When the world’s biggest fashion houses need intricate embroidery for their haute couture designs, they often turn to a company with decades of experience. Creations By Shanagar is an Indian atelier that has become known for its exceptional hand embroidery, helping transform ambitious fashion designs into detailed works of art. Based in Bombay, the company was founded by the Desai family, with the name “Shanagar” coming from a Sanskrit verb meaning “to adorn.” Today, Chetan Desai leads the atelier, continuing a family tradition that has lasted for more than six decades.
For Chetan, embroidery was never simply a profession. He grew up surrounded by fashion and craftsmanship, hearing about embroidery throughout his childhood while his family worked on beautifully decorated saris. Their creations were made for royal families, Bollywood and clients across India. Chetan eventually spent around 30 years in the same field, describing hand embroidery as the one thing he truly knows. His passion eventually led him toward an even bigger ambition: working with French designers and becoming part of the international world of haute couture.
That ambition became reality as Chetan began working with some of fashion’s most respected designers and houses. His experience includes collaborations connected with Alaia, Gautier, Yohji Yamamoto, Donna Karan and Alberta Ferretti. Rather than developing one recognizable signature style, Chetan sees himself as someone who learns from every designer he works with. Each collaboration brings new ideas, techniques and creative challenges, allowing him and his team to recreate and adapt designs according to the vision of the masters behind them. For Chetan, the constant exchange of ideas is part of what makes the craft so rewarding.
That international reputation was further demonstrated in 2023, when Creations By Shanagar collaborated with French couturier Julien Fournier. The atelier provided the embroidery for Fournier’s spring/summer collection, which was presented during Paris Fashion Week. It was another example of how traditional hand craftsmanship from India can become an essential part of contemporary haute couture on one of fashion’s biggest stages. Behind the glamour of the runway is an enormous amount of patience, precision and experience, much of it carried out by skilled artisans whose work may be noticed without their names ever becoming widely known.
Chetan’s story ultimately shows how a craft passed down through generations can reach far beyond its original setting. What began with embroidered saris for royal families and Bollywood evolved into an international career working alongside celebrated fashion designers. Creations By Shanagar may not be the name appearing on the front of a couture garment, but its intricate work helps bring those designs to life. With decades of experience, a passion for hand embroidery and an openness to learning from every creative partnership, Chetan and his team have established themselves as true artists working behind the scenes of global fashion.
