Courtesy of Sachin & Babi
Audio By Carbonatix
September was Fashion Month, which heralds the worldwide sport of Hollywood star-gazing, supermodel frenzy and trend spotting during “The Big Four” – New York, London, Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks. This year, the catwalk beamed to Dallas, where we recently had front-row access to a scene-shaking moment at one of the biggest fashion spectacles of the year.
In honor of Dallas’ upcoming gala and fundraising season (yes, there is one), high-fashion label Sachin & Babi trekked from New York to Dallas to introduce its Fall 2024 line of ready-to-wear formalwear – straight off the runway. With “occasion-culture” being a real season for Dallasites this time of year, the Sachin & Babi team made sure that Big D was on its tour of stops – and they did it all in just a New York minute.
During the brand’s two days of in-person appearances in honor of the latest collection, we sat down with founder Babi Ahluwalia and CEO Amy Riordan over a posh lunch at Sadelle’s in Highland Park. From Sex in the City inspo to the reasons Dallas fashionistas are not like Houston or Fort Worth, we got the scoop on why our city will always be top-tier for grandiose (yet sophisticated) fashion.
“We genuinely love Texas for so many reasons because there’s history here, the taste palette is super sophisticated and they understand the arts,” says Ahluwalia about why Dallas is their ideal market. “They understand culture, they understand beautiful fashion and the clientele is a taste level that we cater to anyway, so it’s a natural fit. That’s why we’re here.”
From former First Lady Michelle Obama to Octavia Spencer and Mindy Kaling, the Sachin & Babi label is no stranger to celebrity appeal – and yet, it is the Dallas woman who keeps it inspired to create and offer more.
“We love a Southern customer because they love to dress, and we love to create beautiful things that look beautiful on, and not just on the hanger,” Riordan says. “Our Southern customer really appreciates all of the details of the colors, the florals – very feminine, soft, optimistic, sophisticated dressing.”
Sachin & Babi is known for its embellishments, which are handcrafted by a family-run atelier in Mumbai. Even with all of the brand’s sophistication and class, the Dallas gal still craves her bling.
“She loves our embellishment,” Riordan says of the typical Dallas customer. “And she likes our sparkle. We have a sparkle and shine shop on our website and she absolutely loves to go there.”
With Fashion Week in the rear, Ahluwalia and Riordan are making rounds to introduce the latest Fall 2024 collection, with Dallas as one of the first stops.
“Texas is always a first-adapting state when it comes to amazing things,” Riordan says. “For every brand I’ve ever worked with, Texas is always on the radar. We refer to it as a ‘first adapter.’ If you have a little bit of something happening in Texas, you should definitely take advantage of it because it is a loyal customer that will support you.”
Sachin & Babi wants to dress up Dallas.
Courtesy of Sachin & Babi
The Sachin & Babi label is sold by numerous retailers, but this visit brought it to the “premiere dress destination” of Tootsies, where the brand has established a presence.
Desiring to build a community with Dallas, the high-fashion formal wear label wants to make its impact known. As for this latest collection, inspired by vintage documents from an Upstate New York design library, Ahluwalia and Riordan foresaw the Dallas woman in the designs before she even could snag it with her Southern charm.
“Nature, florals and botanicals are so important to us,” Ahluwalia says. “Our design team had this beautiful concept about the white rose. It’s an ode to botanicals, an ode to a beautiful white rose, but done our way.”
The Fall 2024 collection is as intentional as it is inclusive, and for the gala-goer on the scene there’s a plethora of options ranging from $325 to $1,595 so you don’t wear the same thing twice. Sachin & Babi offers classic silhouettes from the Bonnie to the Brooke gowns, but it’s the bling of the Quinn and the allure of the Ames that will have Dallas finally channeling its Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City moment.
“Something can be glamorous, but doesn’t have to be over-the-top unwearable,” says Riordan. “When you do things well, it gives people the opportunity to express themselves a little bit more and that’s what fashion is supposed to be. It’s supposed to be an expression that makes you feel good about yourself, and how you want the world to see you that day.
“We have a lot of different bodies that are happening,” she continues. “In particular, there’s not a lot of people in our space that do plus [size] in a meaningful way. Whether it’s emphasizing the positives in a woman … clavicle and shoulders, great legs, small waist – there’s a dress for that.”
These designs (along with boots) are made for walking. Edge it up with a leather jacket or style it down with a white tee – this label aims to be whatever you want to make it. Boasting four collections each year, plus capsules and bridal wear, the Sachin & Babi brand stays booked and busy. But make no mistake about it: Dallas will always be at the top of its “it” list.
“We must always hit Highland Park for inspiration,” Ahluwalia says with a smile. “LA is nice, but for a true, shopping, beautiful experience, I don’t think there’s anything quite like it. We’re happy to be back in Texas.”
