Raja Kumari is Bringing ‘Desi Luxury on a Global Frequency’

If there’s one thing Raja Kumari is known for, aside from her rhymes, it’s her distinct East-meets-West style. The Grammy-nominated rapper, singer, and songwriter has long used her voice, and her wardrobe, as a medium for storytelling.

From pairing loud prints and oversized jumpsuits with jhumkas and temple jewellery to performing in half-draped saris, the artist’s style marries the best of both worlds. Now, she brings that same fearless energy to the world of couture through a powerful collaboration with KALKI Fashion. Their newly launched capsule collection is more than just a style statement, it’s a celebration of origin, identity, and inclusion. 

Known for her sharp verses and even sharper silhouettes, Raja Kumari has always been intentional about how she shows up. “Fashion is my armour,” she has said in past interviews—and this collection proves it. Designed with body inclusivity, Indian heritage, and maximalist confidence at its core, the edit channels everything Raja Kumari stands for. To mark the moment, she’s also released a special version of her original track LA INDIA, a fierce tribute to her roots, with a music video that sees her embodying the collection’s spirit in every frame. 

In a conversation with Manifest, the rapper walks us through her process behind creating the collection and more…

In Conversation with Raja Kumari

Manifest: Kalki Fashion X Raja Kumari collection is a bold fusion of music and couture. How did the idea for this collaboration between KALKI and Raja Kumari come about?

Raja Kumari: You know, I think KALKI has been known as a brand, especially in the diaspora in America and the West, that people trust and that they go to when they’re shopping for their weddings. And I think a lot of times, for the diaspora, you have to go all the way to India and do this big shopping trip. KALKI has been making ways to make Indian fashion more accessible. So when it came to this collaboration, I really wanted a bridge from West back to East, from ancient to the future. So the brand was the perfect partner to create this capsule with because I think that it really fuses these elements. We’ve pulled together a lot of the silhouettes that work best for all different types of bodies. But I’m a musician first and foremost. So when it came time to do this collection and be able to express myself both musically and through fashion, I thought that was such a beautiful opportunity. 

M: The pieces from this collection are all about unapologetic glamour and Indian heritage. What were the key visual references or traditional elements you wanted to retain, and what did you want to challenge?

RK: I think the key traditional elements will always be the pallu of the sari, the type of embroidery, the pseudo-sari with the slit. I think it’s taking these traditional silhouettes and modernising them in a way that can be easily worn to not just a wedding, to any type of event where you want to showcase your culture. These are the types of outfits that you can mix your Western jewellery with. It’s something quite different. And it’s very difficult for me when I’m looking for clothes for myself to find something that expresses both sides of my identity. But we worked really hard with this collection to make sure that it represents both East and West and has a modern sensibility.

M: How does this collaboration reinterpret Indian bridal and occasion wear for today’s global, body-positive woman?

RK: For me, this collection was never just about clothes—it was about creating space where everybody belongs. With KALKI, we wanted to reimagine Indian luxury fashion through a bold, modern, and unafraid lens. I wasn’t here to be a muse—I came in as a co-creator to bring my global desi aesthetic and my belief that fashion must celebrate every woman in her fullness. From the start, body inclusivity was a non-negotiable. We made sure every silhouette—whether it’s a corseted gown, fusion sari, or lehenga—was crafted to fit, flatter, and empower. You shouldn’t have to shrink to fit into couture; the couture should rise to meet you. We also made the conscious decision to price every piece equally, regardless of size, because self-expression should never come at a premium. This collection is for the main characters, the rule-breakers, the glam goddesses. It’s about identity, power, and heritage—it’s desi luxury on a global frequency.

M: You’re known for your strong visual identity. How did your personal style and artistry influence the silhouettes, colours, and embellishments in this collection?

RK: Oh man, I was extremely involved in this project. One of the most important things was making sure that there would be size inclusivity. When it came to the colours and the silhouettes, we were—myself and Mira Godbole, who is my stylist for the last few years and my best friend for many years—we worked together on making sure that this was a collection that reflected the aesthetic of this polished, beautiful, global, chic woman, you know, which is something that I always try to bring whenever I go into a global space, but also, you know, flattering to the silhouette and, you know, something that I would love to wear. You know, so this collection has incredible, you know, fun options and I’ve been having so much—you know, it’s really been bringing me a lot of joy to try on all the different looks and just imagine people wearing them for their events and enjoying them and feeling confident in the silhouettes and, you know, really loving these colors because I picked them to really go with our skin tone and, you know, be for everyone, but really, you know, just really complement, you know, us in the best way we can. So this is, you know, my love letter to my culture.

