In June 2025, Delhi Vintage Co unveiled its flagship store in Lado Sarai Extension, New Delhi, marking a significant milestone for a brand that has become synonymous with blending India’s rich textile heritage with contemporary design. More than just a retail space, this store is a cultural sanctuary where fashion meets storytelling, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the artistry of handwoven fabrics and fusion-style garments. Founded by Manish Chhabra, Delhi Vintage Co has carved a niche in the slow fashion movement, championing individuality, sustainability, and the preservation of traditional craftsmanship. With its nostalgic ambiance, curated collection, and commitment to cultural continuity, the flagship store redefines luxury retail as an experience that honors India’s past while embracing its future. This blog explores the essence of Delhi Vintage Co’s new venture, its founder’s vision, its unique offerings, and its role in reshaping the narrative of Indian fashion.
A Cultural Haven in Lado Sarai Extension
Nestled in the vibrant, artistic hub of Lado Sarai Extension, Delhi Vintage Co’s flagship store is designed to be more than a shopping destination—it’s a journey into India’s textile legacy. The store’s aesthetic, as highlighted by Elle India, blends antique wooden furniture with textured textiles to create an atmosphere of nostalgia and reverence. Every corner of the space, from intricately carved displays to the soft drape of handwoven fabrics, evokes a sense of timelessness, inviting visitors to pause and connect with the stories woven into each garment.
Lado Sarai, a gentrifying urban village in South Delhi, is an apt location for this venture. Known for its artistic community and proximity to cultural landmarks like Hauz Khas Village, the area has become a hotspot for creative enterprises. The store’s setting enhances its appeal, offering a serene escape from the bustle of Delhi while aligning with the neighborhood’s reputation as a hub for art, design, and heritage. As noted in a 2008 study on Lado Sarai’s changing landscape, the area’s transformation into a leisurely space for the city’s elite makes it an ideal backdrop for Delhi Vintage Co’s fusion of tradition and modernity.
Manish Chhabra’s Vision: Reviving India’s Textile Heritage
At the heart of Delhi Vintage Co is its founder, Manish Chhabra, whose passion for Indian handlooms has driven the brand’s mission for over two decades. A veteran of the textile industry, Chhabra witnessed the decline of traditional weaving communities in the 2000s, as fast fashion and mechanized production overshadowed artisanal craftsmanship. “I have been working with Indian handlooms and textiles for almost 23 years,” Chhabra shared in a 2019 interview with Cosmopolitan India. “I have seen the rise in the 90s and the decline in the 2000s. The talented weavers went looking for work on construction sites or as taxi drivers”. This experience fueled his commitment to reviving ancient crafts and creating a platform that honors artisans.
Chhabra’s vision for the flagship store, as reported by Elle India, was to create a space that transcends conventional retail. “I wanted to create a space where people don’t just shop, but pause, engage, and rediscover the stories woven into our fabrics,” he said. The store embodies this ethos, serving as a gallery for handcrafted garments and vintage Indian folk art, where each piece tells a story of cultural heritage and artisanal skill. By prioritizing slow fashion, Chhabra aims to combat the erosion of traditional techniques while offering modern consumers unique, meaningful designs.
A Curated Collection of Fusion-Style Garments
Delhi Vintage Co’s flagship store offers a meticulously curated selection of garments that blend traditional techniques with contemporary aesthetics. Unlike mass-produced fashion, each piece—whether a jacket, skirt, dress, or fusion silhouette—is produced individually, ensuring exclusivity and authenticity. The brand specializes in handwoven fabrics like Kanjeevaram silk, Banarasi, and Chanderi, sourced from artisans across India. These fabrics are transformed into modern designs that appeal to fashion-forward consumers while preserving the soul of Indian craftsmanship.
