Torani

𝐋𝐮𝐱𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐧
Torani’s menswear originates from a space of play and innovation ~ to cater to that side of the gender which wants more than just solid colors and a-line pants.

‘Jamali Kamali’ saw many silhouettes that were inspired from sufi and tribal traditions- spaces where men wear all kinds of jewellery, colorful accessories, and also, a kind of freedom unavailable in typical ‘civilizations’ and corporate offices. Taking inspirations from the rajasthani angarkhas, the arabic jalabiya and the tribal chogas , and ccrafteing intricate aari work onto delicate chanderi fabrics in calm, summer colors ~ ‘Jamali Kamali’ was all about freedom and a ‘breezy’ way of life.
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Discover Torani’s one-of-a-kind menswear, at 𝐰𝐰𝐰.𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢.𝐢𝐧
Or Visit our flagship store at 𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭, 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐡𝐢

𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝘿𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙧𝙚
Photographer Sunil Gupta’s images of the gay community in 1980s Delhi were a revelation when they resurfaced in 2022. It was like finding a sense of belonging and history, for those fighting for the cause of ‘love is love’. What is interesting though, is the fact that Mr. Sunil had tried to exhibit his work before in Delhi, in 2012.

As he recalls the exhibition day for Vogue, he talks about how different the situation was in 2012. “We had finished installing it on the day of the opening and left the venue for a few hours in the afternoon. We didn’t realise we’d left it unlocked. Someone had photographed every picture and gone to the local police station to lodge a complaint. So, mid-opening, the cops turned up and began ordering us to take down the photos.”

From there, to today, a lot has changed. Of course, this is India, so progress looks different every 10 kilometers. But still, a lot has changed. There is hope in that. There is also promise for a bigger, better and more accepting future, in that.

Image Courtesy: The artist and Hales Gallery, Materià Gallery, Stephen Bulger Gallery and Vadehra Art Gallery. ©Sunil Gupta

𝐈𝐧 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬
“I learnt that the practice of repair and recycle doesn’t just come from the hopes of a sustainable world with less wastage but just genuine need to realise value in all things around us. It suggests innovation of the simplest kind to take place within our daily lives.”
~ Karan Torani

In the June edition of monthly newsletter“𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢”, we talk about the idea od memory and identity that a piece of clothing can hold, and how that changes the way one must look at clothes in the Indian context.

Click the link in the story to read and subscribe, and be privy to the insights behind every decision and creation at the Torani HQ.

𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝘿𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙧𝙚
What happens when an Indian writer and filmmaker writes a love story in Marathi, set in a small town near Bombay? Cobalt Blue was released as a novel in 2006 ~ before woke culture, before theories of fluidity and stories of the q***r west had reached India. Yet, here we have a man writing about a brother and a sister who both fell in love with the same paying guest who came to occupy their middle class home one fine day.

It is a story about a man who is unafraid of taking space, yet is more adept at grooming than his ‘tom-boy’ sister who is unabashed and fearless until she isn’t. There is no box you can fit these characters in, because before their identification markers can be discusses - gay, bisexual, butch - they’re irrevocably established as humans. It is a story that breaks the ‘conventions’ of gender and sexual orientations without making a point about it, and isn’t the telling of q***r stories exactly about that, after all? About seeing them as the same kind of imperfect, deeply complex, yet extremely relatable characters as anyone else.

Image Description: Screengrab from the film adaptation of ‘Cobalt Blue’, written and adapted by filmmaker and writer Sachin Kundalkar

The moon did not become the sun.
It just fell on the desert
in great sheets, reams
of silver handmade by you.
The night is your cottage industry now,
the day is your brisk emporium.
The world is full of paper.
Write to me.

𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒚- by Agha Shahid Ali

Image courtesy: Dal Lake, Kashmir, captured by James Burke for LIFE Magazine, circa 1964

𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐮 𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐢 𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢
The brilliant dancer and actor Mr. Shantanu Maheshwari (.maheshwari) in our Mogra Abhirath Bandi, paired with lush silk Kurta and a dhoti inspired by the punjabi-folk poshaak. The Bandi and Kurta have some of the most intricate and minimal hand-embroidered aari work, all in the classic shade of ivory.

