Newbie designer Masaba Guptas style statement is young and carefree Dressed in a white tee and jeans,Masaba Gupta sports the kind of look that she styles relaxed,comfortable and convenient. The Most Promising Designer at the Lakme Fashion Week Spring Summer 2010 looks beyond the conventional for inspiration from the cultural heritage of the country to kitsch art on the roadside. I really dont try too hard to be different for every fashion event. Neither do I go berserk trying to take out a fresh line for each fashion week. What is important is innovation, says Gupta,who was in Chandigarh on Friday at the International Institute of Fashion Design (INIFD) to interact with students and share her professional journey so far with them. Training is vital to know the technicalities of design and fashion,but no one can teach you to be creative, says the 21-year-old daughter of actor Neena Gupta and former Caribbean cricketer Vivian Richards. Gupta is now looking forward to opening her first store in Mumbai soon. But she is smart enough to realise that what drives a business is the commercial viability of a collection. Earlier,designers focused only on art,spending huge amounts but not getting much back. New stylists experiment,but they also know the art of selling, she says. Her own ensembles marry elegance with wearability,particularly the pocket sarees which are versatile and easy to slip on. I like my clothes to be bold,fearless but chic, she says. So does she see brands like Zara and Mango,known for their competitive pricing and great styles,giving Indian designers a run for their money? Frankly,a designer outfit is exclusive,which is not the case with a garment bought from a store. So designers score there. Also,nowadays,clothes are being designed for every budget ,so fashion is not really limited to a select few, she shrugs. Gupta uses a lot of Indian weaves,silks,and embroidery in her clothes,which invariably come in bright colours. Every state in India is rich in textiles. I travel extensively and visit villages to collect samples of embroideries for my collections. I have used a lot of Ikkat and now I am off to Manipur and Dhaka to explore more weaves, she says. Her upcoming festive collection takes inspiration from the way labourer women mix and match their clothes to come up with an unique style of their own. My collection is not a typical one. Its subtle,the colours are more toned down,but the garments are stylish and elegant,but easy to wear, she says.
