Fashion today is a democratic territory. It has broken out of the bastions of metropolitan elitists to being more approachable and relatable. As a result, the industry is now being shaped by talents from not just big cities but small Indian towns as well. Every single designer is trying to give fashion his or her interpretation. We list 5 Indian designers who, despite hailing from small Indian towns, are creating waves big enough to influence the fashion industry.
1. Sanjay Garg: Born in Mubarikpur in Rajasthan, Sanjay completed his studies from his hometown but soon realised that the village education was isolating him in terms of his creativity. He did his M.Com and finally realized that fashion was his calling and joined NIFT. He wanted to go abroad but did not want to ask his father for money. He instead took on small-scale projects. One such project was the Chanderi Cluster Development Programme. Meeting politician Jaya Jaitley and showcasing his designs to her changed his life. He eventually borrowed Rs 90,000 from his father and created a collection, which was sold out, and this is how Raw Mango began. Today it is one of India’s best known brands for authentic Indian saris and has been worn by stars on the red carpet throughout the world, including Nandita Das, Kajol, Dia Mirza and Pernia Qureshi.
2.Rahul Mishra: Born in Malhausi, a small village in UP, Misra did his graduation in Physics from Kanpur University but fashion was his calling. He landed up doing a PG in apparel design at National Institute of Design (NID) and became the first non-European to bag a scholarship at the prestigious Istituto Marangoni, Milan. After making his debut at Lakme Fashion Week in 2006, he garnered rave reviews from fashion critics. His admiration for weaves and handlooms of small town has become an inevitable part of his oeuvre of work. He is credited for creating outfits that strike a perfect balance between modernity and tradition. It’s no wonder that, in 2013, he became the first Indian to receive the prestigious Woolmark Prize in Milan.
3. Vaishali Shadangule: Vaishali Shadangule was just 18 when she left her house in Vidisha, a small town in Madhya Pradesh. She pursued a degree in computer science but soon realized it wasn’t her preferred vocation. She borrowed Rs 50,000 decided to open a boutique in Mumbai and her determination proved to be a stimulus. Inspired by her childhood memories, she started working with chanderi clusters and made her debut at Lakme Fashion Week in 2011 with a collection called ‘Virus Free’, the highlight of which was chanderi fabric. Her success story continues and she is now planning to open a flagship stand-alone store in Gurgaon.
4. Zubair Kirmani: Zubair Sharief Kirmani belongs to picturesque Srinagar in Kashmir Valley. Born into a Kashimiri Muslim family, Zubair meddled with science but could not succeed. After completing his education via the usual Indian route, Zubair decided that he was not getting the creative satisfaction he sought. Taking the reigns of his future in his own hands at a young age, he started his label ‘BOUNIPUN’ meaning chinar leaf. It is his true devotion to his craft that has fetched him clients such as AR Rahman among many others. He now retails from 30 stores around the world including Bahrain and Spain.
5. Jenjum Gadi: The northeast of India has no dearth of talent and another emerging designer from the region is Jenjum Gadi. Born in the remote village of Tirbin in Arunachal Pradesh, Jenjum came to Delhi to seek an education in fashion, and completed his studies at Wigan and Leigh College. Acclaimed fashion designer Rohit Bal loved his graduate collection and offered Jenjum a job. In 2013, Jenjum launched his own eponymous label. Today his creations are preferred by red-carpet divas such as Malaika Arora Khan and Sonakshi Sinha. Treading a path between his northeastern aesthetic and modernity, Jenjum has carved a stunning niche for himself.
This piece was originally published on Fashion101.in
