Maheka Mirpuri reimagines royalty in athleisure with her Maharani Athleisure collection

The dusty-rose, lace-trimmed folding instrumentality paired with corsets, hoodies and trainers by Fenty x Puma astatine Paris Fashion Week successful 2016 marked Rihanna’s playful imagining of Marie Antoinette astatine the gym, reigniting fashion’s fascination with blending aristocratic glamour and diversion ease. The dialog was archetypal shaped by Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood successful the 1990s and echoed successful Burberry’s four-piece capsule postulation launched past period arsenic a centenary tribute to Queen Elizabeth II. Now, Mumbai-based decorator Maheka Mirpuri drives the communicative location with a postulation that envisions a modern maharani — inspired by the 3rd Maharani consort of Jaipur (1940 to 1949) Gayatri Devi — stepping onto the pickleball oregon padel court.

Called Maharani Athleisure, the Spring/Summer 2026 edit is an hold of the designer’s Fall/Winter Diwali postulation called Modern Maharani; though birthed by the aforesaid inspiration, some stamp a chiseled signature connected the plan register. “Gayatri Devi was my inspiration for Modern Maharani and I person ever been inspired by the quiescent spot and the interior grace of a maharani; Maharani Athleisure meets that modern Maharani astatine the sports arena,” Maheka says, connected a Zoom call. While elaborating connected striking a equilibrium betwixt the collection’s elevated plan and comfort, she archetypal mentions the zippers.

“Zippers instantly springiness a sporty feel. The postulation comprises chunky, hand-painted jackets (with acrylic paint) with a batch of floral embroidery. They besides diagnostic Swarovski embellishments, ornate brooches and embroidered buttons,” she says.

The limited-edition postulation comprising 86 garments besides brings to caput American decorator Jeremy Scott’s creatives for Adidas Originals, 2010, wherever helium staged royal iconography connected athleisure garments. In Maharani Athleisure the iconography leans into fashionable civilization with Mexican creator Frida Kahlo’s representation connected a heavy orangish overgarment and a floral bluish gilet.

There are respective different techniques cardinal to the collection, which physique connected rococo floral aesthetics too. “The postulation has cloth rosettes. We’ve done them connected the bolero overgarment successful organza net. You volition besides announcement heavy chains connected these jackets and sequins excessively due to the fact that I wanted the miss to look precise almighty portion playing. You tin besides spot beaded embroidery, pearl embroidery, crochet and cutwork,” says Maheka, adding that the capsule was created successful a span of 5 months.

The postulation plays with colourful stripes creating a palette that oscillates betwixt turquoise, lime, pink, yellowish and pastels. It comprises co-ord tracksuits, harem pants, shirtdresses, crochet pants, zipper pants, bolero jackets, consecutive dresses, no-fit oversized jackets and shirts with exaggerated sleeves.

Though the notation of royalty brings to caput textured silhouettes and opulent textiles similar silk and brocade, Maheka has relied heavy connected French taffeta for this edit. One of the reasons is its inclination to sorb paint. “For this collection, I person besides utilized French organza, cotton, and linen. But taffeta is the champion fabric. It’s French, it’s expensive, and you get it successful beauteous colours. Taffeta is simply a spot stiff, truthful it gives maine the benignant of measurement I privation for exaggerated shoulders oregon cuffs. I person besides fused crochet with denim due to the fact that denim is airy and easy,” she explains.

Another item of the postulation is the suspenders. In Maharani Athleisure, they service arsenic the bulletin committee for each the creative, edgy symbolism that defines Maheka’s thought of boho. “I wanted to person suspenders due to the fact that I consciousness they person got that masculinity but are besides a must-have athleisure accessory. I person embroidered the suspenders. There’s threadwork, buttons, information pins, evil oculus — I conscionable privation it to beryllium precise amusive yet boho,” she says.

Though Indian fashion’s mentation of royal-meets-athleisure started with Manish Arora’s maximalist aesthetics, it is dilatory carving a niche of its own, sometimes sharing the support with streetwear and connected different occasions doing the tightrope betwixt resortwear and ath-luxury fusion. Maheka’s Maharani Athleisure throws the shot successful our court, inviting a sharper introspection of wherever Indian athleisure is headed and however acold it tin agelong to sorb the codes of royalty.

The collection, priced upwards of ₹10,500, volition beryllium disposable from April 7 astatine Maheka Mirpuri Atelier, 469, Veer Savarkar Marg, Opp. Gammon House, Prabhadevi, Mumbai and mahekamirpuri.com