Gaurav Gupta is an avant-garde Indian couturier.[1][2] Gupta's work has been featured in events such Paris Haute Couture Week[3][4][5][6] (on invitation of Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode).[7][8] His work is characterized by his origami style[9] sculptural style patterns with pleating and lifting.[10][11] Gupta is known to use traditional Indian embroidery techniques like zardozi, nakshi and dabka and borrow abstract patterns from nature.[12] He holds the distinction of being the third Indian designer, following Rahul Mishra (who has consistently showcased since 2020) and Vaishali S (in 2021), to present at the couture week.[7][6]

Early life and career

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Gupta grew up in New Delhi.[13] and first studied at National Institute of Fashion Technology.[14] He completed his education in 2000 and worked for a brief while[14] and later graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2003.[15][16][17][18] He then worked with Hussein Chalaya.[19][15] His family works in steel and was not involved in art or fashion.[14] He started his label, with his own name in 2005[20][21][4] with his brother as co-director.[13][22] However the label was properly launched only in 2006, since Gupta went to Istanbul to work as an art director in Istanbul for a company.[14]

Gupta's business model consists of both e-tail business and brick-mortar stores in Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata[23] and Mumbai.[24][5][25][17] In United States, the business uses multi-designer store Neiman Marcus and online retailer Moda Operandi[22] for retail.[12] He also introduced a fine jewelry collection[23][18] and hosted an art exhibition at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Mumbai.[26] He has recently introduced his home decor label, displayed at Gupta's flagship store in Mehrauli, New Delhi.[27][25]

Indian Express credited him for reviving bridal couture in India.[28] He also collaborated with IBM to create an artificial intelligence-inspired sari-gown using IBM Watson.[29] Lately, a collaborative effort between Gupta and perfumer Jahnvi Lakhota Nandan resulted in the fragrance named ‘Again’.[30] Gupta was included in a British documentary for London Olympics 2012.[31] The journey began when rapper Cardi B chose to wear his cream-toned sculptural dress in the remix video of "No Love" (March 2022).[32]

Notable Clients/Events

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Throughout the year 2022, Gupta provided attire for prominent figures such as Megan Thee Stallion at the Oscars, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at Cannes,[33][34][35] Cardi B in a music video, as well as Lizzo, Kylie Minogue, Maluma[8] at the Latin Billboards,[4] and Fan Bingbing.[7][6][36]

Cardi B in early February was seen wearing a wavy cobalt blue dress in the Grammys red carpet that was designed by Gupta. The star and creator of the sitcom “Abbott Elementary’, Quinta Brunson, was also seen wearing a Gaurav Gupta design the color of café au lait, while hosting the Billboard Women in Music Awards ceremony.[1]

During her Atlanta performance, Beyoncé wore a distinctive neon green sari, a customary South Asian attire crafted by Gaurav Gupta, which was a part of the Renaissance world tour wardrobe, featuring three distinct looks.[37][22]

His work has been worn by Tems,[1] Angela Bassett, Priyanka Chopra, Natasha Poonawalla, Kriti Sanon, Janhvi Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Shakira (for the cover of Billboard),[36] Vijay Varma, Deepika Padukone,[34] Aja Naomi King,[38] Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Diipa Büller-Khosla, Jennifer Hudson[8] (at 2022 Producers Guild Awards),[10][33] Jenna Ortega (at Saturday Night Live), Jr NTR at the Oscars[28] Mary J Blige to the Time 100 Gala,[14][17] Bebe Rexha, Sharon Stone,[17] Luis Fonsi, Ashanti, Thalia, Jeremy Pope[8] and Saweetie[13][17] and many others.[1] Among his various global engagements was his participation in Prince Charles' annual Animal Ball charity event in London, where he crafted a masquerade mask inspired by hummingbirds.[26] In 2019, Gaurav’s brand collaborated with Maison Bose, a luxury communication consultancy in Los Angeles.[22]

