Gaurav Gupta follows no rules and “I like it that way,” he says. As a creative person, Gaurav follows his instincts and wants his designs to reflect style combined with modernity and yet give clients their much-needed ‘Indian’ look.
One of the early designers of the cocktail sari, Gaurav was in town to promote his latest collection —‘The Wink of Nyx’ and the Autumn-Winter 2014 collection.
The designer who was in town to launch his new collection at Elahe, says it is the changing mindset that makes customers opt for something new and different. “Can anyone imagine wearing tunic and slacks ten years ago? Possibly not. But now, even my mother wears them. So, designs and demands totally depend on how our clients have evolved. With the well-travelled, fashion conscious younger generation, it is a matter of coming across something new or better put, ‘being introduced to something new,” he explains.
Elaborating on ‘The Wink of Nyx’, Gaurav says, “Nyx, goddess of the night, seen rarely as a presence and mostly in shadows of the world. This collection takes inspiration from that.”
And true to his explanation, the collection reflects a sense of mystery.
It creates a subtle illusion of delicate patterns with a mysterious appearance. The colour and the blend of motifs and cuts aren’t predictable but they are all meant for the Indian woman.
Size doesn’t matter“The palette is an archipelago of sanguine blue, seismic red, wishing white and byron’s gold among others. Size doesn’t matter, my clothes have cuts and shapes that will make the average woman look more than a couple of inches slimmer,” he explains.
As part of the exhibition, Gaurav’s collection has ephemeral jackets, philosophy gowns, fire dripped sari gowns and calypso lehenga gowns, mostly made tangible by lace, icthyl tulle, stinging jersey and phosphorus brocade.
But Gaurav does admit that he is mostly a designer for daughters and daughters-in-law. “Mothers and mothers-in-law also wear my sari, but the younger lot love the idea of the cocktail saris because women always want to look different and stylish. However, I do not design with an occasion in mind. My collection can be worn either for a sangeet , a party or even for a reception.” he says.
How much customisation of a design happens when the actual selling happens? “Quite a lot, because most of the collection we showcase are meant for the ramp. But when it comes to buying, customers will alter in length, cuts etc,” he says.
