BEST SERVED HAUTE!

ARPITA MEHTA HAS SUCCESSFULLY MARRIED TRADITIONAL MOTIFS TO MODERN CHIC. TANISHA BHATTACHARYA EXPLORES WHAT MAKES HER DESIGNS INSTANT CLASSICS

- TANISHA BHATTACHARYA

Arpita Mehta, renowned for her exquisite hand-embroidered mirror work, has A carved a niche for herself in the fashion industry with her distinctively Indian yet contemporary designs. Inspired by childhood memories of vibrant Navratri lehengas adorned with intricate mirror work from Gujarat, particularly Jamnagar, Arpita's journey into fashion was rooted in familial influences. Her mother and grandmother, with their distinctive styles spanning sarees, jeans paired with t-shirts and elegant salwar suits, instilled in her a deep appreciation for fashion early on. Married to designer Kunal Rawal, Arpita brings a unique perspective to her craft, shaped by both personal style icons and professional collaborations within Bollywood. Her design philosophy resonates with Bollywood stars such as Alia Bhatt, Karisma Kapoor and Ananya Panday, who have graced her runway as showstoppers, enhancing the visibility and allure of her creations. With a penchant for blending tradition with modernity, she envisions her brand as a reflection of elegance and innovation in Indian fashion. Excerpts:

Let’s begin with your signature style of hand-embroidered mirror work. When and how did you develop a taste for this?

Mirror work is something that came to me when I was a child. We used to have these yearly Navratri events in our school. My mom used to get me the cutest embroidered mirrorwork lehengas from Gujarat, primarily from Jamnagar for these events. That’s my foremost memory of mirror work. When I started designing, that was the kind of design that left a deep impression. That was the beginning of the idea in my system. Once I started experimenting with it and started building up the kind of clothes I wanted to make, this trend was what came to my mind first.

Your website says that it was the distinctive styles of your mother and grandmother that motivated you to start your journey…