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Interview with Megha Garg |
Home > Designer Interviews > Megha Garg |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Megha Garg (MG) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Megha Garg by clicking here.
FS: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
MG: I graduated from National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kolkata, India in 2010 specializing in Fashion Design. To further enhance my skills I graduated from Central Saint Martin’s College of Art & Design,London in 2011 completing a year course in Graduate Diploma in Fashion.I had always been fascinated with the changing trends in the fashion industry. Being naturally bent towards art, choosing fashion as a career came as a life goal and destiny. I always wanted to be in the fashion industry. Choosing to be a designer was a wise decision considering my choices and skills for draping fabrics and designing.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
MG: My design studio is located in the fashion hubs of culturally ricjh centre of India, Kolkata. It’s a small space curated by me where production, client dealing and back office work all are done under one roof. Keeping distance small and ideas to flow freely in vertical and horizontal order.
FS: What is "design" for you?
MG: Anything, which inspires you and serves a purpose in an aesthetically appealing way, is a design. Starting from the idea to the final product, everything, which fits the definition, is design.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
MG: Being into fashion my natural flow is towards garments. What I love most is draping garments. Playing with different fabrics and putting together colors and textures to form a garment which solves a purpose is the best meditation process for me.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
MG: My favourite design is a formal dress which I have named as the soul series. These series of dresses made in knee length spandex bodice, with flat silk chiffon rectangular panels draped at strategic areas to form a full formal gown was a huge success for the Indian body type. These are still versatile and make the wearer feel good which is a very important aspect in my work.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
MG: I designed a range of digitally printed dresses in organza teamed with lycra inners for Lakme Fashion Week, India in 2012. The collection was called Aura which was an extension of the graduating collection from Central Saint Martin’s, London and received great success at the show.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
MG: My favourite way to work is on a dress form with free flowing fabrics like chiffons, silks and satins.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
MG: When I am completely relaxed and have had any inspiring encounter, which can be a book, travel or movie.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
MG: Functionality and aesthetics is the key. Colour balancing also is very important, as I love working with solid colours.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
MG: Design is like mediation. I feel I reach out to my innermost self and liberate my energies through design. It’s a peaceful feeling.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
MG: I have always felt that I can do more when every design is realized. Even before the completion of a design the quest for a new one begins.
FS: What makes a design successful?
MG: The ability to solve a purpose and be comfortable. Everything comes down to these two factors.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
MG: First is aesthetics. No one would touch a design if it does not look good. Next is purpose. If it does not solve a purpose its of no use.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
MG: A designer can take the society forward in many ways through the ideas, which one conveys through design. Many ideas of sustainability, zero wastage, low maintenance and functionality are imposed through design which have a very big role in how the society progresses.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
MG: The most dramatic change is the conscience towards the environment. I feel that each artist or designer is focusing on how can they contribute to a bigger picture of solving problems through design. They are more aware of people’s need and desires. It’s moving towards a more problem solving from an eccentric point of view.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
MG: My last exhibition was in my city Kolkata. A fashion and accessory fair in the name of Cherry Orchard. I intend to hold the next one Mumbai, India.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
MG: I am a visual and poetic person. What I see around me or the visuals I create in my mind after reading something, usually inspires me. So exploring new places, watching documentaries, reading travel journals, movies, activities of daily life all become a source for me collectively. Most of the times I convert all these experiences into poems and take inspiration from those lines to create a collection.
FS: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
MG: My style is free flowing and based more on the dress form rather than patterns. I love the idea how a fabric can mould in infinite ways around a body. Every time I drape a fabric on the dress form a new mould is made. And that really excites me. I also love exploring techniques, which are exclusive to our company for textures and embellishment. I have explored a new technique of filling sequins between 2 layers of quilted fabric , which has resulted in making beautiful armour like patterns to be used as embellishment.
FS: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
MG: I have always lived in India, which is culturally very rich. There is a lot of play with colours and textures with layering of fabrics. However, my design sensibilities are limited to colours when choosing to be inspired. My work is more simple and linear when compared to our heritage. I do involve the aesthetics in my work and try to serve the growing demand of the Indian market.The best part about designing in India is the realization. The cost of labor is low and the trial and error of many techniques is possible. The only drawback is the high quality finish and the limiting use of certain fabrics owning to the tropical climate.
FS: How do you work with companies?