Discover this and more on 𝐰𝐰𝐰.𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢.𝐢𝐧 or visit our flagship stores at 𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭, 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐡𝐢

Styled by
Shot by -

On wet, rainy afternoons
When the earth is fertile
With tales from the oceans
Far and beyond
When the cuckoo bird calls
And the tiny, soft jasmine buds
long for the celebration of the forest;
You will find us here.
Image Courtesy: ⁠

𝐒𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐢 𝐆𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐚 𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢
The popular actress and performer Ms. Sayani Gupta () looks gorgeous in our Mradu Afroza Saree. The hand embroidered sheer silk organza saree has been paired with the sensual yet elegant Mradu Damini blouse, creating a beautiful blend of tradition and modernity.

Discover this and more on 𝐰𝐰𝐰.𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢.𝐢𝐧 or visit our flagship stores at 𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭, 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐡𝐢.

HMU:

𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
“I’ve always given a special attention to the cholis we create at Torani. It’s because I want to create from a conscious place ~ of catering to various tastes and always creating something new in the final look; something that makes the wearer walk with comfort and confidence; something that makes them feel like the ‘main character’.

Torani’s range of choli designs is one of the widest - from sensual backless bralettles to phoshaak-like angiyas and kasanis.”

~ Karan Torani

The gorgeous Torani Bride Ms. Sareena Merchant ( ) in Gul-Bano Amruta Saree, paired with the Gul-Bano Idika Blouse. Crafted in the finest silk organza, the saree is a gorgeous heritage piece, hand embroidered in doriya, fine sequin work, and a gota border. The Idika blouse also boasts of some of the most intricate doriya work, all in the timeless shade of ivory.

Discover this and more on 𝐰𝐰𝐰.𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢.𝐢𝐧 or visit our flagship stores at 𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭, 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐡𝐢.

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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢 𝐌𝐚𝐧
At Torani, we love creating for the desi man ~ the one who is beyond monotones, who puts mehendi on his palms and wears his heart on the colorful sleeve of his kurta. Who ties promises of love into his Bandi and sits cross-legged on bare earth in his dhoti.

Featured here: Mogra Abhirath Bandi, paired with lush silk Kurta and a dhoti inspired by the punjabi-folk poshaak. The Bandi and Kurta have some of the most intricate and minimal hand-embroidered aari work, all in the classic shade of ivory.

Discover this and more on 𝐰𝐰𝐰.𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢.𝐢𝐧 or visit our flagship stores at 𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭, 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐡𝐢.

Photo Credit:
Styling & Direction:
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In Frame:
HMU:

ज़ुल्फ़ में फँसी हुई
खोल देंगे बालियाँ
कान खिंच जाए अगर
खा लें मीठी गालियाँ
If your earring gets stuck in your hair
I will distentagle it for you
And if your ear gets pulled too hard when I do,
I will smile listening to your rebuke

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Mr. Sutej ( ) and Ms. Harsukh ( ) in Torani, exchanging sweet nothings and reminding us of the beautiful simplicity of love.

On Mr. Sutej ~ Swetah Karam Kurta, crafted onto lush handwoven chanderi and cotton silk, with dori embroidered hand-block print detailing, all in the timeless shade of ivory.

On Ms. Harsukh ~ Mradu Samrina Kurta, crafted in lightweight silk organza with hand embroidered block print details, paired with lush silk pants and organza odhni.

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हाथ थाम चलना हो
तो दोनों के दाएं हाथ संग कैसे
To walk together, hand in hand
Both hands cannot be right

Mr. Sutej ( ) and Ms. Harsukh ( ) in Torani, running amongst the pigeons and reminding us of the beautiful simplicity of love.

On Mr. Sutej ~ Swetah Karam Kurta, crafted onto lush handwoven chanderi and cotton silk, with dori embroidered hand-block print detailing, all in the timeless shade of ivory.

On Ms. Harsukh ~ Mradu Samrina Kurta, crafted in lightweight silk organza with hand embroidered block print details, paired with lush silk pants and organza odhni.

Shot by

Straight from the hands of some of the finest artisans of India, handcrafted with stories from the rich histories and the ever-evolving cultures of our country.

𝐔𝐩𝐭𝐨 𝟒𝟎% 𝐎𝐟𝐟 | 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐰𝐰.𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢.𝐢𝐧, 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐊𝐚𝐡𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭, 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐡𝐢

𝐒𝐫𝐢𝐲𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐲 𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢
Actor and VJ Ms. Sriya Reddy looks ethereal in our Swetah Aadira Rubani Saree.

