Dolly J On Bringing Age-Old Craftsmanship to Life

Dolly J has long been a name synonymous with timeless bridal elegance. This season, as she gears up to showcase at the FDCI Manifest Wedding Weekend, the designer unveils a special showcase that bridges the past and the present.

Drawing from her rich archives of antique jamavars and traditional kashidakari embroidery, Dolly J reinterprets these age-old techniques through a contemporary lens, offering modern brides and, for the first time, grooms an evocative, heirloom-inspired wardrobe. Her collection is a celebration of emotion, legacy, and the evolving language of Indian weddings.

In Conversation with Dolly J

Manifest: What inspires you to create every day? 

Dolly J: I'm an artist, and the desire to express myself inspires me to create every day. 

M: What is your favourite part about Indian weddings? 

DJ: Indian weddings are all about emotions and family, and I love how family comes together with the grandeur and all the emotions that reflect in all the functions. Of course, the entrance of the bride is the key point of the Indian weddings. 

M: What can brides and grooms expect from your showcase at the FDCI Manifest Wedding Weekend? 

DJ: So, this time we are going back to our heirloom pieces and we’ve tried to put them in a very contemporary way, so that this younger generation can appreciate the kashidakari and the jamavars that we are trying to rebuild. And, of course, you can expect the classic Dolly J silhouettes. 

M: You’re branching out into menswear. What can grooms and groomsmen expect from Dolly J?

DJ: We are launching our men's wear this time, and we have gone into our archival pieces and taken out the antique jamavars and kashidakari work. We’ve tried to put these techniques in a contemporary way in our achkans and our sherwanis. 

M: In your opinion, what sets the FDCI Manifest Wedding Weekend apart from the rest of the wedding showcases? 

DJ: The FDCI Manifest Weekend has all the best couturiers of the country and the best jewellery designers in one place. It’s the one point where every bride and groom should come to shop.

Cover image credits: Photographs: Harmeet Singh Sana; Styling: Palak Valecha; Hair and Makeup: Riya Saluja; Videography: Priyanshu Kharb; Production: Varun Shah

Inspired to get started on that wedding wardrobe moodboard? Head to the FDCI Manifest Wedding Weekend this August 2–3, 2025, at the Taj Palace, New Delhi, for the hottest fresh-off-the-runway couture looks and jewellery. Register here.