Love for fashion

When 24-year-old Reshma Gupta shifted gears from engineering to fashion, little did she know that one day she would get the opportunity to rub shoulders with top designers at one of the most famous fashion shows in the country. Her big break into the fashion industry happened two years back when she joined fashion design course at Mod’Art International College in New Delhi. But last October was a milestone in her journey. Reshma took part as a trainee fashion designer in the Wills Lifestyle Fashion Week, Delhi, Spring-Summer 2015 and assisted well-known women’s wear designer Tanvi Kedia in her collection. The collection was a bohemian look coupled with Kutchi embroidery and included tunics, frocks, quilts and kurtis. “We designed totally 16 ensembles and I was working at her factory, doing the embroidery and stitching,” says Reshma who has also worked with Tarun Tahiliani for a wedding week and designer Joy Mitra for his women’s wear line.

“From small town Madurai, I landed straight in the midst of high-profile fashion scene in Delhi. It was a culture shock. But now I breathe fashion,” says Reshma. “Even as a kid, I was attracted to fabrics and designs. I have been following Indian and international fashion designers and their collection. I keep myself updated on the trends.” Reshma’s forte is Indo-western outfits, which are versatile everyday wear. She likes to play with the silhouette and fabrics more than the colours and prints. At her first independent fashion show ‘A la mode’, Reshma came up with innovative ensembles made out of recycled fabrics. “I made a set of three unisex jackets using plastic, discarded glitters, Can Can nets and coco cola cans,” she says.

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While still pursuing her second year in college, Reshma has launched her own label Mënyrë, which in Albanian language means ‘Vogue’. “I have an eye for elegant clothing. My taste is pretty simple and sober, not loud,” she says. “One of my inspirations is Mumbai-based fashion designer Nikhil Thampi. His designs retain an Indian sensibility.” At a recent expo organised by Agrawal Samaj in Madurai, Reshma sold Pallazos, Pakistani Kurtas, jumpsuits, Nehru jackets with Dabka work, resham and sequins and Indo-western clothes. Her sales touched over Rs.30,000 in two days.

“I make sure that all my designs are exclusive single pieces. I get the work done from a team of tailors and weavers in Delhi. The silk I use is a hand-woven 120 gms silk and hence I price it a bit high,” she says.

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