Why did you take up design after studying fashion merchandising and marketing from the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York?

I was never really interested in retail. I wanted to be in New York, I got into FIT but had no idea what I wanted to do. I was a kid! In fact, if it wasn’t for Tarun Tahiliani, I might have never been into fashion design. It was the first Fashion Week in India and there were very few designers taking part. Tarun forced me to do a collection for it. He’s my best friend and my guru.

What was your biggest obstacle as a designer?

There were just so many! Being new and inexperienced was a huge obstacle. Also the government sealing roads and shutting down my factory really set me back and I had to start all over again. I made an Indian flag dress 10 years ago and my case is still in court even though the laws are different today. That’s the trouble of being extremely edgy and unconventional. But I try not to think of my obstacles because in the end, life is what you make of it.

How much of your own personality is in your design?

My personality is very much in my clothes. I love clothes and I love dressing up. I’ve incorporated all my favourite things into my designs. I try on clothes every day. I actually have a changing room attached to my office, so I blast some music, put on my clothes, twirl around and then I fix them and make little adjustments. My other inspirations come from just about everywhere. I love travelling, so that plays a huge part in all my collections. Movies, dreams and thoughts floating in my head, all inspire me.

Many stores and a nightclub later, what’s next from Malini Ramani?

Interiors — fantastical, magical interiors… I would love to design furniture, but more importantly design concepts. I also want to retail my clothes in a bigger way at resorts all over the world like in Bali and Phuket… It’s also a dream to open a healing centre, where people can get rejuvenated by doing yoga, meditation, chanting or reflexology.

You’re doing the grand finale at Lakme Fashion Week….

It’s a big, big deal for me. I’m very excited. We have worked out the colours and cosmetics around my collection and it’s going to be amazing!

A Malini Ramani design. Picture by Rashbehari Das

What is the Gypsy collection going to be like?

This collection is going to be very tribal, wearable, modern and sexy. It’s a mishmash of different regions. I’ve got some funky boots with little ghungroos on them, then some really eye-catching tribal headgear and these great cholis from Rajasthan. So yeah, it’s a mix of different kinds of gypsy looks but is still very wearable and not at all like a costume.

Finally, what would you tell an aspiring fashion designer?

My best advice would be — don’t expect to become an overnight star. Those days are over, today patience is the keyword. Look at me, it’s taken me 10 years to finally make it! Also, find your own style and don’t rip off someone else’s! Fashion changes every season, so you’ve got to be original and stay true to yourself. I can’t sell myself out by producing salwar kameez and saris in my collection (although I do create those on order) because that’s just not me. But the most important thing about designing is to enjoy the process and to not lose that enjoyment in a quest for fame.

Urvi Nopany