Ashish n Soni TRAVEL ON HIS MIND

The veteran designer tells CHIRAG MOHANTY SAMAL why he needs to take at least two vacations in a year and how his escapades around the globe have shaped his fashion aesthetics.

- CHIRAG MOHANTY SAMAL

DESIGNER ASHISH N SONI has been in the fashion industry for three decades and has a series of milestones to his name. He is the first Indian designer to showcase at New York Fashion Week, he is known to have redefined the white shirt and given it a fresh identity, and his sharply tailored clothes with clean and minimalistic aesthetics have created a brand value, giving him a distinct place in the Indian fashion map. That’s not all, he is also one of the first designers to extend androgynous aspects to womenswear. His chic, structured clothes have found place in celebrity wardrobes and global runways alike. However, there’s one aspect of him that not many know about. He is an avid traveller and he takes time off each year to go on road trips around the world.

You have completed 30 years in the industry and broken many stereotypes. How would you describe your journey?

Each decade has had its own flavour to be honest. The first decade in the ‘90s held a lot of uncertainty as the industry was naïve. There were few clients especially for western wear and even fewer stores that sold designer wear. So, one had to take charge and design, create their own studios that doubled as stores, organise fashion shows, etc. It was a dynamic time and being amongst the first 10-12 designers in the country allowed us to build a strong brand recall.