India has been on my travel list for years since I started to work with my factory there, and getting to experience it in person was even more incredible than I imagined. We spent our trip between New Delhi and Jaipur, taking in everything from beautiful hotels and historic landmarks to colorful markets, incredible architecture, and, of course, plenty of design inspiration along the way.

This recap is a little look at where we stayed, what we did, what we loved, and a few of the places that made our first trip to India so memorable. There was so much to take in at every turn, and I came home feeling endlessly inspired by the colors, craftsmanship, history, and energy of it all.

Our stay in Delhi was at The Lodhi, the grandest and largest hotel of our trip. Our room was incredibly spacious and, at our request, included a small kitchen to help accommodate my food allergies. Breakfast was included and according to my mom and sister, delicious, and we all made good use of the beautiful gym, pool, and spa.

P.S. If I were visiting Delhi purely for fun rather than for work, I’d probably recommend spending just two days here. It’s a big, bustling city, and the traffic can make getting around quite time-consuming. Our drives to visit our manufacturing partners were often an hour each way.

In Jaipur, we stayed at the fabulous Rajmahal Palace. It was full of playful colors, prints, and personality in every corner. The hotel is small and intimate, and every room is unique. We stayed in the Queen Elizabeth Room, which was adorned in shades of blue. The staff could not have been more warm, welcoming, or accommodating.

During our time in Delhi, we drove to Agra to see the Taj Mahal and spent the night at the Oberoi Amarvilas, a luxury, 5-star hotel located just 600 meters away from the Taj Mahal. The entrance alone is worth stopping for photos, and the hotel has a great view of the Taj Mahal. The staff was incredibly attentive and accommodating, the rooms were charming, and the location made it the perfect place to stay for visiting the Taj.

Our time in Delhi was a mix of work, discovery, and easing ourselves into India. We spent most of our days with our manufacturing partners, with a little time in between to recover from jet lag, take in the culture (and the initial culture shock!), explore the city, and, of course, squeeze in a little shopping.

Khann Market

A great spot for wandering, with tons of shops and a mix of local boutiques and Indian designers. It was also super close to our hotel, which made it an easy stop.

I wore our Colette Midi Skirt in Red Stripe.

Yasser Shaws

Some of the most beautiful shawls we saw in Delhi. They’re definitely an investment, but each one is made from luxurious cashmere and finished with intricate hand embroidery.

Jaipur was less about work for me and more about exploring, wandering, and collecting inspiration. Between the palaces, textiles, jewelry, pottery, and endless color, there was so much to take in at every turn.

Amber Palace

Monsoon season was in full force during our visit, but the palace was well worth sacrificing a pair of clean shoes for. Our driver took us most of the way, and from there we hopped into a jeep for the final ride up to the entrance. Wet shoes aside, it was such a beautiful place to explore.

I wore our Walker Top and Arched Skirt in Painter's Garden Navy.

Blue Pottery

Jaipur is known for its beautiful blue pottery, traditionally made with quartz rather than regular clay and recognizable by its cobalt and turquoise colors. I’m a sucker for collecting plates and decorative pieces wherever I travel, so naturally this was one of my favorite stops! This pottery took up half of my suitcase on the return.

Gem Palace

The name really says it all. This family-owned jewelry house was such a hidden gem, filled with the most beautiful jewels. The owner even had me try on a unique set of jewels that had previously been shown at The Met. It was heavy, expensive, and absolutely incredible.

I wore our Madelyn Midi Skirt in Rosetta Tile Navy.

City Palace

City Palace is the grand royal residence and museum located in the center of Old Jaipur. We went on a tour of the palace first, which was full of photo opportunities, and then explored a few of the shops in there. My favorites were PDFK, which features block-printed clothing and souvenirs made by women artisans, and Palace Atelier, a beautifully curated concept store blending traditional Jaipur craftsmanship with a more modern point of view.

I wore our Madelyn Midi Skirt in Rosetta Tile Navy (far left), Caroline Short in Floral Embroidered (middle), and Holly Quilted Mini Dress in Terracotta Stripe (far right).

Rickshaw Tour of Old Jaipur

Highly recommend this if you want to really experience the city. It was chaotic, crowded, loud, and a little overwhelming, in the most memorable way. There was plenty of honking and you don’t move quickly with all the traffic, but weaving through the different areas of Old Jaipur made us feel completely immersed in the city.

I wore our Colette Midi Skirt in Brown Stripe with a little white tee.

Rambagh Palace

We visited the Rambagh Palace for dinner and accidentally stumbled upon one of my favorite little finds: N. K. Jain’s Palace Book Shop. Tucked inside the palace, it’s filled with beautifully bound, rare, and out-of-print books focused on Indian art, design, jewelry, and culture, the kind of place you could easily lose an hour browsing. We also got our palms read!

I wore our Olive Top & Elizabeth Skirt in Green Laser Cut PU Leather. 

Bar Palladio

Bar Palladio was my favorite little spot in Jaipur. Every corner was so charming and thoughtfully designed, with beautiful colors, patterns, and details everywhere you looked. It felt intimate, transportive, and impossible not to photograph.

I wore our new Tiered Maxi Skirt, coming this October.

Taj Mahal

Our time in Agra was very short, but it was the perfect little stay for visiting the Taj Mahal. Located about four hours from Delhi, we drove up in the afternoon, checked into our hotel and had dinner, then woke up bright and early the next morning to see the Taj Mahal before the crowds really set in. I can confirm the Taj Mahal was even more fabulous in person, and the details that covered every wall and corner were breathtaking.

I wore a new top that we have been working on for future seasons!

Ultimately, the reason that brought me to India was getting to visit our factory, and it was truly the most incredible experience. I’ve been working with this factory for almost three years, and while I’ve had the chance to meet with the team a handful of times here in New York, there was something so special about finally seeing everything come to life in person and put names to different faces I communicate with so often. So many of our embroideries and embellishments, especially our intricate beadwork, are done by incredibly skilled artisans and require an unbelievable amount of time, patience, creativity, and craftsmanship. During my visit, I gathered inspiration for the next season, picked up our Spring 2027 samples, and even ended up designing all of my bridesmaids’ dresses while I was there. So many fun and exciting things are in the works, and I can’t wait to share what’s coming next. 🤍