Giving form to imagination

Unlike his peers who aspired to become doctors, engineers and pilots, Rishab Goenka chose the unconventional path of becoming a fashion designer. His love for clothes and his creative instinct led him to what he is today.

Rishab’s collections have always been grand and vibrant. From the colours he uses to the embroidery and prints, elegance is reflected in every outfit that he creates. “My label reflects grandeur and royalty, which is always rich and flamboyant. That is why my couture collections always have colours like bright red, fuchsia, pink and bright gold. This time, my Spring-Summer collection is a mix of ethnic and contemporary,” says Rishab.

The motifs and detailing in his latest collection are inspired by the royal vase in his ‘haveli’ in Rajasthan which has been contemporary twist with peacock motifs. “I always use the handloom fabrics of India to promote the Indian heritage of handweavers,” says Rishab.

Regarding the different colours and silhouettes that he is concentrating on this time, he says that the colours are a contrast from off-white to bright maroon and blue. He has also worked on simpler ‘angarkha’ and shift dresses which can be teamed with block printed A-line bottoms.
Rishab likes to look at the challenges in his career as a learning experience and says that for a designer, everyday is a new lesson — be it in terms of working with a ‘kaarigar’, interacting with his customers or designing a new collection. Each step is a different experience.

Ask him about the key elements that he keeps in mind while designing and he says, “The most important thing that is on my mind is how to make a lady look beautiful and stand out in the crowd. I always keep the silhouettes simple, emphasising more on the rich intricate hand embroidery ‘zardosi’. Apart from which we majorly use ‘dabka’ and ‘kora’ work in our embroidery.”

His advice to aspiring designers is to be themselves and create their own style. As for his future plans, he says, “The sky is the limit for designers. I am participating in a few events in Mumbai and Hyderabad and also waiting for the upcoming fashion weeks of this year.”