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EXCLUSIVE: Masaba Gupta talks about fashion inclusivity and what she would like to change about the industry
Celebrated fashion designer Masaba Gupta spilles beans on her latest collection, fashion inclusivity, who she loves to dress up in Bollyoowd and what she'd like to change in the industry.
Masaba Gupta is probably one of the youngest established faces in the fashion industry. She has made her mark with her independent fashion label that is well known for its easy and functional fabrics with a mix of prints ranging from funky patterns to everyday objects. The designer is expanding by launching new stores across the country with Chennai and Bengaluru now in her kitty. We were inquisitive about what took so long for the designer to launch her store in the two metropolitan cities. "I wanted to test the market first," she begins explaining. "I did multiple pop-ups before finally opening a store in both the cities and finally decided to give it a shot because the response was fantastic. it gave me the confidence to open my store in the two cities," said the designer who decided to be smart about things as opposed to doing things on a whim.
Coming to fashion, the contemporary designer lets us in on what we can expect this Spring/Summer. Think cool marine prints like turtles, coconut trees, flying fish and even unicorns! And since Gupta has always been inclined towards wildlife, she always likes to do something more fun so, "you can expect prints like deer and more wildlife as well," she quips,
Gupta has been reigning the fashion for a while now, and for a reason. The daughter of Neena Gupta has openly spoken about inclusivity. Speaking on the subject, she says, "The concept I think is very personal. I have seen people take offence very fast and what may be offensive to me may not be the case for the other person, and vice versa. One thing we do, to be inclusive, is that when we shoot campaigns, we ensure to do so with models of different body types, skin colours and with those hailing from different cultures," she explained. And when it comes to outfits, though Gupta won't be venturing into designing for plus sizes anytime soon, she explains that she does customise outfits. "You can walk in and be either a size 10 or a size 44, and anything can be made in your size. We ensure that a certain percentage of our collection can always fit bigger women," she explains.
When it comes to fashion, the industry can be quite daunting. And Gupta even agrees! If she could, would she change anything about the industry? "Photoshop," she says in a flash. "I think a lot of magazine covers are heavily photoshopped and bodies are distorted to look a certain way," she goes on to explain her quick answer. But that's not all! "I also wish fashion houses would become inclusive not just for the sake of it," she says about brands who label themselves as "fashion inclusive brands" just because it is trending right now. She is also worried about the impression it might create on the younger generation. "Fashion is one industry that can really change things around for young boys and girls and make them feel like they are not left out. It can send a message that one doesn't have to look a certain way to be considered more beautiful or fashionable."
And while wedding season is still on, the ace designer gives brides some styling tips. For Gupta, comfort is key. "Whatever your outfit, it should be super comfortable," she insists and also lends some friendly advice. "It should also be something you can wear later on since you are spending a lot of money on it." When it comes to picking the right outfit, the designer suggests that one should always pick a colour according to her skin tone. "I feel like a lot of brides just go for something without seeing whether it works for them or not. But it is important to test out different colours, check how they look on you and then pick the outfit." And it terms of makeup and jewellery, the designer also suggests that minimalism is key. "Nothing shines out more than a bride in her most natural state," she smiles.
In fashion, trends come and go. So we were curious about the one trend that Gupta is currently obsessing over. "Corsets," she says without thinking twice. "I like anything that makes the waist look tiny," explains the designer who also revealed to us, her two favourite people to play dress-up with, in the Bollywood industry! "Sonam and Alia without a doubt, because they really trust me with my fashion and I know them really well," she smiles warmly in conclusion.
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