How their delightful imagination is giving these couturier wings to fly

Elements of art, architecture—and free expression—are at the heart of the most striking fashion pieces. Pore over them, here...

Vaishali S

“I do consider myself to be an artist...it is part of my creativity. I believe nature is the greatest artist on Earth, and I try to give shape to the messages she shares with me. My fashion, especially haute couture, speaks a language that goes beyond just getting dressed; I want the wearer to interpret my creations in different ways.”

Gaurav Gupta

“I did a whole thesis called ‘Is Fashion an Art?’ While graduating from college, and I put forth a valid argument. They’re both forms of creative expression and both can be conceptual or commercial. One, you wear, the other, you witness. When we began our brand, such fashion wasn’t present. Most of our pieces are like large sculptures...we don’t follow rules when it comes to draping or pattern-making. We make artful pieces that are literally sculpted in different materials and moulding fabrics.”

Rahul Mishra

“I borrow from my personal experiences, to paint my imagination onto clothes with the help of two and three dimensional embroideries. We create everything from dreamlike landscapes to natural overgrowth and vivid botanical motifs. I’ve always been inspired by masters such as Claude Monet, MC Escher, and Vincent van Gogh.”

Rimzim Dadu

“Art and fashion are two sides of the same coin... Clothes have always been a medium of self-expression for me; a vehicle to showcase my fascination with unusual materials and push the boundaries of materials. For instance, I’ve transformed steel—usually a heavy, stiff material—into soft and malleable textile.”

Amit Aggarwal

“I think the greatest expression of art is finding beauty in what one does. I create with my heart first and my mind does the work after. Many artists inspire me, across various domains, from Mrinalini Mukherjee to Zaha Hadid, they are all artists with a singular vision and a unique voice.”

Anamika Khanna

“Fashion, just like art, is deep-rooted in expressionism; both constantly drawing inspiration from each other. I’m personally inspired by artists like El Anatsui, Sheila Hicks, Jeff Koons, Georg Baselitz, and Viraj Khanna. As for my own creations, I try to make pieces that could be worn, preserved, or even put on the walls!” 

Photographs by Chandrahas Prabhu, Styling by Pranay Jaitly and Shounak Amonkar

Model: Esha Gohil, Make-up: Krisann Figueiredo, Hair: Rakshanda Irani, Fashion assistants: Shubham Jawanjal and Ankur Pathak, Production: Studio Gaaba