For Hyderabad-based designer Aisha Rao, New York wasn’t just where she clocked her hours at Parsons or learned how to draft a clean princess seam. NYC was the first place where her maximalist, craft-forward world collided with the chaos of a city that made contradictions look chic.
Her latest collection, Americana, is less “stars and stripes” and more Bollywood meets Beekman Hotel. Traditional lehengas styled like streetwear, vintage silk scraps turned into couture, and unapologetic glam shot against Midtown glass and grime. The references are layered: there’s Art Deco, there’s postmodern, there’s a whiff of 80s uptown girl and Delhi wedding season in the same frame.
Shot across NYC , from fire escapes to shadowy hotel hallways, the collection stays loyal to Rao’s usual cinematic POV (remember the Turkey and Siddhpur moments?). But here, the energy’s louder, more caffeinated. New York isn’t just a backdrop, it’s a co-star. And through it all, Aisha Rao’s signature: upcycled fabrics, rich storytelling, silhouettes that don’t sit still.
All image courtesy: Aisha Rao