A beautiful painting, which the models seemed to be walking out of. Dreamy clothes. Old world and romantic. That’s the mood sisters Gauri and Nainika Karan created on the Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI runway. Their signature gowns with blooming florals, LBDs, chic polkas, elegant corsets, face veils and the celebration of femininity that the more-than-two-decade-old brand is known for, were at the core of their spring/summer 2026 showcase. The highlight was little girls, about 20 of them, dressed in Gauri & Nainika and walking the ramp, like pros. Their cute quirks made the show a collage of beautiful moments and memories. The grace and poise of the brand’s dramatic gowns were the highlights. And that sense of floating effortlessness.
We caught up with the lovely (ageless!) sisters, post-show, for a quick chat.
How was it working with the kids?
Gauri: It was delightful, I would say, because of the kids. The kids were amazing. Like, we translated our own clothes into children’s clothes, the synergy with Mothercare came very naturally, very organically. And the children were surprisingly the superstars.
Nainika: Gauri and I, we really enjoyed making these very dressy clothes for little girls, and, you know, they all felt like princesses. They were miniature versions of our clothes, and they had that drama and that glamour that you don’t find in kidswear very easily these days. So that was fun to see that.
Did it take you back to your childhood?
Nainika: I mean, we always loved dressing up, Gauri and I, when we were little girls, but I think this time, it was more about our kids and all the little kids, and the excitement of our kids walking around and helping their friends.
The clothes were beautiful…
Nainika: We love what we do. We work hard on our fits and our cuts because I think Gauri and I have a very good understanding of the female form. We understand how to make very form-flattering clothes as women. It makes them feel very good, you know. So, it doesn’t matter what the woman’s shape or size is. We know what’s going to suit her. So, our clothes are designed for all women, and that’s what we enjoy doing.
And the love for retro never gets old…
Nainika: Absolutely! For us, it’s always fashion history. It’s always old Hollywood glamour. I think we kind of, Gauri and I, live in the past!
What were you like as kids, and what are you like as mothers?
Nainika: Gauri and I were a little bit reserved as kids. And, we always loved femininity and glamour, and our mother was so, so glamorous and so beautiful. Our parents introduced us to old Hollywood films at a young age. So, that’s always been with us… Broadway…
Gauri: My parents moved around a lot in New York, and we used to stick to each other. But as mothers, you know, we grew up in a family where our parents were nurturing, very loving. So, we are pretty much the same as mothers. We grew up in a very relaxed household, very chilled out, and we’re like that as moms as well.