Kanika Goyal might say she wishes she wasn’t so ambitious, but everything around her tells a different story. Her thriving four-floor studio in Faridabad is a living, breathing testament to her relentless creativity and business drive. The space is constantly buzzing with activity — artisans hand-stitch sequinned Mickey Mouse motifs onto edgy T-shirts and shirt dresses, master tailors cut denim pieces that are fused with luxurious Chinese cotton to craft her iconic hybrid pants, and stacks of fabric await transformation into something bold and innovative. At every corner of her workspace, her imagination and leadership shine through, making it clear that her ambition isn’t just alive — it’s the heartbeat of her brand.
A Leading Millennial Force in Fashion
Today, Kanika Goyal stands out among a new generation of Indian fashion designers who are making waves globally. At 35, she’s not only present in the Indian fashion circuit but also a regular on the international runway. In just the last year, she has made remarkable strides. Her collection at London Fashion Week turned heads with its use of creased taffeta, surplus leather accessories, and laminated crushed textures — a blend of sustainability and luxury. She returned to her roots by organizing a fashion showcase in her hometown of Chandigarh, and partnered with the Excise Dept art collective to create a unique lookbook inspired by rural Punjab. Perhaps her most talked-about collection has been a massive 114-piece collaboration with Disney, featuring a nostalgic and playful spin on childhood favorites, like embroidered lungi checks, sequinned Mickey ears, and bold denim designs that celebrate youth with an edge. This Disney drop didn’t just attract attention — it created a new category of nostalgic luxury for grown-up dreamers.
A Growing Fashion Empire Rooted in Creativity
Kanika’s team now boasts over 90 members, a number that reflects both her growth and her ability to inspire those around her. Her fashion empire includes her original and experimental couture label Kanika Goyal Label (KGL), as well as a more accessible and playful casual wear line, Kilogram, which brings affordable fashion to everyday wardrobes without compromising on artistic intent. But she isn’t stopping there. Kanika has big plans to branch into home décor and product design, fields where she believes she can continue telling visual stories. What sets her work apart is a careful balance of youthful playfulness and structural maturity. Whether it’s a jacket, a hoodie, or a dress, there’s a clear signature — the spirit of curiosity, boldness, and confident rebellion.
The Early Spark from Chandigarh to New York
Kanika’s entrepreneurial journey started early, in her hometown of Chandigarh, where creativity and commerce met in her spirited personality. While her mother encouraged her fashion dreams, her father’s restrictions meant she could only go as far as NIFT Delhi. Though she didn’t get a top rank for fashion design, she joined the Space and Lifestyle Accessories program — and made the most of it. At just 20 years old, she co-founded a label called Yelo, offering stylish bags and keychains that were trendy, affordable, and loved by young shoppers across India. It was her first taste of success, and it only made her hungrier for more.
Realizing she needed global exposure, she took the bold step to study at the Parsons School of Design in New York. There, she juggled classes, jobs, and 14 internships, working with industry giants like Prada, Marchesa, and the Indian-American designer Bibhu Mohapatra. Bibhu saw her talent and asked her to stay on, but Kanika had a vision: to come back to India and build her own label. “It was now or never,” she says, reflecting on the moment that changed everything.
Starting Small and Thinking Big
Kanika’s official journey as an independent designer began in 2015, in a modest studio space in Shahpur Jat, Delhi — located right above a sweet shop. The location may have been humble, but her ideas were anything but. Her first collection featured statement T-shirts with phrases like “As If,” “That’s So Rad,” and “Super Weird.” The designs were bold, satirical, and spoke to a generation looking for fashion that felt expressive and personal. “We would totally be cancelled for making those statements now,” she says with a laugh. But that risk-taking spirit laid the foundation for her irreverent, boundary-pushing brand.
Soon, her clothes caught the eye of celebrities like Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh, Shubman Gill, and Hardik Pandya. As the demand grew, Goyal refused to be a one-hit wonder. She returned to the studio time and again, sharpening her designs with better tailoring, refined silhouettes, bold color blocking, and pieces that were both futuristic and grounded.
International Stars and Viral Moments
Kanika Goyal’s creations have now made their way to the world stage, dressing global icons and capturing the attention of style influencers. Jacob Collier, the Grammy-winning music genius, has been seen in her electric neon brights. Rising Gen Z singer Tyla wore her signature cotton-denim hybrid sets that combined edge with comfort. Hollywood star Halle Bailey, known for her role as The Little Mermaid, turned heads in Goyal’s high-slit jeans, and music legend Kelly Rowland looked sharp in her denim trench and matching pants. These designs speak a visual language that is both Indian in soul and global in form.
Making Fashion Emotional and Cultural
Kanika’s collections aren’t just about looking good — they speak to identity, resilience, and cultural memory. One standout moment was her collection of chunky sweaters embroidered with Punjabi words like “Chardi Kala” (a spirit of eternal optimism) and “Balle” (a shout of joy). These designs turned local language into high fashion. During the pandemic, she responded to the mood with a comforting and cheeky collection titled “It’s OK to Put on a Few KGs,” made up of oversized T-shirts, hoodies, and sweatshirts — a reminder to embrace softness and ease in tough times.
In 2023, her New York Fashion Week collection titled “Agrestal Mind” featured vibrant prints on rave-ready sweaters and sequinned mini-dresses that captured the wild energy of freedom. Her most recent line, “Playfield,” celebrates movement, imperfection, and creative abandon, with tie-dye jeans, printed silk jackets, and patchwork leather trench coats that feel both thoughtful and spontaneous.
A Changing Market and a Designer Ahead of Her Time
According to Goyal, the Indian fashion market has evolved drastically. “Indians would never pay ₹25,000 for jeans earlier — now they do,” she says. Her customer base today includes people in their 20s to their 70s, a wide demographic that appreciates quality, emotion, and storytelling. As the country grows wealthier and more style-conscious, designers like Kanika are shaping what luxury fashion in India can look like — contemporary, expressive, and unapologetically original.
The Struggle Behind the Success
Despite all the success, Kanika Goyal is candid about the mental and emotional toll that creative ambition can bring. She says she’s often too critical of herself, which can lead to moments of frustration and burnout. To cope, she’s turned to self-help books, learned to prioritize empathy over ego, and developed a practice of keeping a gratitude journal, which she began during the pandemic. That journal became a lifeline during difficult times, helping her stay focused on small victories and daily progress when the future seemed uncertain.
She recalls that as a younger designer, she had zero doubt about her talent and future. “That’s the feeling I try to channel now,” she says. “You have to believe that your collection is a hit even before anyone sees it. That clarity of vision is everything.”
In just a decade, Kanika Goyal has gone from a student hustling in New York to a name that defines modern Indian fashion. Her collections mix the playful and the powerful, the personal and the political, and the traditional with the futuristic. With every runway, collaboration, or Instagram drop, she challenges what fashion can mean — and what it can say. Her brand is not just clothing. It’s an artistic expression, a cultural archive, and a call to wear your authenticity with pride.
As Indian fashion continues to evolve, one thing is clear: Kanika Goyal fashion designer isn’t just a label — it’s a legacy in the making.
