Fashion17 Nov 20254 MIN

Prada sandals, a plushie, and plenty of headgear: style-spotting at Art Mumbai 2025

Artist Paresh Maity’s words best describe the visitors’ aesthetic: “Art is life, life is art”

Public relations executive Malti Jain in an ivory neckpiece she assembled with the help of a friend, using an ivory bangle and a duck-shaped brooch and a beads. The brooch is from Butler & Wilson.

Photographs by Dhruvin

“I like to transform anything into a piece of art,” said the artist Paresh Maity when we accosted him to talk about the embroidered overcoat he was wearing on the second day of Art Mumbai 2025. “Art is life, life is art,” he continued.

Maity wasn’t the only artist we met at the fair who was wearing his own designs. Japanese painter Goma was there, represented by Galerie Geek Art, a contemporary gallery based between New Delhi and Tokyo, and he was in a T-shirt printed with the same kind of coloured dots that you see in his displayed paintings. “Of all the art fairs, I enjoy [the fact] that Art Mumbai is a little more relaxed,” he said about the atmosphere. Goma was probably feeling relaxed because he was wearing a pair of chunky black Nikes, perfect for running between the 82 exhibitors, sculpture park, and other special events that made up Art Mumbai this year.

“The first rule of dressing for Art Mumbai is to wear comfortable shoes,” said curator Jaiveer Johal, who was in an 11.11/eleven eleven shirt and a pair of Hermès sneakers. A quick scan of the room revealed that designer sneakers seemed to be de rigueur for art fair attire. I spotted a pair of nude Dior D-Connect kicks, a colourful pair of Christian Louboutins, Loewes, sparkly Gucci lace-ups, multiple versions of the Puma Speedcat Ballet, a few Salomons, and plenty of Ons.

Mandana Karimi, the actor and model who transitioned to design consulting and was at the fair hunting for something for a private client, was wearing a pair of platform Prada sandals, but her tip to surviving art fairs comes quickly, “Choose shoes that look fashionable but are comfortable. You cannot wear high heels here.”

But The Nod wasn’t just there shoe spotting. We got the upper half too, including some close-ups of statement jewellery, a few hats, and much more.

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Design strategist Anuradha Chandrashekar in a dress from the Singaporean label In Good Company, Masaba earrings, and more jewellery from her personal collection.

Lopa Chinai wears a dress by Turkish label NU. Her earrings are repurposed brooches. As she put it, “I am the designer of myself!”

Art collector Jaiveer Johal wears a shirt from 11.11/eleven eleven, tailored trousers, and sneakers from Hermès.

The artist Jai Khanna asked his friend, designer Karishma Shahani-Khan of Ka-Sha, to custom-make this kimono jacket for him.

Jiten Thukral, one half of artist duo Thukral and Tagra, wore a set from his own archives, while his son, Rudrashiv Thukral, chose a kimono jacket he designed himself, paired with a T-shirt, a Uniqlo bag and sneakers from Asics.

Jiten Thukral and Rudrashiv Thukral TheNod

Sana Choksi, co-founder of The Living Room Story, wears a Jil Sander dress and eyewear by Anu Merton.

Design consultant Mandana Karimi in a trouser set from Issey Miyake, a Bottega Veneta bag, and Prada sandals. Her accessories include an Audemars Piguet watch, a locally designed necklace, a Bottega ring, and a custom hat by Alicia Bleye. 

The artist Paresh Maity wears a jacket of his own design and a necklace sourced in Rajasthan. 

Public relations executive Malti Jain wears a jacket from Scapa layered over a Roberto Cavalli shirt, Joseph pants, a Louis Vuitton bag, Prada footwear, and eyewear from Loewe. 

Mihir Thakkar, curator and producer, wears a Sazo vest and carries a plushie from the same brand, all paired with thrifted jeans.

The gallerist Rajiv Menon in a shirt from homegrown brand Kula paired with Margiela jeans.

Priya Singh wears a set from Whim by Poorvi paired with a bag assembled by her mother using antique jewellery collected from Afghanistan and Turkey.

Osaka-based painter Goma wears a look of his own design, featuring a T-shirt with his signature dot-and-circle motifs, complemented by a handcrafted hat made by a friend.

Sayali Bramhe’s (right) look is all thrifted, and Gokul Chandran wears a Japan-edition Adidas jersey with high-waisted trousers from Zara.

Sangita Kathiwada wears a jumpsuit from Comme des Garçons and jewellery from her personal collection. 

Smriti Rajagopal (left) is in head-to-toe Zara. Her friend had to dash before telling us what she’s wearing.

Tito Stanly, artist, is in a jacket from Turn Black.

Stanley’s collection of rings is sourced from regions across India. His watch is a gift from a friend. 

Supraja Rao, interior designer and founder of Hyderabad’s Kadari Art Gallery, stepped out in a dress from Lovebirds paired with United Nude sandals, a Carolina Herrera bag, and jewellery from her own collection.