Archana Rao

Indian born fashion designer Archana Rao takes inspiration from effortless multicultural traditions and all things vintage. After graduating from NIFT, she pursued an AAS degree from Parsons School of Design, New York and was selected to showcase her graduation collection at the prestigious “Parsons Line Debut 2009” at Lord and Taylor, NY.

Archana Rao Label was launched in the year 2011 and has carved a niche for itself among the fashion romantics with its decidedly feminine designs. She inaugurated her flagship store in Hyderabad in 2015. Archana’s pieces are imbued with a sense of nostalgia, an effervescence of soothing muted tones, prints with quirky contrasts and a clean silhouette – her aesthetic is inherently modern with an Indian sensibility.

She often uses locally sourced fabrics, giving them her signature vintage detailing, including her unique silhouette and cuts. Her Indian wear is an extension of the same aesthetic, easy elegant styles, fluid fabrics overlaid with techniques unique to each piece.

The label has a sub brand, ‘Frou Frou by Archana Rao’. Frou frou is a French word that means rustling noise of fabric. This brand specializes in ready to wear basics, shoes, bags and a special range of stationary with original artworks by the designer herself.