Kartik Research Is Pitti Uomo's Next Guest Designer
The New Dehli-born brand will bring his modern take on Indian craftsmanship to Florence for Pitti Uomo in January.
Summary
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New Delhi-based brand Kartik Research, led by Kartik Kumra, is the Guest Designer for Pitti Uomo 111 in Florence (January 13, 2027).
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Known for handwoven textiles and intricate craftsmanship, the brand aims to integrate Indian heritage into modern menswear.
New Delhi-based label Kartik Research by Kartik Kumra has officially been named the next Guest Designer for Pitti Uomo 111, taking place in Florence in January 2027.
Founded in New Delhi in 2021 (previously as “Karu Research”), the brand has been growing a global reputation for recontextualizing modern luxury through the lens of its Indian heritage. Beyond a nostalgic gaze, Kartik Research has been focused on bringing the human touch back to clothing, as seen in the brand’s handwoven and hand-embroidered textiles. Silhouettes are easygoing and contemporary, while building on the foundations of intricate Indian craftsmanship.
In an official statement, the 2026 LVMH Prize semi-finalist shared, “When you look at the creatives who have passed through the Guest Designer programme over the years, it’s a pretty special list to find yourself on, and certainly not something I take for granted.” Recent Guest Designers have included DSM Kei Ninomiya, Simone Rocha, SOSHIOTSUKI, POST ARCHIVE FACTION, JiyongKim, and MM6 Maison Margiela. Further back in time, in 1979 it was Giorgio Armani; in 1991 it was Vivienne Westwood and Jean Paul Gaultier; and in 2003, Raf Simons made his Pitti Uomo debut. Historically, the spot has been offered up to emergent and pioneering designers who define the menswear zeitgeist or push its boundaries.
In a statement, Francesca Tacconi, Special Events Manager at Pitti Immagine, said that through Kartik Research, “Indian techniques and textiles enter the global conversation, moving beyond the lens of exoticism to assert their intellectual and creative authority.” “We cannot wait to welcome the revitalising spirit of his collections to Florence, with their remarkable ability to transform tradition into pure visual poetry,” Tacconi added.
For the designer’s Pitti Uomo presentation, Kumra will explore the historical exchange between Indian textiles and Florentine merchants, bringing a centuries-old cultural conversation back into the current menswear space.
Kartik Research’s Guest Designer show will take place at Pitti Uomo in Florence on January 13, 2027.
