Fashion Babel from India

So when he got the news that his line has won an award for the most commercial collection at the recently-held IAF (International Apparel Federation) Designer Awards,he was overjoyed. Held on October 15 at Riviera Nayarit in Puerto Vallarta,Mexico,the awards were,indeed,one of the highlights of the 27th International Apparel Federation World Apparel Convention 2011. Gupta’s collection,as the official nomination by the Fashion Design Council of India,went on to beat competition by designers from Greece,Colombia,Taiwan and Australia,among others.

“The idea was to talk about the interwoven global relationships while drawing attention to the current fragile and violent global climate,as that’s what formed the crux of the film Babel. So the line visually explored the film in the form of colour,scale and mood with its hand-woven fabrics (silk,cotton). I made it a point to use the ancient Indian weaving style of Tangail on a traditional handloom and the dyeing of the yarn too was done in open vessels by hand,” explains Gupta,who studied at NIFT,Delhi and London’s Chelsea College of Art and Design.

In fact,this award is not his first recognition on the international platform. In 2009,this talented young designer was selected to take part in the Shared Talent India Project for promoting Indian sustainable textiles in an intiative by the Centre of Sustainable Fashion,London. But ask him about the IAF awards ceremony and the designer admits that he’s not even sure about making it. “I am told next year’s IAF convention will be held in Portugal and that there will be a fashion show followed by a lavish awards ceremony. But I really don’t know if I can go as it all depends on how I will be placed at that time. This time too,I couldn’t go for the competition due to prior commitments,” he says.