It’s been raining accolades for Indian designer Gaurav Gupta, who recently showcased his latest Spring Summer’23 couture collection ‘Shunya’ at the Paris haute Couture Week (PCW). At the 65th Annual Grammy Award red carpet, pop icon and rapper Cardi B stunned fashion lovers and global media in a dreamy electric blue ensemble by the designer.
Gaurav Gupta, who is known for his surreal designs and artistic creations, feels the experience has been phenomenal and his eponymous brand is now headed for a global expansion — not only through celebrities or shows but also through a robust distribution and retail plan. He informs, “The brand has had a fantastic last year wherein we have successfully collaborated with some of the globally renowned cultural catalysts for iconic red carpet events and other significant moments. We dressed some iconic culturalists in these 18 years, and many of them over and over again. And, some of them are friends now who carry the aesthetic of the brand so effortlessly.”
Gaurav’s PCW show was attended by celebrities like singer Luis Fonsi and his wife, Agueda, the Clermont twins, Ogee, Chloe Lecareux, Mara Lafontane, Raphael Say, celebrity stylist Kollin Carter and renowned fashion critics like Suzy Menkes and Vanessa Friedman. He is one of the top designers in India to make a mark on the global fashion scene and speaking about his experience at the prestigious platform, the designer says, “We were overwhelmed by the response after we showcased for the first time on the calendar at Haute Couture Week in Paris. My friends and family were quick to observe and express that it seemed like I was finally home. The love we received from the global audience was heartwarming and closer to home, the love from our own audience grew manifold. The feeling was quite surreal throughout. I met a lot of iconic and legendary personalities along the journey. However, my encounter with Suzy Menkes comes to mind very quickly. It filled my heart with joy to read her articulated review of my collection on social media. It meant everything to me.”
Known for his meticulous details and ineffable designs, Gaurav’s latest collection is a fascinating handcrafted story of form to infinity. For the PCW, he designed 34 looks along with the accessories and utilized Indian arts and crafts to accentuate the dreamy line of couture garments. He mentions, “We have used a lot of Indian handwoven tissues in gold and silvers along with handwoven Benarasi brocades. Apart from that, we have used silk organza and silk satins to make our signature sculpture couture. We also used traditional Indian embroidery techniques like zardozi and aari work to further embellish the garments.”
The theme for his first showcase on the official calendar was Shunya (zero), and the designer wanted to delve deeper into the mindscape and come up with a concept that’s subliminal in thought and original in form. The last segment of the collection featured an array of black and gold looks which were inspired by ancient Egyptian civilizations. He says, “Our brand DNA and aesthetic is deeply rooted in surrealism. There is always running a parallel between the lightness of being and structures. We embellished the garments with pyramid nails and directional embroideries which emulated the explorations of time and metaphysics. I won’t say it was a challenge as this is something the brand has been doing for over 18 years now. Crafting these nuances has become a brand signature now.”
