SILIGURI’S SUVAGATA REACHES THE NATIONAL FASHION PLATFORM, THE IRW 2015

India Runway Week is Asia’s youngest fashion trade event. Each season of the much-awaited IRW introduce new talent and places young Indian designers firmly on the global fashion stage. IRW provides a platform for both established and upcoming talented designers but also introduce fresh designers to showcase their collections. This year IRW 2015 is going to become special for the Siligurians. Suvagata Saha, the fashion designer from the city of Siliguri, has embossed her name as the very first person to showcase her designs on a national platter. She is among the hundreds to be selected for the India Runway Week “IRW-2015″ scheduled for 2nd week of April at New Delhi. TNI’s Varsha interviewed Siliguri’s fashion designer Suvagata Saha who talks about her dreams, career, and her fashion journey that facilitated her escalation where she now stands.

TNI: Since when are you into fashion designing?
Suvagata: I have started my career in Fashion Designing from 2007 onwards.

TNI:Do you have any kind of professional training in this field?
Suvagata: Professional training always hones one’s technical skills, its same for me. I have completed my Advance Certification from INIFD followed by a Masters Degree in Fashion Design.

TNI:Do you have professional qualification?
Suvagata: I have completed my Masters in Fashion Designing and planning for a Doctorate Degree in Fashion Design in coming years.

TNI:When did you decide to become a fashion designer?
Suvagata: When I was a teen I felt that I was getting very choosy towards my dressing, so after finishing my Graduation I enrolled my career in Fashion.

TNI:Which fashion designers do you look up to?
Suvagata: Oh there are many Fashion Designers who are my inspiration to name a few Manish Malhotra, Sharbari Datta, Wendelle Rhodrics, Rahul Mishra, and recently Masaba Gupta.

TNI:How do you feel when you see someone carrying your design?
Suvagata: It really gives a mental satisfaction and makes me feel more passionate towards my further creations.

TNI:Which section of people does your design mostly cater to?
Suvagata: As a designer there is no such restriction but it’s always a challenging job to design something good with a limited budget.

TNI: What made you participate in this show?
Suvagata: INDIA Runway Week just happened to me as my husband forwarded all my previous records of fashion shows to the selection team. I heard that they have shortlisted my name out of many.

TNI: What was your reaction on being acclaimed on a national platform like this?
Suvagata: I was really lost for few seconds, as you know I am the only one till date from this part of Bengal who is participating for such a National Level Event and that also in Fashion Capital of our country “New Delhi” which is really giving me goose bumps.

TNI: Where else have you exhibited your designs?
Suvagata: Till date I have showcased my designs in Kolkata, Durgapur, Thimpu, Darjeeling and many more places in and around North Bengal.

TNI: Did your family support your decision to be a fashion designer?
Suvagata: I am blessed to have a family like what I am with (my Mom Dad and my In-laws), they are very much supportive and give me a lot of freedom for my career and my husband always pushes me to do something new in many fields.

TNI: How has been your journey so far?
Suvagata: It has been excellent in many ways so far but still I am a human so there are lot many desires which keep on generating and I start chasing them.

TNI: What has been your career milestone?
Suvagata: I am too young to have any of them right now. The turning point in my life was when I got married. I have a wonderful Family and Husband; recently I am blessed with my son Kiyan who is one and a half years old. As a whole I feel complete to have many more dreams too be into reality.

TNI: What helped you reach here? (How far have your networks worked?)
Suvagata: Network is very important in this profession; if you have a good network you can use them as a ladder.

TNI: Is it sheer hard work, networking or luck that helps you in the fashion world?
Suvagata: There is no alternative to Hard Work if you are good in your designing skills nobody can stop you, networking stands next, as good networking always helps connect with the right person. Your luck plays the last role, if you are lucky you can achieve results in a short span of time.

TNI: For you what is more important “Style or Comfort?”
Suvagata: Style is more important to me as I personally believe that there are many occasions where we have to sport a style in terms of comfort, but yes while selecting casuals one should always have a first preference on comfort.

TNI: According to you what is a ‘perfect style statement’?
Suvagata: Being a Designer I am obsessed with dressing differently at various occasions. But I have a inclination towards Indian Saris and I personally feel that it’s the most Sophisticated as well as a Sensual Attire.

TNI: What piece of advice do you have for the amateur designers?
Suvagata: Always follow your Dreams and believe in God.

Interviewer: Varsha Byahut (TNI Siliguri)
Edited By: R. Subrata (TNI Siliguri)
Photos: Social Network