When British-Indian designer Sukh Sohal decided to quit his stable banking job and move back to India from London to start his own clothing label, his immigrant parents thought he was going ‘backwards,’ putting a full stop to the efforts they made to settle in the UK. He later transformed their concerns into the title of his brand, lahoS, which is essentially his surname written backwards.
Today, with strong roots in historical elements of India, he merges Western aesthetics to create a style that resonates with many people of the diaspora, like him. Below, he tells us about his journey of reconnecting with his ancestors.
From London to Delhi
I think the way that lahoS came to me was slightly serendipitous. And I think it was just because when I was doing banking and finance prior to this, I don’t think it was ever on my trajectory to actually start a clothing brand. I think it’s just something that came about very naturally and organically. So, as I was doing my banking for like six years, I was working in venture debt, venture capital. I decided to leave the firm. I had a very long non-compete clause. So I was like, what do I do with myself? I can’t stay in the same industry. I need to find a job or something. Then I thought, if I’m going to switch up my jobs, why don’t I do something a bit more radical? Why don’t I change what I’m doing completely? I’ve always been into fashion from more of a stylistic point — the way that I would dress, the way that I would interact with garments and so forth. I thought I’m not definitely starting a clothing brand in London, because it’s just gonna be way too expensive. Given my mum’s side are all into manufacturing garments in Ludhiana, I thought maybe I could go there and start something. This was in like 2022 when I decided to do this mission. Months later, I ended up moving to Delhi and began this mission of figuring out what my clothing brand was going to be. I didn’t have many expectations before moving, but once I got here, I realized I had to unlearn so much. I had to adjust my perspective and think like the locals. Living in India has really made me realize how British I am. For example, I miss unseasoned food. It’s really strange, but sometimes I just want something simple. Not everything needs masala or spice.
Going 'Backwards'
lahos just means my surname backwards because the idea came about when my family was a bit confused that I was thinking of moving back to India. They thought it was a step backwards. I thought, if the French, the Italians, and the British use their names for their clothing brands, it’s more about pride. I didn’t want to use my family name for the brand because I knew they wouldn’t be too happy with it. So, I thought it would be interesting to flip the script. The idea of them saying I’m going backwards, and then just putting the surname backwards, worked so well. Even if you look at Urdu, you also read it from right to left, so it made sense.
Overall, moving here has been an interesting experience. There’s so much to unlearn, but I’m grateful for the journey. The design process has also evolved, and I’ve learned a lot about blending Indian craftsmanship with contemporary Western aesthetics. We’ve explored techniques like machine hand embroidery, laser etching, and block printing, using a lot of cotton, which is abundant in India, and blending it with suiting fabrics like wool and viscose. We’re focused on creating garments that bring together both Western and Indian influences.
Fusing Historial and Personal Elements
My first design idea was for a jacket with Mirza Sahiban embroidered on the back. This was my first ever thought, and the first collection was built around that whole idea. Everything in it was inspired by the safari suits — my nanna used to wear a safari suit religiously every single day, unless he was going to a wedding. In winter, he’d throw a cozy jumper on top. So, I knew the first collection had to have a safari suit. Everything else was inspired by embroidery styles and elements from Punjab, Pahari paintings, and so forth.
What we try to do is take both Western and Indian aesthetics and fuse them in a way that makes sense. That’s where the first collection came from—that’s how the brand started. It wasn’t anything crazy or an epiphany moment. It’s a bit random, a bit crazy, but it worked.
Words Paridhi Badgotri
Date 28.04.2025