Designer Dhruv Kapoor’s first memory of design pertains to his school uniform. He always had an idea of how he wanted to wear it, and vividly recalls how it was his attention to small details that gradually increased his interest in design. It was sometime in the sixth grade he realised he was ready to explore the field of fashion and went on to come up with a blueprint of what he wanted his future to look like, adding and subtracting milestones as he grew older.
Built on the pillars of modernity, an innate desire to express the self, and a strong emotionality, Dhruv Kapoor’s label was established in 2013 as an attempt by the designer to dismantle the omnipresent gender norms in society. Indulging in constant play between the past, present and future, the label constantly seeks out newer definitions of the world while being a reflection of contemporaneity. We’re in conversation with the designer, who lets us in on some of his biggest takeaways from presenting at the Milan Fashion Week, the evolution of his label, and more.
How has the label evolved since you first started out?
When we first started out, it was a large mix of concepts. Overtime, we found our voice by experimenting with diverse materials, techniques and avenues, always maintaining the initial vision throughout. It was during the pandemic, when I sat down to review each season and understood our direction, that brought us more clarity and largely helped us negate the noise. So, if one notices, the brand has had a major shift post the pandemic.
What would you say has been your biggest takeaway or learning since you started presenting at Milan Fashion Week years ago?
My biggest learning in general is consistency. If we fall, we shall rise again. It’s important to learn from these moments and keep doing what you desire. For example, we lost a contest and somehow that led us to showcasing during Milan Fashion Week. Never give up!
What would you say defines you and the practice?
Consistency, commitment and dedication. My team and I are forever excited to explore new directions, and all of us together enjoy taking risks in a collection. It’s the risk taking that has given us our bestsellers over the years.
What should the fashion of now look like?
Fashion now is individualistic. It’s a combination of multiple cultures, aesthetics and eras, where one chooses to endorse what they resonate with. It is more personal than before and speaks for the individual. Thanks to social media channels that help us connect with similar and diverse mindsets around the world to exchange ideas, beliefs and contemporary systems to birth a new world.
Finally, what’s next for Dhruv Kapoor, both the person and the label?
Some exciting things are coming up as we come close to our tenth anniversary. We are working on a bunch of collaborations and exploring new territories, bringing our traveling pop-up store to life. The brand is diving into other product verticals including handbags, which we released earlier this year. For me, personally, I am diving inwards.
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Text Unnati Saini
Date 21-11-2022