Friendship, Fashion, and Modern Menswear With Shweta Kapur And Akshay Tyagi

After having reshaped the traditional womenswear silhouette with a distinctive urban edge, 431-88 by Shweta Kapur applies a similar ethos to menswear with MENS 24, a menswear collection created in collaboration with long-time friend and stylist Akshay Tyagi. Rooted in culture and comfort, individuality and timelessness, the collection breaks away from trends to embrace ease, sophistication, and modern masculinity with a muted, nature-inspired colour palette crafted in crepe, linen, and silk.

In conversation with Shweta Kapur and Akshay Tyagi to gain a deeper insight into the creative process and design philosophy behind the collaboration.

Runway Square: Tell us the story of how this collaboration came together.
Akshay Tyagi: This collaboration came about with our strong friendship and with us wanting to ensure we were able to push together our creative forces and combine them to create a collection as a menswear-
focused edit that allowed us to play with strong staples for the wardrobe and timeless capsule pieces that never go out of style.

RSq: What was on the mood board for this collection?
AT: The mood board of this collection comprises art, duality, and concepts, and we had some exciting sketches and some interesting silhouettes from leading designers in menswear labels across the globe. We are offering this collection for the traveler, the savvy, and the aficionado of fashion.

RSq: If you were to define the 431-88 man, how would you do that?
Shweta Kapur: The 431-88 man is someone who’s on the go—independent, confident, and unapologetically himself. He’s secure, embraces an anti-validation mindset, and doesn’t look for approval from others. He’s content with who he is and owns his unique journey.

RSq: Which pieces from this collection are you biased towards?
SK: I absolutely adore the trench coat. It’s such a versatile piece and works beautifully on a woman’s body as well. It’s definitely on my personal shopping list!

RSq: Where can we shop this collection?
SK: The collection is available on our website at www.431-88.com and in selected stores across the country.

RSq: What’s next for 431-88? And for you both?
SK: We’re always looking to stay on our toes, constantly pushing ourselves to reach new heights. Personally, I’m never fully satisfied with where I am; I’m focused on driving the brand forward in exciting new directions. Expect some interesting things coming up in the coming years!
AT: I am excited about my costume design for a film that is coming about named Azaad, and I am also really excited about my role as creative director for South Asia Bridal Week in New York in
February.

Image Courtesy: 431-88