The Indian fashion industry today bids farewell to Meher Castelino — a pioneering model, award-winning journalist, author, commentator and one of the most enduring voices in the evolution of Indian fashion. Her passing marks the end of a remarkable era, yet her influence remains deeply woven into the fabric of the industry.
From the earliest days of India’s modern fashion movement, Meher Castelino played a defining role. Crowned India’s first Femina Miss India in 1964, she entered the national consciousness as a symbol of aspiration and modernity at a time when fashion was still emerging from the margins. She went on to become one of India’s most recognised commercial and runway models, participating in thousands of shows and helping shape the country’s earliest fashion showcase culture.
Over the decades, however, it was her work behind the scenes — as a journalist, writer, educator and industry commentator — that cemented her legacy. Meher became one of India’s first and most respected fashion journalists, beginning her writing career in the early 1970s and going on to contribute to leading newspapers, magazines and publications in India and overseas. Her insights and reportage consistently elevated the dialogue around Indian fashion from glamour to a deeper understanding of design, history, craft, retail and cultural relevance.
As an author, Meher produced landmark publications such as Manstyle (1987), one of the earliest books on men’s fashion in India, and Fashion Kaleidoscope (1994), a pivotal documentation of the country’s fashion evolution between the 1960s and 1990s. These works remain valuable reference points for students, historians and industry professionals.
She was also an educator and mentor to generations of young designers, frequently guiding fashion schools, reviewing student collections, and sharing industry knowledge with rare clarity and generosity. Her presence at national fashion weeks — as writer, analyst and commentator — was considered integral to their documentation and credibility.
But her relationship with Images Group and the India Fashion Forum (IFF) remained one of her most cherished professional associations. Since the inaugural edition of IFF in 2000, Meher Castelino stood as a founding voice and an intellectual anchor, contributing not just reportage but perspective, continuity, and a deep understanding of how fashion, retail and business intersect. She brought credibility to IFF’s mission of building structured, informed dialogue within the industry and remained an active participant with Images Group initiatives.
Her passing leaves a void in Indian fashion that is difficult to fill. Few individuals have witnessed, shaped, chronicled and mentored the industry across so many decades and transformations. Her work helped ensure that Indian fashion was not only celebrated but also understood, contextualised and documented for future generations.
The Images Group team extends heartfelt condolences to her family, peers, students and the many professionals whose lives she touched. Meher Castelino’s legacy will continue to guide the industry she helped build — with integrity, insight and an unwavering passion for fashion.
May her soul rest in peace.
