Gaurav Gupta has opened his first flagship store that is dedicated entirely to menswear. It is located in New Delhi’s DLF Emporio, and the boutique measures around 2,300 square feet. This massive store now establishes Gaurav Gupta Man as a core pillar of the Indian fashion designer’s brand.
He also marked this launch by unveiling a couture-inspired MG Cyberster in collaboration with MG Select. This is the designer’s first step into the automotive world with MG Motor’s convertible sports car, which is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds.
In interviews with Esquire and HT Lifestyle, Gaurav Gupta gets candid about the fashion trends he believes will be big this year, the evolution of the Indian fashion industry and menswear
and what makes Jr NTR one of his favourite celebrities.
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Ask the renowned designer about menswear, which is currently having a moment, with actors like Timothée Chalamet, Jacob Elordi, Jeff Goldblum, Harry Styles, Billy Porter and more now showing off their personal style on the red carpet and beyond, and he says, “I believe the next pivot will be emotional dressing. Men will move away from dressing for occasion or status and toward dressing for expression and comfort. In Indi,a especially, there is a rediscovery of fluidity, softness, and ornamentation that has always existed in our culture. The future of Indian menswear lies in embracing that heritage while reinterpreting it for modern life.”
The designer goes on to add that he believes that Indian men are experimenting a lot with their fashion and clothing choices. However, he does have a few tips for them to take things to the next level this year: “Indian men today are far more confident and curious. I would love for them to explore drape. Draping allows the body to move naturally and creates a very quiet kind of elegance. It is something deeply rooted in our history, yet it feels incredibly contemporary when worn with intention.”
He adds, “I am excited about the return of softness in menswear. Fluid tailoring, draped elements, lighter constructions, and a more emotional approach to dressing. Men are no longer dressing only for function or formality, but for self-expression. That shift is incredibly powerful.”
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Gaurav Gupta has worked with several actors, including Shahid Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Ayushmann Khurrana, Ishaan Khatter and more. He shares that the most memorable male actor he has worked with has got to be JR NTR. In fact, the designer is the one who styled the actor for his Oscar moment for the film RRR in 2023. Jr NTR wore a custom black bandhgala with lion embroidery for the 2023 Oscars.
“There have been many special moments, but what stays with me most are looks that change perception. Jr NTR at the Oscars was significant because it placed Indian menswear on a global red carpet with confidence and individuality. Those moments matter not because of visibility, but because they expand how Indian design is seen internationally,” he says.
As a designer who has worked with several international biggies, including rapper Cardi B, singers like Beyonce and Shakira and actor Queen Latifah, the designer believes that “2026 will be less about trends and more about sensibility”. He adds, “We will see a shift toward fluidity, gender-neutral dressing, and emotionally driven silhouettes. Craft will regain importance, not as nostalgia but as innovation. Sustainability will no longer be a trend, it will simply be the foundation of responsible design.”
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