Photos courtesy of Sachin & Babi.
After a recent trip to Dallas to check out the scene for the gala season, New York City-based Sachin & Babi talk about why they regularly visit the city and what to expect from this year’s fall lines — including theirs.
Sachin & Babi Ahluwalia met as students at the Fashion Institute of Technology, becoming instant friends and bonding over their upbringings in India. After years of friendship, the two fell in love and started their brand, designing embroidery for brands like Oscar de la Renta and Armani.
Sachin & Babi started their own line in 2009, which was inducted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2013 and expanded to cocktail and daywear in 2020.
Tell us a little bit about Sachin & Babi.
We founded our namesake on the belief that life’s true beauty lies in celebrating its moments, both grand and intimate. We craft timeless pieces that accompany a woman through life’s cherished occasions – whether an elegant evening out or the unforgettable magic of a wedding. Each design is imbued with a classic sophistication that highlights her individuality. As a vertically integrated brand, we are dedicated to delivering exceptional quality with thoughtful accessibility, ensuring that luxury and value exist hand in hand. Our mission is to meet women at the crossroads of fashion and personal expression, creating clothing that enhances her journey rather than defines it. Every piece we create reflects a story, not just of style, but of life’s most meaningful moments.
As a New York-based company, how does Dallas align with your brand identity?
Babi and I share a deep love for Dallas, and to truly love a city, one must first love its people. In Dallas, we’ve always received the warmest of welcomes, and the women of Texas embody the essence of the modern American woman for whom we design. Their passion for fashion, impeccable sense of style, vibrant use of color, and celebration of femininity perfectly align with the core values of our brand.
What makes Dallas’ gala scene different from New York’s?
While New York may be the fashion capital of the world with its legendary gala scene, Dallas is where fashion is embraced in its truest sense. In contrast to New York, where the fashion scene is often approached with great seriousness and gravity, Dallas brings a lively, celebratory spirit to the forefront. As the saying goes, everything truly is bigger in Texas, and the people of Dallas certainly live life on a grander scale.
What is your inspiration for the new fall line?
Much of our inspiration is drawn from nature, particularly the captivating beauty of botanical flowers. For Fall 2024, we reflected on some of our favorite photographers who have captured striking macro shots of oversized blooms, and from this, we focused on the romantic allure of a ‘White Rose in Moonlight.’ While we often envision roses bathed in sunlight, a rose is equally enchanting beneath the glow of the moon, evoking a sense of mystery and depth. There’s a subtle message there – a reminder that beauty can thrive even in the quiet of night.
What key trends should we be looking out for going into this upcoming gala and event season?
Bold colors, vibrant florals and sophisticated sheens of sparkle. This season, more is more.
