Here’s the thing about Shanti: it has always known how to sit in that sweet spot between tradition and right-now. Rooted in Varanasi and founded in 2019 by siblings Khushi and Amrit Shah, Shanti is renowned for its handwoven Banarasi sarees, crafted with real gold and silver zari threads. It never feels like costume, and it never chases trends. Instead, it celebrates craft, with a wink. That’s exactly why its newest collection feels so major.
It’s called Chhau by Shanti and, instead of moodboarding from afar, they went straight to the source. Twelve actual Chhau artists from Saraikela (Jharkhand), Purulia (West Bengal), and Mayurbhanj (Odisha). These are the keepers of one of India’s most mythic dance forms, the ones who know how to turn mythology into movement. Shanti listened, collaborated, and translated all of that into sarees.
The clothes themselves? Fluid crepes and georgettes (aka fabrics that move with you, not against you), drenched in bold, high-contrast colour and edged with real zari. It’s drama, but wearable. Theatre, but subtle. Heritage, but spun fresh.
The campaign is shot by Pranoy Sarkar in Jamshedpur, and it isn’t your standard fashion spread. The dancers are photographed in their own landscapes, surrounded by the earth and sky that shaped their art. What you see isn’t just clothes. It’s a conversation between culture, identity, and design.
As Shanti’s Creative Director Khushi Shah puts it: “True fashion transcends aesthetics. It carries stories, preserves memory, and honours those who dedicate their lives to keeping culture alive.”
And honestly? In a world where we’re flooded with new drops and endless imagery, it’s rare to find a campaign that makes you pause. This one does. It’s a stop-scrolling, look-again, wow moment.
Story, Creative Direction & Photography: @pranoysarkar
Fashion Direction & Styling: @jahnvibansal
Production & Set Design: @elementsprodn
Casting: Pravin Sarmalkar
Makeup: @handsofvishnu
Hair: @her.vision
Chhau Teacher: Uma Kumari
Copywriter: Md. Dildar Ansari & Guru Tapan Kumar Pattnayak