Personal life

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In an interview with Vogue Gupta shared his experiences growing up as a gay individual in 1990s India. The conversation explored the challenges he faced in pursuing his passion and how those struggles still shape his work today.[16]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Garcia, Sandra E. (2023-03-16). "The Designer Whose Swoops, Whorls and Waves Ruled the Red Carpet". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  2. ^ "Gaurav Gupta celebrates 15 years ICW2019 | Femina.in". www.femina.in. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  3. ^ Desk, The Styles (6 Dec 2023). "Styles's 71 Most Stylish 'People' of 2023". The New York Times. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  4. ^ a b c Portee, Allyson. "Gaurav Gupta Stuns In His SS23 Couture Collection During Haute Couture Week". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
  5. ^ a b "A new Gaurav Gupta flagship store in Mumbai's Kala Ghoda is part culture museum, part fashion store". Vogue India. 2023-03-04. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  6. ^ a b c "Gaurav Gupta's Panther Prowls in Paris". www.thevoiceoffashion.com. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  7. ^ a b c Makhija, Vinita (2022-12-23). "Gaurav Gupta's bringing his brand's DNA and surreal themes to Paris Haute Couture Week". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  8. ^ a b c d "International celebs who wore Indian designer Gaurav Gupta". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  9. ^ "Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2019: Designer Gaurav Gupta gave a theatrical opening". The Indian Express. 2019-01-31. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  10. ^ a b "Gaurav Gupta on being a culturalist, and designing red carpet gowns for Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, Jennifer Hudson". Firstpost. 2022-04-06. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  11. ^ Richford, Rhonda (2023-01-26). "Gaurav Gupta Couture Spring 2023". WWD. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  12. ^ a b "I am a sophisticated hippie, says Gaurav Gupta". Mintlounge. 2023-07-21. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  13. ^ a b c Khan, Rubina A. (2023-02-23). "Couturier Gaurav Gupta on Bringing About Cultural Collaboration". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  14. ^ a b c d e "How Gaurav Gupta Became India's Buzziest Couturier". Fashionista. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  15. ^ a b "Why Does Fashion Need Haute Couture?". The Business of Fashion. 2023-07-08. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
  16. ^ a b "Gaurav Gupta on being bullied for his sexuality, and how fashion gave him a voice". Vogue India. 2019-06-06. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  17. ^ a b c d e Khan, Rubina A. (2023-03-03). "Gaurav Gupta Couture Artistry: Why Global Music Superstars Love The Indian Designer". Man's World India. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  18. ^ a b "Gaurav Gupta: 'I wanted to come up with a new aesthetic in jewellery'". Mintlounge. 2019-08-10. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  19. ^ "Gaurav Gupta | BoF 500 | The People Shaping the Global Fashion Industry". The Business of Fashion. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  20. ^ Tse, Samantha (2023-01-28). "Indian fashion designer Gaurav Gupta makes his Paris Haute Couture Week debut". CNN. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
  21. ^ "Gaurav Gupta on being a culturalist, and designing red carpet gowns for Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, Jennifer Hudson". Firstpost. 2022-04-06. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  22. ^ a b c d "Gaurav Gupta redefines Indian fashion on the global stage". Vogue Business. 2023-11-20. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  23. ^ a b "Gaurav Gupta: 'I wanted to come up with a new aesthetic in jewellery'". Mintlounge. 2019-08-10. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
  24. ^ Tse, Samantha (2023-01-28). "Indian fashion designer Gaurav Gupta makes his Paris Haute Couture Week debut". CNN. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  25. ^ a b "Gaurav Gupta's Delhi store serves up a flamboyant palette". Architectural Digest India. 2019-01-16. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  26. ^ a b "You can be experimental but still timeless: Gaurav Gupta". Mintlounge. 2020-11-19. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  27. ^ "Fashion designer Gaurav Gupta launches his decor label with the most fantastical pieces". Architectural Digest India. 2019-09-20. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  28. ^ a b "The Year Belongs To Gaurav Gupta". The Indian Express. 2023-03-17. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  29. ^ "IBM and Gaurav Gupta's cognitive sari-gown is nothing like you've ever seen before". Vogue India. 2017-09-22. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  30. ^ "Fashion designer Gaurav Gupta unveils new perfume in Mumbai". Architectural Digest India. 2017-10-31. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  31. ^ "Gaurav Gupta documented by the British Government". Vogue India. 2012-06-22. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  32. ^ "The Rise and Rise of Gaurav Gupta". www.thevoiceoffashion.com. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  33. ^ a b "At the newly launched Gaurav Gupta Atelier, the only rule is that there are no rules". Vogue India. 2022-08-19. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  34. ^ a b "Swirl domination: How Gaurav Gupta's gowns took over global fashion". Hindustan Times. 2023-10-06. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  35. ^ "How Gaurav Gupta Won the Red Carpet". The Juggernaut. Retrieved 2024-01-24. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  36. ^ a b "18 iconic celebrity looks from Gaurav Gupta that became a red carpet sensation". Vogue India. 2023-10-18. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
  37. ^ "Beyoncé: Meet the designer who made her sparkle on tour". 2023-12-03. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  38. ^ "Gaurav Gupta breaks down the method undergirding his eclectic red-carpet celebrity sightings". Vogue India. 2023-05-27. Retrieved 2024-01-03.