Gaurav Gupta beckons the silent spirit of the universe to make his star-like gowns offer a piece of heaven and celebrate a cosmic connection relinquishing man-made rules of love
By Asmita Aggarwal
The swirls and twirls of fabrics that Gaurav Gupta manipulated into ingenious mocha-hued gowns spoke of the need for Universal Love, also illustrating to his audience that the admiration for this most-loved addition to a brides trousseau is not constricted by size-isms, deliciously worn by the curvaceous, as it was by an older woman, negotiating both spectrums. The gown is as universal in its appeal as the varied definitions of love that exist in todays world which breaks the boundaries of set stereotypes of what must be accepted in a union of two souls.
I started thinking in this direction, after I had the opportunity to spend more time with myself, I feel like my mind tends to yearn to feel the presence of the universe, says Gaurav Gupta. Shot at the iconic Taj Falaknuma, GG has always been in love with, it is a melting point of different global cultures and influences. It is serene white and is literally floating in the sky —- symbolising its name and hence being called Mirror of the sky. We wanted a place which was glamorous and ostentatious and celebrative, he adds. The challenges were to find a place that was not very obviously Indian as the silhouettes are not Indian and to give it more of a reception mood. Taj Faluknama has that touch and feel in each and every room, hence it was the perfect fit.
The pandemic has taught the brand to be continuously true to itself. GG has consciously taken the decision to not alter the core philosophy of the brand. After the pandemic, when people are shopping couture, they are looking for originality, so what it has taught him is to be more creative and express his art in a bolder and more statement-y manner. It has taught us to formulate more sustainable practices while making and packaging our couture, he adds.
Social media and digital marketing has played a fantastic role in reaching out to the customer, making couture appointments in a safe environment. The state-of-the-art website helps customers choose and get a direction of what they want, it saves multiple trips to the couture stores.
I love challenges and storytelling. The art of filmmaking is infinite and one can tell the story even better. I see advantages in every form of expression so its exciting to be able to create scale and emotion in different ways while making a film, he asserts.
The colours and embroideries are inspired by the universe. We have used fabrics that are true to the brand like- rick silks, crepes, tulles and organzas. For our sculpting, we tend to develop and construct our own fabric, he explains, adding that originality, innovation, true design and perseverance will forever remain relevant.
The future he says is clear, GG is striving towards more and more zero waste while making couture, and are now repurposing the waste to make couture as well. I think fantasy is what drives me, and it can never take a back seat. Who says fantasy and functionality cannot work together? Our bustles are exaggerated and majestic, but are paired with slim gowns that are functional. This makes it perfect for any girl to enter her reception, cocktail or sangeet with drama where she can take off the bustle to dance away till the wee hours of the morning, he concludes.