Numaan Khan: Dressing the Future, One Bold Stitch at a Time.
Editor : Gopal Venkat | Updated: April 22, 2025 at 12:00
Mohammed Numaan Khan is a fashion designer and educator recognized for his work at the intersection of sustainability, technology, and global fashion. A graduate of ESMOD Paris with high honors, he has worked across India, France, Bangladesh, and now Ethiopia.
He is the founder of Numaish by Numaan, and his debut collection La Rebellion was showcased at the 25th edition of Bangalore Fashion Week. He also led the launch collections for AMI and KATHAL—two Gen Z-focused brands—at ARKA Fashion Week 2023 in Dhaka. A semi-finalist at the 2022 Annual Redress Design Awards for his
“Namaste Sustainability” zero-waste project, Numaan is also AI-savvy and has served as a visiting professor at leading Indian fashion institutes such as LISAA, INIFD, and FDDI. Currently, he is based in Ethiopia, driving fashion education and training under the Ministry of Industry.
My design inspiration stems from the people I meet and the places I travel to. Life at this stage has been a whirlwind of movement—working in remote corners of the world to absorb diverse cultures and traditions. It’s wild how quickly I pick up on languages and local nuances, almost like my brain craves that cultural immersion.
I’m deeply moved by stories—especially those of powerful women, complex emotions like hatred, and the psychological arc of fame and narcissism. Travel, for me, is a never-ending storyboard. One of my recent obsessions is the Coptic language and ancient Egyptian culture, which I discovered during a Nile cruise. The art and architecture there hold an irresistible mystery—so much is visible yet lost in time.
These days, I find myself drawn to the beauty of cultural amalgamations—how worlds blend, contrast, and coexist. That intersection is where my design soul feels most alive.
Working under pressure comes with the territory in fashion—tight timelines, last-minute changes, and constant deadlines. I experienced this early on during my time at ESMOD Paris, where we were trained to create complete garments under strict time constraints for jury presentations. It was intense, but that pressure shaped my ability to deliver under fire.
One of the most challenging professional moments came in 2023, when I was asked to redesign another designer’s work just one week before ARKA Fashion Week in Bangladesh. It was for the debut runway collection of a brand called AMI. With barely any time to spare, I dove headfirst into the process—fueled by adrenaline and too much coffee. It was chaotic, but also creatively energizing. Seeing the final looks on the runway made all the pressure worth it. It reminded me that sometimes, the best work happens when you’re pushed beyond your comfort zone.
As a designer, staying ahead of trends is essential—and for that, WGSN is my go-to. It’s a core tool in the industry, offering detailed reports and forecasts that help guide the direction of any commercial collection I work on.
Alongside that, I keep a steady eye on global fashion magazines and runway reviews. But honestly, Instagram has become just as important. It’s fast, visual, and gives instant access to what both emerging designers and major brands are doing. That mix of professional tools and real-time digital inspiration keeps my perspective fresh and informed.
That would definitely be my La Rebellion collection, showcased at the 25th edition of Bangalore Fashion Week. While it may not be my most technically complex work, it holds a special place in my heart—for both personal and emotional reasons.
The show marked the first time my entire family watched me present on such a big platform, and the story behind the collection made it even more meaningful. La Rebellion was inspired by the inner struggles of a fashion student—fighting expectations, self-doubt, and societal norms—to finally choose fashion as a life path. It’s a deeply personal reflection of my own journey as the only designer in a South Indian, science-oriented Muslim family.
Honestly, the beauty of my journey so far has been its unpredictability. I do make plans—but I also stay open to how life unfolds in the moment. I’m in a highly transient and reactive phase, and I embrace it fully. That said, I do have two strong visions for the near future.
First, I hope to open a fashion school in Namma Bangalore—a space that champions unapologetic creativity, with a curriculum centered around Gen Z–friendly design and pattern-making techniques. Teaching has always been close to my heart, and I want to build a space where bold, experimental minds can thrive.
Second, I’m gearing up to relaunch my label, Numaish by Numaan, as a deeply artistic and storytelling-driven brand. So hey—stay tuned, there’s a lot more fashion and fire on the way!
Creativity is a given—you need to think beyond the box and bring something fresh to the table. But just as important is the ability to communicate. Fashion isn’t a solo sport; it’s about collaboration, storytelling, and knowing how to hold a dialogue—whether with your team, clients, or even your audience.
Knowing when to speak, how to connect, and what to follow up on can make all the difference. So yes—create boldly, but also talk, share, listen, and follow through. That’s how you stay relevant and alive in this industry.
I’m drawn to brands that blend performance with a touch of drama. Mugler and Alexander McQueen have always been my top favorites for their bold silhouettes and unapologetic storytelling through fashion.
On the Indian front, I admire House of Masaba and Shivan & Narresh for their innovative take on prints and cultural motifs. They bring a fresh, youthful energy to traditional elements. And of course, I love Papa Don’t Preach by Shubhika—her work is playful, fearless, and always makes a statement.
Hands down, it has to be Sony Kaur. She’s been a favorite of mine for years, and I was lucky enough to work with her at Bangalore Times Fashion Week in 2022. I was honestly too nervous to tell her I’ve been a fan for so long! She’s an absolute diva in the Indian modeling industry—graceful, powerful, and so consistent in her work.
On the international front, Coco Rocha continues to inspire me. Her versatility and command over movement are simply unmatched.
And I can’t forget Vishakha Parmar—she opened and closed my show at Bangalore Fashion Week, and completely stole the spotlight. She brought the energy and edge that La Rebellion needed. An absolute killer!
No matter where I go, my ultimate comfort food will always be “Shadi ki Biryani” from my hometown, Namma Bengaluru. There’s just no replacement for it. I truly believe Dakhni Muslim cuisine hasn’t gotten the global spotlight it deserves—we’ve got some of the richest spice stories and culinary traditions waiting to be discovered.
As for my favorite countries (outside of India), Paris will always be special—it shaped me both as a designer and as a person. And then there’s Egypt—I’m still not over the magic of that place. The history, the architecture, the energy… it’s a world I keep revisiting in my head long after the vacation ended.
The thing about being a designer is—favorites are fleeting. What excites you today becomes yesterday’s story pretty quickly. So, honestly, my favorite design is always the next one. That’s the fire that keeps me moving.
That said, I’m still proud of my work for the Redress Design Awards 2022, where I was a semi-finalist. The collection, Namastey Sustainability, was built around zero-waste and upcycling techniques using traditional Indian textiles. It was one of those moments where purpose and creativity met perfectly, and I know I’ll return to sustainable design soon with even more depth.
As for the best show experience—it has to be Bangalore Fashion Week 2024, the silver jubilee edition. When they called my name and I walked the runway to bow, I saw a sea of faces: friends, family, and even my fashion school teachers. That moment felt like a full-circle dream. Nothing beats that kind of love.
