Personal Agenda: Namrata Joshipura, Designer

Fame is ephemeral. To design and sell great clothes should be the goal. Here's what Namrata Joshipura feels...

If you weren’t a designer, you would have been...
A professional trekker or special educator.

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What inspired you to become a fashion designer?
An exploration of material and texture.

Your favourite decade in fashion.

Now. Fashion evolves and that is its intrinsic strength.

As a child, what would you consider your first brush with design?
My mom always made clothes for my fancy dress events at school – I won on many occasions!

Your favourite international designers.
Right now, I love Balenciaga and Givenchy. One fashion trend you want to do away with. Juicy Couture sweatpants!

What would you make Lady Gaga wear?
Her style is very costumey and it’s not my thing.

The actress you would like to dress.
Tilda Swinton – she takes chances that many people don’t.

An Indian designer whose works you have always admired.
Anamika Khanna.

The best part about being a designer?
Every new season is a blank slate to work on.

One song that defines your current state of mind.
Comfortably Numb.

Little black dress or a black sari – which works better for you?
I love both, depending on the occasion.

Three skincare products you cannot do without?
Facewash, under-eye cream and lip balm.

Delhi or Mumbai – which city is more fashionable?
Individuals are fashionable, not cities!

What is your fondest memory?
It’s always about being in the mountains.

Who are you closest to?
My daughter.

A rumour you’d like to start.
The Lakme and Wills Fashion weeks unite.

One lesson about fame you want to teach an aspiring designer.
Fame is ephemeral. To design and sell great clothes should be the goal.

Your last meal would be...
Karim’s at Jama Masjid in Old Delhi.

The biggest risk you’ve ever taken?
Starting my own label.

If you were the editor of a magazine for a day, who would you put on the cover?

Mary Kom.



The most stylish person in Showbiz.

Rihanna



You have five minutes to pack, what do you take with you?

My phone, my laptop, jeans, T-shirts, shorts and running shoes.



One street food you can’t resist.

Aloo chaat.

Your dream destination.
To witness the Aurora Borealis – the Northern Lights.

The last line of your autobiography would read…
She kicked ass!

My music

What’s on my playlist?
Gym: Electronica on the road: Radiohead and old Hindi film music night: Thom Yorke, Apparat

Music as a pick-me-up?
Nicolas Jaar, Cyril Hahn

The most embarRassing song i’ve heard?
Not embarrassed, but amused by Woofer tu meri main tera amplifier

Birthday
January 9

Place of birth
Junagadh, Gujarat

Hometown
New Delhi

School/college
DPS RK Puram, NIFT, Delhi

High point of your life
Birth of my daughter, Ananya

Low point of your life
Life presents obstacles; none are insurmountable

First break
I started working with Suneet Varma after I graduated from NIFT

Currently I AM...
Grand finale designer for Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2013

From HT Brunch, March 24

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