Precision Tailoring And Crisp Silhouettes: Welcome To The World Of Sarah & Sandeep

For people who were living the ‘quiet luxury’ life much before Sofia Richie Grainge and the characters on Succession popularised it, brands like Sarah & Sandeep were household names.

Sarah and Sandeep Gonsalves’ eponymous label has been slowly redefining what bespoke fashion means in the country with their precision tailoring and minimalistic sensibilities.

Established in 2012, the brand has become synonymous with crisp silhouettes and a seamless fusion of Indian and Western aesthetics. It all started when Sarah and Sandeep realised that there was a gaping chasm between the bespoke fashion on offer for men in India and the refined tailoring that they came across while working with a variety of international brands. This is how, all those years ago, SS Homme (now Sarah & Sandeep) was born.

“Every curve, every seam is deliberate, ensuring that the garment fits like a glove. We’re obsessive about tailoring because we believe that a well-constructed piece is the key to making someone feel confident,” says Sarah, when asked to define what makes the brand distinct. Sandeep says, “We’ve always been drawn to architecture and minimalism, so those clean lines you see in all our designs. We manipulate the fabric in a way that’s almost architectural, making sure every piece has a sense of structure. It’s that subtle detail that runs through everything we create.”

The brand has recently found a new home in Mumbai with the launch of its new atelier. Nestled in a bungalow just off the famous Linking Road, the store has been designed by architect and interior designer Jason Wadhwani. The design is an extension of the brand’s ethos of clean lines and refined details. With large windows that allow natural light to filter in, the interiors have been elevated using greige tones, textured walls, handmade decor, houndstooth fabric wardrobes and bouclé clad furniture.

“We wanted to take a fresh approach to retail. It’s about building a community of people who value bespoke experiences. This space gives us a chance to really connect with our clients in a more personal way,” says Sandeep. Sarah loves the warm and inviting feel of the new store, “There’s this beautiful natural light that fills the room, and it instantly makes you feel like being creative. Personally, I love the inventory room; it’s like a wonderland of garments! Every piece is right there, and it’s just so inspiring to walk through it.” The atelier launch also marks the release of their latest wedding wear collection titled ‘Sartorial Festive 2025'.

“For us, it’s been a journey of evolving into a concrete design house. Over time, we’ve really developed our house codes and signatures, which are now integral to our identity.  With our new wedding collection, we are taking this evolution further by redefining what power dressing means in the context of modern weddings. It’s about creating garments that empower individuals, whether it's through tucked-in kurtas and shirts, paired with Manny and Jenny trousers or a finely tailored tuxedo. This is how our design ethos is evolving,” says Sandeep.

Speaking of evolution, the brand decided to change its identity from SS Homme (‘homme’ being French for ‘man’) to be known as Sarah & Sandeep, to better represent their changing philosophies. “The name ‘Homme’ felt limiting, and we wanted to bring more authenticity to its identity. By incorporating both our Indian and global combination of names, we believe the brand now conveys a stronger connection to who we are and what we stand for.”

This is also when the brand took a departure from its sole focus on menswear to include womenswear too. “It was a natural progression for us. We’ve always focused on design and tailoring, and it felt right to extend that same level of craftsmanship to a womenswear line.”

Whether it’s occasion wear or bridal wear, Sarah & Sandeep remains on a trend-agnostic path, something that became the USP of the brand over the years, “We’ve always focused more on elevating quintessentials rather than chasing trends. It’s about quality and timelessness. Our designs are meant to last. Trends come and go, but when you create pieces that are well-made and thoughtful, they outlive the trends,” says Sarah.

This is precisely why the designers are optimistic about how younger brides and grooms are approaching wedding fashion, “I’ve seen brides become a lot more experimental with silhouettes, and there’s also been a shift towards more subtle colours. The trend now is moving away from heavy embroidery to something more minimal. I think the modern bride really believes that ‘less is more’,” says Sarah. “The same goes for menswear!” adds Sandeep, “There’s more experimentation happening—men are really stepping up their game with colours, silhouettes, and accessories. It’s great because you can take something classic and just give it a contemporary twist, especially for ceremonial wear.”

With the atelier’s launch, Sarah and Sandeep are more excited than ever to explore new directions and experiences that can help them grow. More power to them!