For 13 years, lace has been a signature at Maneesha Ruia, the luxury women's lifestyle accessories house founded in 2013 by designer and Creative Director Maneesha Ruia. The brand's lace scarves, which can take up to 72 hours of artisan work to complete, reflect a distinct approach to craftsmanship and contemporary design that has kept lace at the center of the house's collections.
"I have always been drawn to the diversity within lace: its delicacy and boldness. Lace has a unique character, a vintage appeal that somehow feels remarkably modern. Over the years, we have continued to explore what lace can become when it is treated not simply as an embellishment, but as an integral part of the design," says Maneesha Ruia, Creative Director & Founder.
That philosophy shapes the way the brand approaches a lace scarf. Rather than finishing a scarf with lace, Maneesha Ruia designs around it. Lace can appear as a panel through the body of a piece, frame a motif or print, or emerge through individually appliquéd elements. Chantilly, filigree, Duchesse, and Alençon lace each bring a different character, while cutwork, motifs, scallop, and appliqué introduce further possibilities. Two or three laces layered over an edge can add depth, and carefully placed details reveal themselves differently as the scarf is folded, draped, or allowed to fall open.
The distinction matters because when lace becomes part of the design itself, it influences how a scarf drapes, moves, and catches the light. Each lace motif is carefully cut, positioned, and stitched by hand, with some designs requiring the lace to be hand-machined onto the scarf. Every placement is considered not only as it appears on a flat surface but for how it will behave once worn. Depending on the design's intricacy, a single scarf can require 40 to 72 hours of artisan work, and the collection remains intentionally small to allow each piece the time and attention it demands.
The allure of a Maneesha Ruia lace scarf also lies in the way lace converses with other forms of craft. A lace motif may meet hand embroidery; floral appliqué may be set against beadwork; a hand-painted scarf may find its finishing counterpoint in an intricate lace detail. From afar, the effect can appear effortless, but closer inspection reveals the texture of the lace, the nuances of handwork, and the irregularities that show the human hands behind every piece.
Lace has traditionally been associated with weddings and celebrations, but the modern lace scarf brings that intricacy into everyday settings. A relaxed shoulder drape can soften the clean lines of tailoring, while a classic French drape brings a polished finish to a coat or sweater. For a more defined silhouette, a belted scarf transforms the piece into an unexpected layer. Paired with a white shirt, denim, or a simple cashmere sweater, lace takes on an entirely different character. For more elaborate occasions, the brand's occasion wear scarves are built on the same principle: adding intricacy and character without overwhelming the look.
Every Maneesha Ruia scarf is made in India, with craftsmanship at the heart of its design process. The house works with GOTS-approved fabrics and AZO-free dyes, reflecting a commitment to thoughtful material choices and responsible production. Excess production materials are donated to Hamaara Sapna, while a share of proceeds from every purchase supports the Akanksha Foundation's work in providing education to underprivileged children. More information about the house and Maneesha Ruia is available online.
Over 13 years, the house has continued to return to lace to discover how much further it can go. Different fabrics, colors, motifs, techniques, and treatments have offered new interpretations, while the instinct behind them has remained constant: take a beautiful craft, look beyond its obvious application, and make it relevant to the way women dress today. For the house, lace has become more than a material or an embellishment; it has become a language through which craftsmanship, femininity, and contemporary elegance continue to meet. Thirteen years on, the conversation is still evolving.
