Maharani Gayatri Devi was unlike other royals of her day. In 1940 she became the third consort of Jaipur when she married Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II, and from the day of her arrival at court, Gayatri was intent on owning her title in more meaningful ways than merely living a life of glamour.

Uniquely positioned as an early influencer for young Indian girls and women, Gayatri’s revolutionary spirit lead her to challenge what she perceived as outdated and unjust cultural conventions – all while establishing herself as something of a fashion icon.

At a time when “purdah”, the customary veiling of women, was the cultural norm, the Maharani refused to live her life behind a veil – and although she donned opulent pearls and elaborate traditional saris with grace, she was more often seen out hunting or playing Polo in chic safari style suits and simple cotton shirts.

Lakshmi’s Maharani collection seeks to capture the spirit of the late princess and pay homage to her legacy of unequivocal style, effortless glamour, and strong sense of purpose.

Earthy, neutral tones of olive, ecru and white are contrasted with watermelon and lime pastels and delicate florals to highlight the Maharani’s dual persona: refined princess meets renegade modern feminist. Natural, breathable fabrics like cotton, linen, silk georgette and soft modal bamboo, as well as handcrafted techniques such as Leheriya – a tie-die technique unique to Jodhpur – give each piece a luxurious yet down-to-earth feel, much like the Maharani herself.

"Underscoring each Lakshmi collection is an ethos of true sustainability and care for community. Our made-to-order model and artisanal approach to design and production ensures high quality garments with minimal wastage. We encourage our customers to choose with care, so we only produce what we know will be worn and loved."

“The "Maharani" collection seeks to capture the spirit of the late princess and pay homage to her legacy of unequivocal style, effortless glamour and a strong sense of purpose. These women I feel represent all of that, they are an inspiration to me in many ways and I'm so grateful to have them as a part of my life.” Said founder and creative director, Lakshmi Pillai, who enlisted Lesley Crawford, Tina Brand, Susan Armstrong, Sophie Darling, Kate Fowler, Michelle Grey, Natalie Drenovac, Miranda Darling, Viola Raikhel, Jess Blanch, and Tara Sukumaran to star in the campaign.

The Maharani collection is made-to-order with a small number of sample sizes available for purchase in store. See the full campaign, below, and head to the website to explore the collection now.