Vidhi Gupta
27-Mar-2026
Starting young and navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship, Khushi Shah honours the emotional and cultural depth of textiles.
Khushi Shah represents a new generation of entrepreneurs reshaping India’s contemporary fashion landscape with sensitivity and conviction. As the Creative Director at Shanti Banaras, she has helped reinterpret the heritage of Banarasi textiles for the modern wardrobe.
Every founder faces moments of doubt. What has been the biggest challenge in your journey, and how did you push through it?
One of the biggest challenges for me was entering the saree space at a young age and constantly hearing that sarees were only for older women, or that they weren't relevant to a younger generation anymore. I wanted people my age to see saree as expressive, modern, and something very personal, rather than something reserved for special occasions or reserved for a certain age group. At the same time, craft takes time, and that discipline of taking time is what defines textiles, though it can feel challenging in an industry that moves very quickly. But that's a challenge I'm willing to stay with because slowing down is a part of preserving the integrity of the craft that we are working in.
Was there a pivotal turning point in your career—a decision or a moment that truly changed your path's trajectory?
I think the advantage of starting young is that you make big decisions fearlessly before fully understanding how complex they are. Of course, that also meant making mistakes, sometimes very careless ones. But looking back, those moments were actually very pivotal for me. They pushed me to learn faster, hesitate less, and shape the direction I eventually took.
What is your success mantra?
For me, success is about building the right team. When you empower the right people, the business grows stronger than it ever could on individual effort.
What is one moment in your journey that makes you pause and feel truly proud?
Our recent Chhau Campaign. We were able to truly understand the depth of the chhau dance, its movement, strength, and cultural beauty, and translate that into a visual language that felt so honest to us. Learning from Indian craft and culture, and presenting it in a way that still feels relevant today reminded me why I entered the fashion industry in the first place.
What advice would you give to women who are building their careers?
Don't wait for the perfect moment or for complete clarity. You grow into opportunities. Surround yourself with the right people. Stay curious and allow yourself to evolve through exposure, not just through effort.
What excites you most about the future, personally & professionally, and the impact you hope to continue creating?
What excites me most is the idea of continuity. Personally, I'm excited about growing into a more evolved version of myself, someone who is calmer, clearer, and more intentional with decisions. And professionally, I'm excited about seeing Indian textiles take their rightful space globally without losing their authenticity. I want to continue building something that makes craft aspirational for my generation. If years from now the artisans we work with are thriving and young people see heritage as something exciting rather than outdated, I will feel like I've done my bit.
