AKHL
“I design to challenge perception — reimagining craftsmanship through form, technique, and a new visual language.” by Akhil Nagpal, a contemporary luxury fashion label redefining Indian craftsmanship through avant-garde design, experimental silhouettes, and innovative handcraft techniques. Ethically handcrafted and globally recognised, AKHL represents modern, intellectual fashion for the new generation.
Designer Akhil Nagpal represents a bold new wave of fashion — one that challenges tradition, redefines craftsmanship, and speaks fluently to a global, contemporary audience. A graduate of Central Saint Martins, London, Akhil’s design journey is rooted in both technical excellence and creative rigour. During his studies, he was awarded the William Atkinson Award for Craftsmanship and won the LVMH Masterclass Competition, early recognitions of his exceptional vision and skill. Before launching his namesake studio in 2020, Akhil honed his craft working with influential fashion houses, including Peter Pilotto in London and Manish Arora and Amit Aggarwal in New Delhi. These experiences shaped his distinctive signature — one that merges experimental silhouettes with deeply researched handcrafted techniques. AKHL stands at the intersection of traditional Indian craftsmanship and avant-garde design. The designer’s work reinterprets age-old handcraft methods through innovative materials, technical experimentation, and a progressive visual language. Each piece is handcrafted with precision, embracing sensuality, subversion, and structural sophistication — positioning Indian design firmly within a 21st-century global fashion context. The designer debuted at Lakmé Fashion Week 2020 as the winner of the prestigious Gen-Next competition, marking the beginning of an internationally recognised trajectory. AKHL has since received multiple accolades, including the Grazia Young Fashion Award (2021) and Elle Graduates Designer of the Year (2022), and was selected as a finalist for the Fashion Trust Arabia Prize 2025, further strengthening his presence in the Middle East and Gulf region, including Qatar’s emerging fashion ecosystem. Curated on LUMEME, AKHL represents cutting-edge Indian craftsmanship with global relevance—fashion that is intellectual, provocative, and meticulously handmade for the modern collector.
AKHL is
- Conscious
