Growing up far from fashion’s urban centres can make this world seem almost mythical. As a teenager in Indore , I would walk around an old chikoo tree in my backyard, hatching grand schemes to manifest my dream of working as a magazine editor. It’s a similar journey for these four young designers who hail from Nainital , Bijnor, Almora and Ramgarh, where the farthest point of civilisation can be reached within 15 minutes.
But small-town origin stories can fuel grand ambitions, as these creatives prove. They’ve adopted a radical approach to their craft, where proportions, techniques and ideas move beyond tried-and-tested formulas into delightfully fresh expressions . For some, memories of home inspire new designs while for others, they spark ambition.
Princess gowns with leg-of mutton sleeves, tulle skirts , lace dresses with Claudine collars—call it an elevated version of a church lady’s Sunday best, but that’s the signature offering at Ikshit Pande’s brand, QUOD. His childhood education at a Catholic school is the reason this Parsons School of Design graduate exhibits an affinity for subverting stereotypical iconography into modern fashion language. The 37-year-old started his fashion career seven years ago after leaving his job as a brand strategist.
His work now features on magazine covers. “Fashion was never a part of my world growing up. I was into international pop music and that was difficult to come by where I grew up, so I would wait for months on end.