Maison Ava: Discover The Next Chapter Of The First Couture Brand For Children

A mother’s vision transforms luxury children’s fashion, crafting heirloomworthy couture that celebrates family, craftsmanship, and elegance

Maison Ava is a testament to the power of a mother’s vision. For Viranica Manchu, the journey into luxury children’s fashion began with a deeply personal need. Born and raised in the United States, she moved to India after marrying actor Vishnu Manchu. As she navigated the demands of motherhood, she found herself searching for well-crafted, stylish garments for her children – only to realise that the market had little to offer. This pursuit of elegance for her own family soon evolved into something greater: a legacy in the making.

The name Maison Ava itself reflects that sense of family. Inspired by the initials of her children and husband, it serves as a tribute to the people who shaped her journey. With twin girls as her firstborns, followed by a son and another daughter, Viranica was constantly on the lookout for couture garments that could match the sophistication of adult fashion. In India, where grand weddings and lavish celebrations were a way of life, she struggled to find pieces that met her expectations. Relying on designer friends, custom tailors, and endless modifications became the norm, until she decided to take matters into her own hands.

She took a leap of faith in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the world was questioning the future of celebrations and fashion. “Everybody, all my friends would tell me, ‘We don’t even know if there’s a tomorrow, let alone celebrations and all these garments that you’re trying to make.’ And I said that we always have to look at the silver lining. You always have to look at the better side of things. And that’s how Maison Ava was born,” she recalls.

The first year was spent meticulously researching, developing, and assembling the right team. The result was a luxury fashion house exclusively for children. Three years since its official launch, Maison Ava is now present in 14 countries and carried in 48 luxury department stores worldwide. With its first flagship boutique in Dubai slated to open next year, the brand is entering an exciting new chapter.

At the heart of Maison Ava is true couture craftsmanship. Unlike brands that repurpose existing fabrics, Viranica ensures that every piece is created from scratch. The brand sources greyish fabrics – raw, undyed textiles – and customises everything from colours to embroidery, ensuring each garment is unique. The embroidery, entirely hand-crafted in the Maison Ava atelier, is brought to life by 200 artisans who meticulously create designs that rival the finest couture houses. “The craftsmanship that you see on our pieces, you won’t find in the market because whenever you see embroidery, it’s all hand done in our atelier,” she explains. “We take pride in calling ourselves the first couture brand for children.”

While luxury fashion often prioritises adults, leaving children’s wear as an afterthought, Viranica challenges that notion. “If you look at brands such as Dior and Gucci, I was a big consumer of those products. But it’s a luxury fashion house for adults, and then children happen to be afterthoughts, or in business terms, they’re more of a value-add for the parents,” she shares. “There aren’t many child-centred brands.”

Maison Ava fills that gap by offering children’s garments that are just as exquisitely designed as those for adults. The brand caters to newborns up to 16-year-olds, ensuring that childhood milestones are marked with elegance and style. This deep understanding of cultural and aesthetic preferences has also contributed to its success, particularly in the GCC region. “GCC is our biggest market,” Viranica confirms. The brand incorporates elements of modest fashion, ensuring garments respect traditions while remaining sophisticated. “When you think about children’s fashion, it’s always more modest, and we’ve taken a lot of key inputs – whether it’s the length of the garments, keeping the shoulders covered, higher necklines, or minimising sheer elements – to value the traditions of the GCC region.”

Maison Ava is also expanding its reach with the launch of a mother-daughter collection in Autumn 2025. The demand for matching family ensembles has grown, reinforcing the brand’s core philosophy: celebrating family through fashion. Some of the most meaningful projects are those that bring generations together. A recent request from a London-based influencer involved creating custom looks for Mother’s Day – spanning three generations, from the baby to the grandmother. Maison Ava’s pieces are designed to be heirlooms, timeless treasures passed down through families. “Timeless, elegant, and cherished,” is how Viranica describes the brand.

This sentiment extends beyond fashion – it defines the essence of Maison Ava and the legacy she is building. The brand offers a truly bespoke experience, allowing clients to customise garments down to the finest details. With over 80 designs per season, Maison Ava provides a vast selection, but many clients seek something even more personal – be it a unique colour, embroidery pattern, or an entirely new design for a special occasion. The bespoke process involves direct collaboration with the design team, from initial sketches to embroidery swatches and video consultations for precise measurements. Every piece tells a story, capturing moments that families will cherish forever.

For Viranica, Maison Ava is a reflection of her own journey as a mother and entrepreneur. Balancing the demands of parenting with her dream, she has created a brand that stands for elegance, craftsmanship, and, above all, the power of family.

Photographer: Nika Pogorelenko. Shot on Location Invilla Cora, Florence

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