Priya Ahluwalia
Priya Ahluwalia (born 1992/1993) is a British fashion designer and founder of the apparel brand Ahluwalia. She gained notability for her approach to sustainable fashion.[1] Ahluwalia’s work focuses on upcycling, ethical practices, and exploring identity through multiculturalism.[2]
Early life and education
Ahluwalia was born to a second generation British-Indian mother from Newcastle and a Nigerian father and grew up in Tooting.[3] Her multicultural upbringing influenced her design philosophy.[4]
Ahluwalia attended a girls school and had a Saturday job in Kingston.[5] She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Fashion from the University for the Creative Arts in 2015.[6] She completed a Master of Arts (MA) in Menswear at University of Westminster in 2018.[7][8]
Career
Ahluwalia launched the clothing brand, Ahluwalia, in 2018. The brand focuses on creating clothing using deadstock fabrics and vintage textiles.[9] Her designs draw inspiration from her trips to Lagos, Nigeria, and Panipat, India, as well as her experiences growing up in London.[10][11]
Ahluwalia has collaborated with brands such as Adidas Originals, Mulberry, Microsoft, and PUMA.[12] These include a "capsule collection" with Mulberry using repurposed leather and the Circulate platform with Microsoft, which integrates technology into upcycling.[13][14]
Ahluwalia's work has received recognition in the fashion industry for its focus on sustainability and storytelling.[15] She was awarded the H&M Design Award (2019), was a finalist for the LVMH Prize (2020), and received the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design (2021).[16][8]
Ahluwalia’s designs have been featured in exhibitions and installations globally, where her use of textiles often emphasizes the environmental and social impacts of the fashion industry.[17]
References
- ^ Sharma, Meara (2020-08-10). "The British Designer Paying Tribute to the Immigrant Experience". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ "Priya Ahluwalia". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ "Priya Ahluwalia is the real deal". Luxury London. 16 November 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
- ^ "Ahluwalia: The Designer Filtering Diverse Cultures Into Vibrant Menswear". Esquire. 2021-02-23. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ Hans, Simran (7 October 2019). "Priya Ahuluwalia is the menswear designer to watch". SSense. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
- ^ "Triple success for UCA at 2024 Fashion Awards". University for the Creative Arts. 3 December 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
- ^ "Designer Priya Ahluwalia Keeps Pushing the Boundary". W Magazine. 2023-09-14. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ a b Weston, Sabina (2023-10-07). "Priya Ahluwalia: from Drapers 30 Under 30 to designer royalty". Drapers. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ "Priya Ahluwalia - Kinfolk". www.kinfolk.com. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ Shoaib, Maliha (2022-02-23). "Inside Ahluwalia: The London brand that's breaking the mould". Vogue Business. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ "The Female Gaze: Priya Ahluwalia Is Boundary-Breaking Designer Reshaping Menswear". ELLE. 2023-08-10. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ Cheung, Adam (2025-10-01). "Priya Ahluwalia grew up on the Puma Suede – now she's got her own". British GQ. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
- ^ "Mulberry Explores Symbolism of Black Hair in Collection with Priya Ahluwalia". Harper's BAZAAR. 2021-06-14. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ Farra, Emily (2021-11-02). "Priya Ahluwalia Wants Your Old Clothes: How a New Microsoft Collaboration Brings Consumers Into the Upcycling Process". Vogue. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ "Priya Ahluwalia has been honoured as the 'Environmental Leader of Change' at the Fashion Awards". Vogue Scandinavia. 2021-11-30. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ May, Naomi (2020-11-17). "Meet the woman making menswear exclusively from deadstock fabrics". The Standard. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ Conti, Samantha (2023-05-15). "Priya Ahluwalia Works Vintage Textiles Into Costumes for Installation by Shezad Dawood". WWD. Retrieved 2025-01-07.