Naeem Khan is an Indian-American fashion designer renowned for his ornate and intricately detailed gowns. His designs have been worn by celebrities such as Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift, Rachel McAdams, First Lady Michelle Obama, Queen Noor of Jordan, and the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton.
Sharing his incredible journey to become one of the most successful designers, Naeem said, “It’s been a very interesting journey. I started from ground zero. I came to America in 1978 to study in a school. My parents have a business in India where we make embroideries, so I grew up in that environment and through embroideries, I learnt how to create beautiful things by hand as I used to watch my grandfather and father make them. My father was expanding his business, he was coming to America for an appointment with some designers and I was coming here to get admission to the school. It was sheer luck and God being with me, I was offered a job to work for a famous designer called Halston, who was at that time, the biggest designer, not only in the sense of the visibility of who he designed for but he had the most successful billion-dollar business business. So for me, to be part of a business like that and learn from the master himself to be his right hand. Coming from India, where you grow up with a guru and if he asks you for your right thumb, you give it. I grew up with that philosophy and dedicated my life to fashion.”
When asked how it feels to be a fashion icon in India, he said, “It feels great but I do feel that I need to get back. I need to do certain more things for India that I haven’t done yet. Living in America and running a business, it becomes hard to focus on yourself. I don’t know whether I am an icon but I love my work and have followed my passion. I have spent every moment of a day thinking about fashion. It’s my soul. I’m working on projects in America where education is a big part of it. I’ve written a book, a coffee table book. I want to do more and pay attention to education. India is poised to become one of the biggest fashion capitals of the world as we have style and all the necessary elements to make the most beautiful things.”
When it comes to how the Indian fashion industry has evolved, Naeem described, “My grandfather, who was the pioneer of embroideries in his days, was the chairman of the Indian Embroidery Union. I grew up with amazing men who gave their lives for the craft and saw beauty in it. I can’t let my grandfather and father down. I take the core and modernise it for the new woman of today. In the 1930s and 1920s, when my grandfather was making these beautiful things, it’s the same, it’s you who take that craft and if you change it to your aesthetics for the modern woman of today, it’s relevant. India makes things that are different but that’s catering to that lifestyle in India. Indian fashion is also changing. We need to just tweak it like what I did for America and it could be relatable to India’s new generation. India is the core of my fashion life. Whatever I do, India is 100% in it and it’s a tribute to the women of today.” On his plan to expand his business in India, he said, “I would love to fo that but you need to have a partner. I haven’t found the right partnership in India. It could be beautiful prints, embroideries, lifestyle things, cosmetics or any of the other products that we are working on. Hopefully, we’ll find the right partner but it is my dream and intention to be part of India soon.”