The timeless ivory saree is one of our bestsellers from the collection ‘Rasiya’, crafted in signature Torani organza with intricate Aari work and paired with a sheer tulle choli.

Discover this and more on 𝐰𝐰𝐰.𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢.𝐢𝐧
Or visit our flagship store in 𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭, 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐡𝐢

Styling-
MUH-
Photography-

Straight from the hands of some of the finest artisans of India, handcrafted with stories from the rich histories and the ever-evolving cultures of our country.

𝐔𝐩𝐭𝐨 𝟒𝟎% 𝐎𝐟𝐟 | 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐰𝐰.𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢.𝐢𝐧, 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐊𝐚𝐡𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭, 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐡𝐢

ख्वाहिशों का रास्ता भी बड़ा अजीब है ‘गा़लिब’
अक्सर वहीं से गुज़रता है जहां रास्ता ना हो
The path desire takes is such a treacherous one
Often swerves and turns through impossible roads; wants you to pass through dead ends

Image from: Pinterest, shot by Brad Styron ()

𝙏𝙤 𝙁𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨~

Who carry their love on themselves like the old titan watch they never forget to put on in the morning, like their favourite hawai slippers they keep getting mended instead of buying new ones, like their inability to let you pay for anything, like a song you sometimes forget about before it comes back on your shuffle exactly when you need it.

Photograph by Steve McCurry

A lehenga is one of the most versatile silhouettes in our traditional wear. The ghera can be as big as you want it to be, or as sleek and embellished as your personal style demands ~ both can create the same effects of beauty and allure. One of our most popular lehengas, the 𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐢 𝐆𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐲𝐚 𝐏𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐢 𝐋𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚 is crafted with the beautiful and delicate bhuri gauraiya print, and is accompanied by a butterfly net blouse over the choli ~ a reimagination of the typical lehenga odhani.

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Crafted in the cooling and luxurious handwoven chanderi, these garments are unmistakably some of the most ‘summer’ of our summer creations.

Featured: Bhuri Gauriya Poulami Blouse

Discover this and more this summer festive, at 𝐰𝐰𝐰.𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢.𝐢𝐧
 

𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 x 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭
Another look we created for Ms. Janhvi Kapoor ( ) was the combination of the 𝟖𝟑 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭 & 𝐆𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐚𝐫.

The cropped shirt took its inspiration from the vests and uniform of the Indian cricket team during the 1983 iconic world cup win. Paired with it was the modern yet uninhibitedly Indian ghera silhouette, dotted with red cricket ball motifs.

The set is now live exclusively on our webstore on www.torani.in

Styling:
Hair:
Makeup:

Printed bags makes for the most perfect day-time and casual accessories. Crafting unique shapes into our potlis, batwas, and jholas has been a most cherished practice at Torani.

The gauraiyas or old world sparrows of dopahar make for the most quaint and idyllic image onto these accents that can not only add to a look, but become the highlight around which your summer looks can be centred.

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Crafted in the cooling and luxurious handwoven chanderi, these garments are unmistakably some of the most ‘summer’ of our summer creations.

Discover this and more this summer festive, at 𝐰𝐰𝐰.𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢.𝐢𝐧
 

𝙊𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙐𝙥𝙤𝙣 𝘼 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧
The colors of ‘Dopahar’ are a coming together of the lazy, european exposed brick afternoons near the sea, with the pure and clear whites one can find everywhere in the middle east as a remedy to the harsh arabic summers.

Crafted in the cooling and luxurious handwoven chanderi and embellished with hand-knotted tassels, the scarfs from dopahar are unmistakably some of the most ‘summer’ of our summer creations.

Featured: Bhuri Kali Shama Scarf, Bhuri Kali Adah Scarf, Neeli Kali Shama Scarf, Neeli Gauraiya Akashi Scarf

Discover this and more this summer festive, at 𝐰𝐰𝐰.𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢.𝐢𝐧

𝙊𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙐𝙥𝙤𝙣 𝘼 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧
There are some colors that go together so well that they seem to absorb within one another, despite not mixing to create something completely different…like ice shavings and kaala khatta. The warm, earthy brick red, ‘Bhura’, and the soothing white is one such combination. Especially in summer, and even more so in design. At the same time, the cool blue of ‘Neela’ is like a small, calm river stream passing by.

