Kartik Kumra
Kartik Kumra | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2000 (age 25–26) |
| Education | University of Pennsylvania (B.A.) |
| Occupations |
|
| Organization(s) | Founder and Artistic Director of Kartik Research |
| Awards | Time 100 Next 2025 |
Kartik Kumra (born 2000) is an Indian fashion designer. He is most known for his fashion company Kartik Research, which centers traditional Indian crafts. He founded the company during COVID, when he was home in India. He was a semifinalist for the LVMH Prize in both 2023 and 2026. In 2025, he was named to the Time 100 Next list for his fashion designs.
Biography
Kumra was raised in Delhi.[1] As a teenager, he collected and resold sneakers from brands such as Supreme.[2] He enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania to study economics.[3]
In 2020, during the pandemic, he decided to design his own garments, and using money saved from his sneaker reselling, traveled thousands of miles around India to meet with dyers, weavers, embroiderers, and wood-block printers, building a network of 50 craftsmen.[4] He then launched Kartik Research, which focused on hand-spun, hand-embroidered, and naturally dyed fabrics[5] with a strong emphasis on heritage.[6][7] It had its first pop-up store in New York in 2022,[2] and made its runway debut at Paris Fashion Week in 2025.[8] That same year, he opened up his brand's first Manhattan store after a previous Delhi store.[9] He had another show in 2026 in Paris amidst challenges due to newly set United States import tariffs.[10]
His designs have been worn by many influential people, including Paul Mescal, Stephen Curry,[2] Lewis Hamilton, Riz Ahmed and Joe Jonas.[11] Zohran Mamdani wore a custom eri silk tie designed by Kumra at his mayoral inauguration.[12][13]
He was a semifinalist for the LVMH Prize in both 2023[14] and 2026.[15] He was named to the Time 100 Next in 2025 and his profile was written by Asma Khan.[16]
References
- ↑ Sinha, Dipanjan (November 14, 2025). "From college classes to Paris Fashion Week: Meet self-taught designer Kartik Kumra". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on December 17, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Hine, Samuel (April 18, 2025). "How Kartik Research Graduated from a Dorm Room to the Menswear Major Leagues". GQ. Archived from the original on May 16, 2026. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- ↑ Martech (February 20, 2023). "Alumni Spotlight: Kartik Kumra (C '22)". Baker Retailing Center. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- ↑ "In the Stitch". The Pennsylvania Gazette. April 24, 2023. Archived from the original on August 8, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- ↑ "Kartik Kumra | BoF 500 | The People Shaping the Global Fashion Industry". The Business of Fashion. February 10, 2026. Archived from the original on January 26, 2026. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- ↑ "Kartik Research, Kartik Kumra | FHCM". www.fhcm.paris. Archived from the original on December 7, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- ↑ "Family Style". www.family.style. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- ↑ "Kartik Research embraced maximalism at it's Paris debut". Harper Bazar. Archived from the original on April 14, 2026. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- ↑ "A New York minute with Kartik Kumra of Kartik Research". thenodmag.com. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- ↑ Adlakha, Abhya (February 25, 2026). "Kartik Kumra Returns to Fashion's Big League With 'Raag'". Esquire India. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- ↑ "Asian American Across the Disciplines with Kartik Kumra | Asian American Studies Program". asam.sas.upenn.edu. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- ↑ Sobrevilla, Savannah (January 2, 2026). "What Mayor Zohran Mamdani Wore to His First Day of Work". GQ. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- ↑ Tarafdar, Aditi (February 25, 2026). "Did You Notice Zohran Mamdani's Kartik Research Tie?". Esquire India. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- ↑ "Kartik Research". www.lvmhprize.com. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- ↑ "Kartik Research 2026". www.lvmhprize.com. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- ↑ Khan, Asma. "Kartik Kumra". Time. Retrieved May 23, 2026.