11 years, 11 questions: Manish Malhotra talks about his eponymous label

Manish Malhotra, who started his journey as a model, made his mark in Bollywood by introducing the concept of styling. The designer is one of the most recognised names in the fashion industry globally and has revolutionised couture with his strong sense of colour and occasion. Manish also marked his foothold in the fashion industry by winning the first Filmfare Costume Award for the film Rangeela. 

Manish launched his diffusion couture label 'Manish Malhotra' in 2005. His label is synonymous with opulent, contemporary Indian wear and currently retails across Mumbai, Delhi, and Dubai amongst others.

The label is also one of the first Indian luxury fashion houses to achieve a milestone of having a turnover of over Rs1 billion.

On completion of 11 years of this eponymous label, Manish Malhotra answers 11 questions and talks about his story to dna;

• How did you realise that you wanted to enter into the world of fashion?

I do not have formal training in fashion. But, from a young age I loved to sketch and I loved the movies. So, as a natural progression I began my career as a costume stylist. Costumes are key ingredient of story-telling. As in real life, costumes accent the personality of a character and contribute to the overall impact of a situation on celluloid. So, to me, it was less about the glamour and more about research. I always pushed myself to learn from every experience during the early days. When I started my label 11 years ago, it was a result of wanting to translate all that I learnt on the job into a distinct ‘MANISH MALHOTRA’ style for fashion-lovers across the country. And there’s been no looking back!

•  How do you think that modelling and costume designing helped you evolve?

From modelling to costume designing, each of these let me travel the world, meet and work with some of the best creative minds in the country. They taught me to dream big, work really hard and stay humble. So, 25 years later, this has stood me in good stead to build and grow my label.

• What inspires your designs?

I am a very keen observer. From nature to architecture, people going about their lives, a beautiful piece of art or beautifully decorated home, inspiration is everywhere.

• What were the biggest challenges that you had to face during your journey of 11 years in the fashion industry?

Life wouldn’t be fun without challenges. In 2013, I became the first Indian designer to open a large-format, flagship couture store in Delhi. 3 years later, the store occupies a place of pride in the Indian fashion landscape.

• How do you think the fusion of Indian and western silhouettes is influencing today's designing?

As the world grows smaller, thanks to social media, our lifestyles are taking the best of all cultures. But, nowhere else in the world will you see people that are so proud of their roots while adapting to global trends than in India. And this is evident in contemporary wardrobes. When it comes to bridal couture, we have more and more young women coming to us with requests for elaborate outfits that meet tradition and let them dance at their own Sangeet. In keeping with this, my new collection ‘THE PERSIAN STORY’ has brought elements of the East and West together. Off-shoulder, cropped blouses are paired with voluminous, embroidered lehengas; long, structured jackets with traditional detailing are worn with slim-fitted pants and ruffles add a dreamy nuance to tops and sarees.

• Pastels or vivid, which colour palette will you choose first and why?

The use of a pre-dominant colour palette through a collection would largely depend on the season I am designing for. My Spring-Summer collection ‘ELEMENTS’ saw a lot of pastels. ‘THE PERSIAN STORY’ on the other hand presents deeper hues of maroon, blue and green for the winter-bride.

• Who, according to you, are the best-dressed people globally?

Meryl Streep – for her elegance and poise. She is the perfect example of the fact that style is always about one’s personality and never about trends.

• After so many years of designing, who is the one person you still dream of designing for?

It would be impossible to name just one. Each woman that I have designed for has a special place in my 11-year journey, because of their distinct personality and sense of style.

• Out of all your stunning collections, is there anyone that's really close to your heart and why?

Again, each is close to my heart and a prominent milestone in my career. Every collection is distinct in the design and detailing of the outfits. It takes us months to conceptualise the embroidery that goes into every collection. The craftsmanship and skill taken to complete the intricate embroidery is another story in itself.

• According to you, what was the most defining moment of your career?

Over the years, there are some moments that have changed the course for me personally and for my label.

1. First amongst them would be winning the first Filmfare Award for costume styling. This really encouraged me to always look ahead and inspired confidence.
2. Indians have always looked to cinema for sartorial inspiration. Bridging both worlds by introducing the concept of a show stopper from Bollywood was a defining moment as well.
3. Last but not least, opening my 9,000 sq.ft flagship in Delhi was a proud moment. The store is now my second home ratification of the fact that passion will always trump doubt.

•  What advice would you like to give anyone, who is trying to get into the fashion industry? (Not on runway)

Never lose focus. There are no short-cuts to success. But, when it does come, work harder.