her creative journey. Watching them grow, question things, and see the world with curiosity keeps her connected to the present.

Looking ahead, Khanna hints at several exciting collaborations and a thoughtful expansion of the AK|OK universe. “I’m especially thrilled about bringing menswear and accessory lines forward in a way that feels seamless within the AK|OK ethos,” she shares.