By Malvika Mistry
on
April 04, 2020
Abu Jani Birthday Special: Three decades and uncountable fashion moments later, here are the 33 reasons that makes us love this OG Couturier duo so much!
When it comes to displaying ethnic art with grandeur, trust birthday boy Abu Jani and his designer partner Sandeep Khosla to mesmerize us with elegance. Taking Indian elements and weaving them into contemporary designs without losing its ethnicity is something this duo ace in. Although, creation of dreamy lehengas with resham gotas, zardosi works, and intricate karigari is their forte, that doesn’t mean that they cannot sweep you off their feet with their embellished western creation.
Displaying their talent nationally as well as internationally, this dynamic duo has time and again proved to us that they are indeed the OG Couturiers of the fashion circuit. Working for more than 3 decades in the fashion industry, Abu-Sandeep have carved a niche for themselves. Apart from dressing the Bachchans for nearly 33 years now, their clientele list holds prominent names like siblings Sonam Kapoor Ahuja and Rhea Kapoor, the mother-daughter duo of Amrita Singh- Sara Ali Khan, the influential Ambanis, style maven Karan Johar and his budding fashionista students Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, amongst many others. Not just Veere Di Wedding and Devdas , AJSK has taken their talent to Hollywood as well and featured their creation in a Bond film-The World is Not Enough . Recently celebrating their 33 glorious years in the fashion industry, this dynamic duo has shown us that they are here to stay and slay! Well, their talent isn’t just restricted to costumes and couture, Abu-Sandeep have also mastered the art of designing homes, hotels, and events and has brought the Mughal karigari to life on many occasions.
Recommended Read: 33 years of AJSK: Deepika Padukone to Karan Johar, the tinsel town gives oodles of sartorial inspiration from Abu Jani- Sandeep Khosla’s show!
So, as Abu turns a year older and talented, here’s a look back at all the 33 glorious moments that make us love the iconic label Abu Jani- Sandeep Khosla a little more.
THE LATE '90S
FLAGSHIP IN DELHI
THE BACHCHAN WEDDING
WHEN BRITISH COUNCIL STOOD WITNESS TO THEIR ART…
AJSK FOR JAMES BOND
INTERNATIONAL ACCLAIMATIONS
THE EARLY '2000s
ALL THE WAY TO OSCARS
DEVDAS AND ITS NATIONAL AWARD
GLIMPSE OF DIMPLE KAPADIA’S MUMBAI BASED HOME AT LONDON
THE MAKING OF FASHION BIBLE- INDIA FANTASTIQUE
Jani-Khosla were in the making of the fashion bible with their book India Fantastique. For the inside lookbook, many iconic mother-daughter duos were seen in the ensembles of AJSK.
DIMPLE KAPADIA- TWINKLE KHANNA- RIMPLE KHANNA
AMRITA SINGH- SARA ALI KHAN
NITA AMBANI- ISHA AMBANI
CREATIVE DIRECTORS AND JURY PANELISTS FOR LAKME FASHION HOUSE
TWO DECADES OF AJSK
VIDESI TYRA BANKS IN DESI AJSK
JR. BACHCHAN’S WEDDING
BEYONCE AT THE AMBANI WEDDING
CANNES MAGIC
CHIT CHAT AND AJSK WITH THE ‘FIRST LADIES WITH ABU SANDEEP
THE MID '2000s
HITTING IT OUT OF THE BOUNDARY WITH BRET LEE
ADDRESSING THE ELEPHANT IN LONDON
THE FANTASTIC INDIA FANTASTIQUE IN MUMBAI LONDON AND PARIS
2012: Mrs Ambani's faith in our work and her absolute championing of the book is unprecedented. We showed her a dummy copy and she put herself behind it one hundred percent and hosted its India launch at their residence. To have that sort of belief in our work, that level of encouragement and support is priceless. We are eternally grateful to her." Abu and Sandeep. This event was quite simply the most magical celebration of their creativity, packed with the powerful presence of India’s icons from Industry, Society and Cinema. The duo’s most cherished took to the stage, dressed in sumptuous, custom ensembles. Abu and Sandeep count them as close friends. “Our work has brought us immense professional and personal joy. It has enabled us to dress the most fabulous women and men. People who have become friends and even family. We treasure them and their faith in us as artists. To have them with us on this occasion was heavenly. A deeply emotional experience.” - Abu and Sandeep For this event the duo dressed Nita and Mukesh Ambani, Jaya and Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Amrita Singh, Tabu, Gauri Khan and Sussanne Khan in their hallmark ranges. Each wore an ensemble which showcased their mastery over technique, craftsmanship and design at its zenith. From Resham and Zardozi to Mirror work, Gota and Patola, it was a dizzying array of beauty. @amitabhbachchan @deepikapadukone @tabutiful @gaurikhan @suzkr @aishwaryaraibachchan_arb @iamsonalibendre @karanjohar @saraalikhan95 #33YearsOfAJSK . . . #abujanisandeepkhosla #abujani #sandeepkhosla #journey #memories #milestones #craftsmanship #classic #handmade #handembroidery #indiafantastique #mukeshambani #nitaambani #amitabhbachchan #jayabachchan #deepikapadukone #amritasingh #tabu #guarikhan #sussannekhan #booklaunch #resham #zardozi #mirror #gota #patola
A post shared by Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla (@abujanisandeepkhosla) on Aug 26, 2019 at 1:48am PDT
