By Fashion designers love to take inspiration from Bollywood, none more so then Ashish Gupta. His show at this past London Fashion Week had a different message this time.
“Tonight I wanted to celebrate Indian culture, because it is also such an integral part of British culture,” said the designer. “I was absolutely horrified by Brexit. It broke my heart. And I wanted to make a statement about that. [I wanted to] celebrate this culture, which is so beautiful, and such an integral part of life in this country.” “I know people who have been abused recently. It’s very upsetting. You know, when Brexit happened, it was the first time in 20 years I felt that maybe I am unwelcome in the country I consider my home.”
Gupta, who emigrated from Delhi, India to London, England as a boy, planned this celebration of a collection because of the anti-immigrant sentiment following the wake of Brexit. He aimed to convey a message, to highlight the political unrest in his country.
His collection, titled “Bollywood Bloodbath,” featured multicultural models wearing saris, sharwanis, and lungis all directly taken from Indian culture. They were over-the-top Bollywood leading lady worthy, covered in his signature design: sequins. The models feet seemed to have been dipped in henna.
Gupta, who emigrated from Delhi, India to London, England as a boy, planned this celebration of a collection because of the anti-immigrant sentiment following the wake of Brexit.
Leading the collection was British-Indian model Neelam Gill. She wore one of my favorite looks, and Indian skirt, a crown and headdress, blue and gold bangles and a red t-shirt that read “Love and Devotion.”
After the last model took her walk, Gupta came out to show the crowd that he was also wearing a shirt with a saying on it. It read, “Immigrant.”
