The winds of fresh fragrance and an unconventional take on fashion triggered with intense passion for design weaves the fabric castle of Masaba. Having been discovered with outstanding potential early in her college by none other than fashion maverick designer Wendell Roderick himself who was her mentor, she participated at the Lakme Gen Next 2009 and since then has brought her bit of change to the fashion world. Fashionfad.in delves in chat with Masaba Gupta on all that composes and poses her fashion brigade for future.
How and when did you decide to get into fashion designing?
In my second year of college, SNDT, Mumbai I had Wendell Roderick as my mentor for my collection, and he thought my work was impressive and entrusted a lot in my talent. He was the one who asked me to participate at the Lakme Gen Next and thus started my journey as designer while I was still studying. And I still have three months of college left, so it’s been so far so good and my work has started being recognized and appreciated.
Which designer has given you inspiration or whom you look upto?
I admire different designers and for their individual take on fashion and design, my preferences also change with season to season from their collections. But my all time favorites are Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Anamika Khanna, Kalol Dutta, Nikasha, Anuj Sharma and Rimjhim Dadu.
What is the difference at LakmeFashion Week and WIFW?
I started my career with Lakme, but I always wanted to break into the Delhi market. As we perceive the Delhi market, to be a little tough splurge because of all the bling factors but WIFW is also reputed to be more business centric and have serious take on fashion I participated at the last season of WIFW A/W ’10. And it faired pretty well for me where I showcased a semi festive collection.
As for Lakme Fashion Week it has started a more focused approach towards the domestic buyers and I feel this move to be perfectly in sync with the designers’ business motives. The international buyers have not been bringing much business from the past few fashion weeks so it completely makes sense to tap and cater the domestic market to its optimum.
(She adds with a smile) Though the winter festive this season at Lakme Fashion week is going to be challenging for me as I completely denounce bling, that something I can’t associate my design intervention with, but what else could one do for bridals. So I am all set working out a route were I can amalgam lighter lehangas with my individual style and sensibility.
What inspires you most to design?
There is nothing in particular that hold on, to draw my inspirations I am a person who gets inspired from everyday, from significant to insignificant tantrums thrown at from all walks and that which has a degree of potential to stir my levels of passion. I can get sensitized while listening to a particular music or even while driving. Like some time back while I was driving I saw group of labour class women dressed blouses with multi hued patch work which formed the backbone of one of my collections.
How do you deal with design blocks?
I don’t really have design blocks because I believe only if put yourself into pressure to deliver certain number of products at the end of the day your mind would turn the switch off button. Where as for me design is an instant and free flow of ideas or inspirations and I never force my self with a schedule. So sometimes I sketch only sketch in the entire week and sometimes not even that much but still my work progresses as I then sit with my karigars to develop something entirely different with an altered approach.
Your views on the future of fashion in India….
As far as I can see Indian fashion is only about bridal wear and very few designers like Manish Arora walk out of the league to make their presence big abroad. We are stuck at a percept and satisfied with a few fashion weeks and a few boutique while there is so much more to rediscover and present and we are not branded and neither are we venturing out in a big way. Though its not absolutely essential fro everyone to go abroad, like Anita Dongre who is doing great in the domestic market itself and has been growing so unless the Indian fashion design starts expanding in a big way looking beyond the bridal market the future of fashion India is misty.