The colors of ‘Dopahar’ are a coming together of the lazy, european exposed brick afternoons near the sea, with the pure and clear whites one can find everywhere in the middle east as a remedy to the harsh arabic summers. Crafted in the cooling and luxurious handwoven chanderi, these garments are unmistakably some of the most ‘summer’ of our summer creations.

Featured: Bhuri Gauraiya Swati Ghera, Neeli Kali Idaya Kurta, Neeli Gauraiya Geetha Kurta, Neeli Booti Iqra Kurta, Bhuri Kali Naavya Kurta

Discover this and more this summer festive, at 𝐰𝐰𝐰.𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢.𝐢𝐧

𝐉𝐚𝐡𝐧𝐯𝐢 𝐊𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢

How does one deploy the story of Indian Craft and the enthralling game of cricket?

When reached out to me to craft a custom look for Miss ~ I wanted to handpick a signature Torani look ~ the organza scallop embroidered sari and reimagine it with motifs of the wicket and balls.

With a sporty striped print that took inspiration from the lines of the pitch to the vintage leather ball inspired choli and Potli ~ the look became a potpourri of all things India and its love for cricket.

Just when our nation is recovering from a nail-biting match with our neighbouring country last night ~ resulting into a joyous victory, this sari became the perfect ode for us at Torani to share with the world.

The sari is now live exclusively on our webstore on www.torani.in

Styling:
Hair:
Makeup:

𝐉𝐚𝐡𝐧𝐯𝐢 𝐊𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢

How does one deploy the story of Indian Craft and the enthralling game of cricket?

When reached out to me to craft a custom look for Miss ~ I wanted to handpick a signature Torani look ~ the organza scallop embroidered sari and reimagine it with motifs of the wicket and balls.

With a sporty striped print that took inspiration from the lines of the pitch to the vintage leather ball inspired choli and Potli ~ the look became a potpourri of all things India and its love for cricket.

Just when our nation is recovering from a nail-biting match with our neighbouring country last night ~ resulting into a joyous victory, this sari became the perfect ode for us at Torani to share with the world.

The sari is now live exclusively on our webstore on www.torani.in

Styling:
Photography
Hair:
Makeup:

𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 ‘𝙎𝙝𝙪𝙙𝙙𝙝𝙞’
“I have always felt an affinity to animals. I love them. I think that’s why, subconsciously, animals can be found everywhere in Torani - from our studio to our design elements. When I saw Gregory Colbert’s documentary ‘Ashes and Snow’ , I felt an itch in my heart~ the kind you get when you see something so beautiful that you long for it.

And as ‘Shuddhi’ started materializing more and more, we realized that Ravi’s motherhood can be perfectly depicted by something like this - just a gentle and pure form of love. Our story - which was about one of the holy rivers of Sapth Sindhu and about highlighting their significance and divinity, somehow found resonance in a documentary film, made by Mr. Colbert, of the most human, normal people, just bonded with animals in such divine ways. Makes one hope for a better tomorrow, doesn’t it?”

~ Karan Torani

Story and concept
Photography and direction
Filmography

𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 ‘𝙎𝙝𝙪𝙙𝙙𝙝𝙞’
“This was a pretty heartbreaking part of the story, yet we learnt quite a lot from it. While ‘Shuddhi’ was when I saw the boosting power of the digital format for the first time, it was also a campaign where I saw hate comments and social media trolls for the first time. I never hide it, why should I? It happened. For this leg of the campaign, a lot of questions started emerging; not only on my inspirations but also on how we treated these beautiful gentle giants during the shoot. And before we could answer any of them, there were assumptions.

But I understood a lot from that ~ not only in terms of responsibility and influence, but also about how all I can do in these situations is put my perspective and my art forwards, and take in everything that would improve my sensibility as a designer and an artist, as well as a responsible creator. I also learnt to be a better communicator, and I try to answer all possible questions beforehand, these days.

But I couldn’t stop making my art, not out of fear, and neither will I stop now. All i can promise is that I will keep growing, learning, and questioning my own self at every step.”

~ Karan Torani

Story and concept
Photography and direction
Filmography