Like many New Yorkers, the Ahluwalias like to escape the city in the summer. Last year, Sachin, Babi and their family took a trip to Tuscany. “We were lucky to go to a beautiful and glorious place, but I can tell you it was a hot summer,” Babi said.
Also like many New Yorkers, the Ahluwalias turned their escapade into work, in this case by finding fall inspiration in their European fuss. “We are big fans of the gardens of Europe, it is always the botanical gardens that appeal to us,” Babi continued. “But this time it was also the joy of how people live there.” At its core, Sachin & Babi is a brand that is all about fun. Their expertise is in occasionwear, and it has become a destination for customers looking for something to celebrate life in, “whether that’s a backyard barbecue or a beautiful wedding.”
The collection was incorporated into a museum in Miami, and that was done under Sachin’s supervision while Babi took their youngest child to colleges (Anything about New Yorkers? They like to kill two birds with one stone.) The idea was to encourage wanderlust to be combined with a sense of pragmatism, hence the romantic floral prints, all made from lightweight linen and cotton that are easy to carry, in addition to the brand’s usual satins and brocades.
Babi said their focus lately has been to expand the way the brand is perceived beyond “high occasions” to the “little moments in life.” A killer A-line belted shirt dress certainly hinted at that evolution, but what really felt like new territory was a mini bridal dress with a bubble hem and an off-the-shoulder pocket dress in gold brocade. The Ahluwalias know their way around a figure-hugging dress, but their exploration of new silhouettes is promising.
