From Classic Cuts To Trendy Designs

Fashion designer Athiti Gupta combines the conventional with contemporary innovations in her creations.

- Nicole Suares

Indian wear from salwar suits to anarkalis in their rich yet subtle embroideries with a dash of shimmer here and there fill up the racks even as beautiful Western gowns in earthy hues share the space at designer Athiti Gupta’s workshop. She is now getting set for upcoming exhibitions, one being Shringar at the Goa Marriott in Miramar. It will be her debut showcase for the local clientele and she’s hoping to carve her niche in the fashion scene in Goa. The designer, formerly based in Delhi, made her move to Goa after her marriage, a decision, she says, that was met with disapproval from both friends and parents. Athiti is, however, determined to prove them wrong.

While she may have inherited her creative spark from both parents, it is her mother who has been her style inspiration. It was she who would dress her daughter up in perfectly matched clothes as a child and even coaxed her to take part in fancy dress competitions. “I took part in quite a few. My mom dressed me as Santa Claus once and I won first place,” she recalls.

As she grew up, out went the frills, in came the trousers and loose tees. A tomboy who loved participating in sporting events, Athiti was captain of the basketball team. But again her style evolved once she hit her teens and began partying. She just couldn’t find the right readymade fit for herself and used to get her clothes stitched. That was when she decided to start her own label.