MG: We maintain our brand with all the companies we work with. Our products are promoted and sold under our brands in all the companies. We maintain exclusive rights over our products.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
MG: It is best to know your customer. Each company caters to a different set of customers and to understand their requirement is the key. Getting designers onboard who meet those needs is the best way to move forward. It is difficult to enforce ideas to a clientele, which does follow the same philosophy.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
MG: I start with words. Whatever is in my mind, I pen it down in the form of just words, or lines mostly poems. Then I do a visual research, which feels the same as what I feel with the words. Taking all that I start draping with appropriate fabrics. Lastly, I design all the final sketches or sometimes just realize the garment on the dress form.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
MG: A recent artwork by my 2 year old daughter Aarya(Spalsh of colours)A metallic neckpiece made for myself from the previous collection.A candle stand in a wooden box filled with mud and plants.A multicolored painting of Lord Ganesha’s face(Hindu God) A moulded leather bag bought from an independent artist.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
MG: My day starts with a hustle to mamage my 2-year-old daughter. I drop her to school and reach work where most of the official work and guidelines of the day is given, which is for 2.5 hours. Then I pick up daughter from school and spend good 1 hour with her for lunch and play. Late afternoon is either for client meetings at the design studio or designing from home. Evenings are home time while nights are usually spent finishing off all online work and content creation. Late nights are usually for getting inspiration and ideas for the next day.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
MG: Follow your heart and never give up. If your know your calling in your life then always follow the path and never stop believing in yourself no matter how difficult the path gets. Keep making new things and promote yourself. If you wont, who else will? Talk about your work and keep the financial perspective sorted. One cannot move ahead without a financial plan. Be artistic and explore however don’t ignore that the world moves on certain practical and realistic rules. Master the rules and succeed in your filed. Just believe and it will happen.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
MG: Personally, I do not judge my profession compared to other fields. I enjoy being a designer and always focus on how can I get better every time.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
MG: “How does it look and what is the purpose?” This is the only rule.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
MG: I believe that a designer must be acquired of each and every skill, which is needed in realizing the product to marketing it. So in my case, for garments, from stitching to promotions all the skills needed are essential. Most important are to be able to communicate ideas through any medium for realizing designs. And image editing software for marketing the designs well.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
MG: The most important tools I always have is a scissor and draping pins as Draping of ideas is the most important. The other important software is adobe photoshop which primary in realizing designs.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
MG: I never wait for the perfect place to sit and design. I design wherever and whenever there are ideas. To realize the designs and communicate them is done at proper time slots, which is done on an everyday basis.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
MG: Sometimes it takes 2 days but sometimes it can take up to a month to complete the design. It is very design oriented.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
MG: Mostly people are keen to know my journey and the challenges I had faced in choosing an unconventional career in a conservative environment.
FS: What was your most important job experience?
MG: I had worked as a merchandiser in a multi-designer store as my first job. It gave me a very good perspective on great designs by reputed designers of the country and the ways of marketing the designs. As a part of the back end team my sales communication became strong which is an experience I still carry with myself.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
MG: I mostly work with multi-designer stores like Aza, Elahe, Fuel and Evoluzione in India. I also have a lot of personal customers who love to get personalized outfits made from our design studio in Kolkata, India.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
MG: I enjoy making personalized formal gowns as that is my forte. The idea of catering to a client’s taste and purpose is both challenging and enriching. The immediate feedback not only helps in growing as a designer but also keeps me aware of the market requirements.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
MG: I have never planned anything in my journey. I always look to enjoy and make the most of whatever comes my way. As a team, we definitely are looking forward to showcase our work at esteem Fashion Week in India soon.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
MG: I always put across the initial idea, which is then further executed by my team. I then do the final corrections and quality checks.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
MG: I am working on an extension of the Urban Army collection, which will include different textures, prints and colors, plays on the similar silhouettes.
FS: How can people contact you?
MG: You can mail me at meghagargclothing@gmail.com or meghagarg06@gmail.com .
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
MG: I would like to share a poem, which inspired me to make a fashion film and a collection. The film was considered as one of the top 8 fashion films of 2014.The Warrior SoulWalking strong in the dark Waking up to a stark Leading the way despite the path Is The Warrior SoulOpen arms to witness the strong Standing tall to correct the wrong Fighting hard despite being warm Is The Warrior SoulIn our daily life Look close with our sight Found someone guarding us right? That is The Warrior SoulRespect! Honour! Salute their might To them we owe our nights For the peace in our lives Has fought The Warrior Soul.-MEGHA GARG
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
A’ Design Award and Competitions grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award and Competitions cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.
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