e d i ins gn i s de ANNEX:After graduating from Central Saint Martins what was your immediate next step? GG:Post Central Saint Martins, my graduate collection was awarded ‘The Future of Couture’ at Altaroma Altamoda, Rome Couture Fashion Week and with ‘The Roots of Creativity’ title at the Mittelmoda Fashion Awards in Italy. I appeared for different interviews with different kinds of international global brands. I worked with Hussein Chalayan, Tristan Webber gaining some kind of experience in Europe. I knew I had to start my brand soon enough and after an experience of one and a half years I returned back to India. ANNEX:Working for designers like Hussein Chalayan, Tristan Webber, Stella McCartney and more have you had a mentor guiding you through the industry? GG:There hasn’t been a particular singular guidance, but I have seeked and received guidance from many industry people.
ANNEX : CHRISTO
gaurav gupta
ANNEX:You’ve been honored with numerous prestigious awards and accomplished in a short time what other designers could only hope to accomplish in a lifetime how do you stay grounded and humble?
What excites you more, seeing your designs grace the covers of Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, etc. or on a complete stranger?
GG:I feel I’m yet to achieve more, and exploration injects further adrenalin into the brand continuously. I’m also very close to my friends and family who keep me grounded.
In between designing you actively collaborate with artists and musicians. what would be the ultimate collaboration for you?
Your designs are so notorious for the distinct garment construction, impeccable form, and luxurious fabric, what has influenced you to put such on emphasis on these qualities? The inspiration is mostly driven from this inert need to innovate for myself first. To envisage something, the thought that would excite me first, and then each garment has a different process. There are influences from art, art nouveau, deco, and their obsession with beautiful things like wines and roses. Then we try out different techniques, sketches, artworks, embroideries, materials, colours, there does seem to be a method to the randomness of the process.
I like both. I’m greedy.
I would love to collaborate with Mathew Barney, Riccardo Tisci, Tim Burton and the Cirque de Soleil. What can we expect next from Gaurav Gupta? We are planning to open more stores across the world and retailing in established markets as US & Europe. But most importantly, “keeping the brand alive and kicking” What insider advice can you give to aspiring designers? In design there is a constant fight between alternative design and commercial market and finding the balance. I urge all designers not to give in.
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