Master Twister

Gaurav Gupta’s work and play with fabrics cannot be contained in any box. It is what edgy dreams are made of.

- Mitali Goyal

The youngest jury member at Mittlemoda, a maverick designer and an art geek, Gaurav Gupta is all this and more. With imagination drawn from architecture around him and a manner of thinking that elevates him to stretch the limits further, his dresses are a dream. Over the years, he has also found inspiration in surrealism. At the opening of his flagship store in Mehrauli, we caught hold of him. He spoke about his store, his take on sustainable clothing and social media. Excerpts from the interview.

Tell us something about your store. What vision did you have for it? Who designed it?

Finding inspiration in surrealism, it is my interpretation of fantasy palace ruins, complete with mystical references and magical creatures. We envisaged our entire store around an age-old Siris tree, which we encased beautifully in a pristine glass prism, with a carefully shaped moon-roof, balancing the geometric with the poetic.

Architecturally, we envisioned bringing together the old and the new in a harmonious contrast — a Romanesque oval fountain in the centre of the store, which is outlined with curvilinear walls, beveled mirror edges are interspersed in the space to create a feeling of endlessness. The store is a deep-design collaboration with Studio Lotus.

Was designing something that you always wished to take up?

Yes, I was always interested in arts. There is no one in my family who was interested in fashion, arts, or any other similar field. My father has a business that specialises in iron and steel and he wished that I too followed, but I chose fashion. In school, I was always interested in trying my hand at sculpture, and liked to dance. Eventually, NIFT Delhi and Central Saint Martins, London happened.