M: What is your wedding guest style?

RK: My wedding guest style is all about power, presence, and personality. I love pieces that feel bold but rooted, something that blends heritage with high fashion. Think a fusion sari with a dramatic cape, a corseted gown that moves like music, or a lehenga with a thigh-high slit—anything that lets me celebrate tradition without losing my edge. I dress to feel seen and celebrated, and that’s exactly the kind of energy I brought into this collection. It’s for the women who don’t hold back, who want to show up and own the room unapologetically.

M: Do you have a favourite part of Indian weddings?

RK: I love how Indian weddings are a full celebration of culture, community, and self-expression. But if I had to pick a favourite part, it would be the sangeet. There’s something powerful about that mix of music, movement, and emotion—it’s where everyone lets loose and truly shows up as themselves. It’s also where fashion takes centre stage, and that’s what I love most—seeing people own their identity through what they wear, dancing in pieces that tell their story. That’s the exact energy we poured into this collection: bold, celebratory, and unforgettable.

M: Let’s talk about inclusivity, a word that’s often used but rarely fully embraced in luxury fashion. How did you approach size, fit, and representation while designing this collection?

RK: In our culture, we hear about a fat tax and people charging more for larger sizes. And I know that at the beginning of my journey, I felt like maybe certain clothes were just not made for my body type, and I felt restricted. That’s also why I think I was so experimental in the beginning. But one of the most beautiful things that’s happened in the last few years is I’ve been able to work closely with the Indian couture houses and develop my style and really appreciate workmanship and the tailors and the textiles. That’s been such a point of pride for me because on every important red carpet in the West, I have always made it a point to wear an Indian designer. And I wanted to make sure that that feeling was available for other people. With this collection, there have been a lot of tricks of the trade that I’ve learned over the years on how to feel my best, whether it’s cinching the waist or having certain silhouettes or cuts that accentuate the curves. These are all the things I’ve learned, and I applied all of those methods in this collection. I’m positive that people will feel very confident in the silhouettes.

M: Were there specific bridal or ceremonial looks in the Kalki X Raja Kumari collection that were designed with destination or fusion weddings in mind?

RK: Absolutely. From the beginning, we wanted the collection to speak to the modern, global-minded woman, so naturally, we had destination and fusion weddings in mind. The silhouettes are fierce yet fluid—you’ll find corseted gowns with dramatic drapes, fusion saris paired with capes and cuts, and lehengas that flirt with rebellion.

We played with sculpted velvets, liquid satins, thigh-high slits, sheer overlays, and jewelled bodices—all of which are perfect for brides or wedding guests looking to make a statement, while still honouring tradition. The pieces are bold, versatile, and built for women who want to own their presence—whether it’s on stage, at a sangeet, or during a beachside wedding under the stars.

M: What kind of bride or wedding guest do you imagine wearing this collection? Is she traditional, experimental, or somewhere in between?

RK: She’s the main character—that’s who I imagined. This collection is for the rule-breakers, the glam goddesses, the ones who walk into a room and own their presence. She might love tradition, but she’s not defined by it. She’s bold, expressive, and deeply rooted in her identity, but she’s also global in the way she moves, dresses, and thinks. Whether she’s wearing a fusion sari with a cape, a corseted gown with a dramatic slit, or a lehenga that flirts with rebellion, she’s not afraid to be seen. She’s not here to fit into a mould—the fashion rises to meet her, not the other way around. So, I’d say she’s somewhere in between—fiercely herself.

M: How do you see the definition of couture evolving in India today, and where does this collection fit into that conversation?

RK: I think couture in India is evolving to be more than just tradition and surface. It’s starting to reflect identity, individuality, and intention. For too long, couture has felt exclusive, like you had to shrink yourself to fit into it. With this collection, we wanted to flip that narrative. KALKI x Raja Kumari is about fashion that fits, flatters, and frees. It’s inclusive by design, not as an afterthought. We wanted every woman to feel like she belongs in her body, in her culture, and couture. And we didn’t just stop at silhouettes; we even made sure every size is priced equally, because self-expression shouldn’t come with a premium. This collection is about tradition with swagger, couture with a heartbeat, and I believe that’s exactly where Indian couture is headed.