2012: The book, India Fantastique made its London debut at an exclusive, event at Sotheby's. The iconic Dame Judi Dench and Mr. Amitabh Bachchan, two of the duo’s most cherished and inspirational personal Muses, released the book as Guests of Honour. A big thank you to Mrs Usha Mittal, with whom we share a long and extremely special association, having designed for her and both her children’s weddings. Her continued faith in us as artists and immense contribution to the book are cherished. A special mention for Sanjay Newatia for his incredible role at the launch at Sotheby’s. "Abu and I thought long and hard about how we wanted to celebrate our 25 year milestone and design journey, and also about how we would use this celebration to set the vision for our creativity and ourselves in the next twenty-five years. It soon became clear that a book was the ideal vehicle. A book is forever. ” - Sandeep Khosla Shot across the globe In the most diverse and exotic locales and published by Thames & Hudson it was written by the much respected art critic, Gayatri Sinha and shot by acclaimed photographers Ram Shergill (For fashion and fashion detail) and Deidi Von Schaewen (For interiors). The book is a lush insight into the hearts and minds of Abu and Sandeep and chronicles their spectacular work in Fashion, Art, Interiors. It is also an ode to India, their ultimate and eternal muse. The book went on to become a bestseller and has found its way into art bookstores, libraries and design institutions across the world. @amitabhbachchan #33YearsOfAJSK . . . #abujanisandeepkhosla #abujani #sandeepkhosla #journey #memories #milestones #highlights #anniversary #design #fashionpresentation #craftsmanship #classic #handmade #handembroidery #indiafantastique #London #Sotheby #amitabhbachchan #damejudidench #thamesandhudson #gayatrisinha #ramshergill #deidivonschaewen #fashion #art #interiors #eternalmuse
A post shared by Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla (@abujanisandeepkhosla) on Aug 26, 2019 at 5:37am PDT
SARA ALI KHAN FOR INDIA FANTASTIQUE
GOING GLOBAL FOR GOLDEN GLOBES
THE FANTASY FLIGHT WITH TERMINAL 2
SONAM KAPOOR AHUJA’S MEHENDI LOOK
THE KHOSLA-JANI
2016: Abu and Sandeep introduce KHOSLA JANI through a marvellously magical presentation at The Grand Hyatt in Mumbai! It was the first time the label, which has already found aficionados in global icons like Dame Judi Dench, Beyoncé, Carrie Underwood, Gwen Stefani and Kesha, was showcased in India. Share Abu Jani & Sandeep Khosla, “We were thrilled to premiere KHOSLA JANI through ‘The Enchanted Collection’ in India. The mood for the collection was Winter - deep, dark and delicious. It spun a fantasy and celebrated the fiery heat that resides in the iciest of palettes, from off white and beige to silvered grey, the blue of Midnight and Pitch black. It was decidedly erotic, grown-up glam for the woman who always stands apart and knows and loves herself.” The duo's favourite muse Shweta Bachchan Nanda took the ramp by storm in a Deco Feather gown radiating utmost opulence in white. Her ensemble featured a bed of icy crystals and pearls in extravagant art deco swirls that were paired with a matching feathered cap and headgear. #33YearsOfAJSK . . . #abujanisandeepkhosla #abujani #sandeepkhosla #journey #memories #milestones #highlights #anniversary #design #fashion #craftsmanship #classic #handmade #handembroidery #khoslajani #show #magicalpresentation #feathergown #icycrystals #pearls #shwetabachchan
A post shared by Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla (@abujanisandeepkhosla) on Aug 30, 2019 at 8:34am PDT
QUEEN BEY
THE BRIDE TRIBE
VEERE DI WEDDING
2018: Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla take their couture to cinema with Veere De Wedding! Their rapport with Sonam and Rhea took this project beyond work. It was a time of supreme joy, ecstatic creativity and marvelous manifestation. The duo passionately reinvented their classics including Kareena's vintage chikan lehenga which was paired with a delicate pearl-edged, off-shoulder blouse that became an absolute rage after the film's release. Even Sonam's miniature blouse was inspired by the Miniature Collection archives from the 80's that had mythological artworks embedded in the garment. Talking about their fabulous experience, Abu Sandeep reveal that "It wasn't just costume design. We see each woman for her uniqueness and so her wardrobe must express and exude her individuality. Sonam, Kareena, Swara and Shikha and the roles they played in VDW called for us to use our creativity to serve both their physical beauty and their spirits, personalities and lifestyles. It was a delicious challenge. And yet effortless because with a savvy and stylish team of women like them, the inspiration just flowed.” Sharing her experience too, here's what Rhea Kapoor had to say - "Working with Abu and Sandeep was an instinctive choice. Cannot think of a wedding without their ensembles. Putting the wardrobe together was a passionate process. Lots of brainstorming, pushing the envelope and unleashing the imagination." @rheakapoor @sonamkapoor @reallyswara @shikhatalsania @vdwthefilm #33YearsOfAJSK . . . #abujanisandeepkhosla #abujani #sandeepkhosla #journey #memories #milestones #highlights #anniversary #design #fashion #culture #craftsmanship #classic #handmade #handembroidery #veerediwedding #rheakapoor #sonamkapoor #kareenkapoorkhan #swarabhaskar #shikhatalsania #cinema
A post shared by Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla (@abujanisandeepkhosla) on Sep 1, 2019 at 9:55am PDT
2019- THE CIRCLE OF LIFE
LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST- 33 GLORIOUS YEARS!
Happy Birthday, Abu. Keep inspiring and creating fashion milestones in the years to come!
(Source- Instagram)
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