The collection includes fusion-style garments that marry heritage textiles with modern cuts, such as kurtas with asymmetrical hemlines, sarees with innovative drapes, and jackets featuring intricate embroidery. The brand’s Instagram highlights its commitment to creating “wearable pieces of art” that transcend trends, with a focus on rare fabrics like Jamdani and vintage embroideries. Prices reflect the craftsmanship, with sarees starting at ₹11,600 and going up to ₹3 lakh, while bridal wear begins at ₹65,000. The store also showcases bespoke bridal couture, featuring rich colors like red, green, and beige, designed to evoke royal elegance.
A standout feature of Delhi Vintage Co’s ethos is its social impact. For every handloom garment sold, a portion of the proceeds supports the education of a girl child from a weaver’s family, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to giving back to artisan communities. This initiative aligns with Chhabra’s mission to uplift weavers and preserve the cultural legacy of Indian textiles.
Slow Fashion as a Movement
Delhi Vintage Co’s flagship store is a bold statement in the slow fashion movement, stepping away from the mass production that dominates the global fashion industry. By focusing on handcrafted, one-of-a-kind pieces, the brand challenges the fast fashion model that Chhabra has critiqued. “The era of fast fashion has not only taken a toll on the weaver but on the quality of your so-called handloom fabrics,” he noted in 2019. “When you pay ₹20,000 for a ‘handwoven’ piece, the real cost may not even be more than ₹4,000”. At Delhi Vintage Co, authenticity is paramount, with each garment reflecting the labor-intensive work of artisans.
The store’s design enhances this ethos, creating an immersive experience that celebrates craftsmanship. Antique furniture, textured textiles, and curated displays of folk art create a space that feels like a blend of a museum and a boutique. This approach resonates with modern consumers, particularly Gen Z and millennials, who value sustainability and cultural storytelling in their fashion choices. The brand’s presence on platforms like Pernia’s Pop-Up Shop further amplifies its reach, offering online access to its collections while maintaining the tactile allure of its physical store.
The Competitive Landscape: Delhi’s Heritage Fashion Scene
Delhi Vintage Co’s flagship store enters a vibrant market for heritage-inspired fashion in Delhi. Competitors like Kalki Fashion, located in South Extension, also blend Indian textile heritage with modern trends, offering ethnic kurtas, sherwanis, and fusion dresses. Kalki’s multi-designer boutique emphasizes accessibility, with in-store trials and virtual consultations, catering to a broad audience. Similarly, Studio Medium in Lado Sarai has gained attention for its innovative hands-free sarees and resist dyeing techniques, combining Bandhani with Jamdani weaves. Sabyasachi’s flagship store in Mehrauli, a colonial-style mansion filled with rare artifacts, sets a high bar for opulent, heritage-driven retail.
Delhi Vintage Co distinguishes itself through its slow fashion focus and commitment to social impact. Unlike larger brands, it prioritizes individuality over mass appeal, appealing to consumers seeking unique, meaningful garments. Its location in Lado Sarai, alongside other creative ventures like The Heritage (formerly Vintage Gully), positions it in a dynamic ecosystem of art and design.
Why This Launch Matters
The opening of Delhi Vintage Co’s flagship store in Lado Sarai Extension is a celebration of India’s textile heritage and a bold step toward redefining luxury retail. By creating a space that blends nostalgia, craftsmanship, and modern design, Manish Chhabra has crafted an experience that resonates with both traditionalists and contemporary fashion enthusiasts. The store’s focus on slow fashion, social impact, and cultural storytelling sets it apart in a market dominated by fast fashion.
As India’s ethnicwear market grows, projected to reach $30 billion by 2030, brands like Delhi Vintage Co play a crucial role in preserving artisanal traditions while meeting modern demands. The flagship store not only elevates the brand’s visibility but also inspires a renewed appreciation for handwoven textiles. For fashion lovers, culture enthusiasts, and conscious consumers, Delhi Vintage Co’s new home in Lado Sarai is a must-visit destination that promises to weave stories of heritage into every garment.
Disclaimer: This blog is based on publicly available information and intended solely for informational purposes.
Source: Elle India, Delhi Vintage Co Instagram, news reports, June 2025.
