Announcing Elle Graduates 2018: Meet India’s most exciting young designers

Every year, ELLE’s fashion experts begin their task of picking the most promising new acts in Indian fashion. ELLE Graduates celebrates these rising stars, acting as a platform for talent. This year saw a mix of eight designers competing across three categories: accessories, modern Indianwear and Ready To Wear. With Istituto Marangoni inviting the winning talent to their Milan campus to further their potential, the stakes were high.

But the evening wouldn’t have been complete if ELLE didn’t honour the cool kids in fashion and pop culture. 

Sushant Chhabbria took away Photographer Of The Year

A post shared by ELLE India (@elleindiaofficial) on Mar 21, 2018 at 9:34am PDT

Yami Gautam presented Kayaan Contractor with the award for Social Media Star. And one look at her Instagram proves that she deserves it.

Meet our Social Media star, @kayaancontractor. Our hearty congratulations! #ELLEGRADUATES2018

A post shared by ELLE India (@elleindiaofficial) on Mar 21, 2018 at 9:51am PDT

And it’s no surprise the lady responsible for Deepika Padukone’s style evolution and one of the most influential stylists in Bollywood, Shaleena Nathani took home Stylist Of The Year.

The creative genius behind @deepikapadukone’s sexy style, @shaleenanathani just walked away with our Stylist Of The Year award. #stylist #ElleGraduates2018 #style #DeepikaPadukone #Bollywood

A post shared by ELLE India (@elleindiaofficial) on Mar 21, 2018 at 9:25am PDT

Boss lady Malini Agarwal snagged the well-deserved Be More ELLE award for her entrepreneurial skills.

Boss lady and new media #queen @missmalini is the winner of the #BeMoreELLE award at #ELLEGRADUATES2018. Carpet: @shyam_ahuja

A post shared by ELLE India (@elleindiaofficial) on Mar 21, 2018 at 9:35am PDT

And Malavika Mohanan received her first (of many, we’re sure) award, earning the title of Face To Watch Out For after being hand picked by Majid Majidi to star in his first Hindi production, Beyond The Clouds.

@malavikamohanan_ who is making her debut in #MajidMajidi’s #BeyondTheClouds is The Face To Watch Out for at #ELLEGraduates2018.

A post shared by ELLE India (@elleindiaofficial) on Mar 21, 2018 at 9:31am PDT

Finally our esteemed panel of jury members, who are each fashion giants in their own right, picked the winners of the evening. And who could argue with the decision of Vice-President and Head of Fashion at IMG-Reliance, Jaspreet Chandok, the driving force behind Ogaan India, Aashti Bhartia and Elle’s own editor and fashion editor Supriya Dravid and Malini Bannerjee respectively. Rounding off the panel we had fashion designer Payal Khandwala and Rahul Mishra as well as model, pageant queen and biker babe, Swati Wadhwani. 

Picking the Next Big Name in Indian fashion is no easy feat, and so we had to call on the big guns. Our powerhouse jury – @jaspreetchandok, @ogaanindia’s Aashti Bhartia, @payalkhandwala, @supriya.dravid, @malini_banerji, @diana.marian.murek and @rahulmishra_7 – looks pretty happy with their choices #ELLEGRADUATES2018 #style #jury #awards #India . Title partner: @instituto_marangoni Talent partner: @runwaylifestyl Style partner: @jeanclaudebiguineindia Wine partner: @groverzampa Beer partner: @thirstybeers Catering partner: @lekitchen_catering Gifting partners: @cottonsandsatins @themaevastore @kayaskinclinics @kerastase_official @meeshascarf

A post shared by ELLE India (@elleindiaofficial) on Mar 21, 2018 at 9:32am PDT

Our first award of Accessories designer went to Studio Metallurgy for their edgy, distinct and experimental designs.

Congratulations to @studio.metallurgy on winning the #ELLEGRADUATES2018 for the Accessories category.

A post shared by ELLE India (@elleindiaofficial) on Mar 21, 2018 at 9:13am PDT

Modern Indianwear went to Divya Sheth, with her hand-painted prints using natural dyes and embroidery.

@ogaanindia’s #AashtiBhartia with @shethdivya, the winner of Modern Indianwear category at #ELLEGraduates2018

A post shared by ELLE India (@elleindiaofficial) on Mar 21, 2018 at 9:27am PDT

And finally the winners of the Ready To Wear category as well as the opportunity to study at the Institu Marangoni was bagged by designer dui Rinzin Lama and Shenali Lama’s creations, Untitled Co.

We’re happy to announce @untitledco__ graduated with the top honours at #ELLEGRADUATES2018 

A post shared by ELLE India (@elleindiaofficial) on Mar 21, 2018 at 9:29am PDT

Special thanks:

Title partner:Instituto Marangoni

Talent partner: Runway Lifestyle

Style partner: Jean Claude Biguine India

Wine partner: Grover Zampa

Beer partner: Thirsty Beers

Catering partner: Le Kitchen Catering

Gifting partners: Cottons and Satins, The Maeva Store, Kaya skin clinics, Kerastase and Meesha scarf