Though she has completed her Masters in Entrepreneurial Management, she knew she is going to end up in the fashion world because of her interest in designing clothes for herself and her friends. It was her friends and family's admiration that pushed her to choose this as her first career option. It has been 13-and-a-half years that Nikita Mhaisalkar has been glamorising the wardrobe of many fashionistas.
"My forte is creating modern Indian clothing, clothes that are embellished with traditional embroidery but has a modern twist to it," says Nikita. It was once when she was working for a destination wedding 10 years back, Nikita saw the high demand for modern wedding outfits by both the bride and groom's family and that was when she realised that not many designers are working towards it. She thought of highlighting this category and there was no looking back thereafter.
"Born and brought up in Ahmedabad, I have a rich inclination towards Ahmedabad handloom fabrics. Each of my collections has an Indian touch to it. Handwoven tussar, printed silk organza, crepe and cotton silks are some of the fabrics I usually work with for all my collections," adds Nikita. Her latest collection — 'The Blue Hour' is inspired by the mesmerising blue hour in the sky that makes everything look stunning and magical. Gold, blue, dark blue and black are the predominant colours of the collection. "I have focussed on pantsuits embellished with 'zardosi', gowns, saris with capes, corsets, lehengas and jumpsuits. This is a versatile collection and the purpose of this collection was to keep the mood of the festive season alive and exuberant," says Nikita.
Gold remains a common hue throughout giving the collection an edgy and international aura. Fashion for her is something that one creates for oneself and something they want to live with it. "It is an individual's distinct style and not something that they follow like a trend. Fashion being such as a vast platform, the biggest challenge in this field is to be different and to build up a line of clothing that creates an instant recognition of one's brand or label," she says.
Out of the many challenges she faces, coming up with a new collection without repeating the previous designs is something she has to look into more closely. The fashion scene in the country is an evolving one she says and India is one of the most fashion conscious nations. "The rapid pace in which the fashion scene is growing is no joke. Indian fashion designers are known on an international level today, and they are adding different flavours in the fashion arena," Nikita adds.
The most important lesson that she has learnt in life and that she wants to share with the aspiring designers she says is not to follow anybody rather create one's own designs.
"Recycling fashion is a better and wiser take than taking it from someone else. Be yourself and create something that you want to see people in and not what you have already seen," says Nikita.
![]( "Nikita Mhaisalkar")
Though she has completed her Masters in Entrepreneurial Management, she knew she is going to end up in the fashion world because of her interest in designing clothes for herself and her friends. It was her friends and family’s admiration that pushed her to choose this as her first career option. It has been 13-and-a-half years that Nikita Mhaisalkar has been glamorising the wardrobe of many fashionistas.
"My forte is creating modern Indian clothing, clothes that are embellished with traditional embroidery but has a modern twist to it,” says Nikita. It was once when she was working for a destination wedding 10 years back, Nikita saw the high demand for modern wedding outfits by both the bride and groom’s family and that was when she realised that not many designers are working towards it. She thought of highlighting this category and there was no looking back thereafter.
"Born and brought up in Ahmedabad, I have a rich inclination towards Ahmedabad handloom fabrics. Each of my collections has an Indian touch to it. Handwoven tussar, printed silk organza, crepe and cotton silks are some of the fabrics I usually work with for all my collections,” adds Nikita. Her latest collection — 'The Blue Hour’ is inspired by the mesmerising blue hour in the sky that makes everything look stunning and magical. Gold, blue, dark blue and black are the predominant colours of the collection. "I have focussed on pantsuits embellished with 'zardosi’, gowns, saris with capes, corsets, lehengas and jumpsuits. This is a versatile collection and the purpose of this collection was to keep the mood of the festive season alive and exuberant,” says Nikita.
Gold remains a common hue throughout giving the collection an edgy and international aura. Fashion for her is something that one creates for oneself and something they want to live with it. "It is an individual’s distinct style and not something that they follow like a trend. Fashion being such as a vast platform, the biggest challenge in this field is to be different and to build up a line of clothing that creates an instant recognition of one’s brand or label,” she says.
Out of the many challenges she faces, coming up with a new collection without repeating the previous designs is something she has to look into more closely. The fashion scene in the country is an evolving one she says and India is one of the most fashion conscious nations. "The rapid pace in which the fashion scene is growing is no joke. Indian fashion designers are known on an international level today, and they are adding different flavours in the fashion arena,” Nikita adds.
The most important lesson that she has learnt in life and that she wants to share with the aspiring designers she says is not to follow anybody rather create one’s own designs.
"Recycling fashion is a better and wiser take than taking it from someone else. Be yourself and create something that you want to see people in and not what you have already seen,” says Nikita.
"My forte is creating modern Indian clothing, clothes that are embellished with traditional embroidery but has a modern twist to it," says Nikita. It was once when she was working for a destination wedding 10 years back, Nikita saw the high demand for modern wedding outfits by both the bride and groom's family and that was when she realised that not many designers are working towards it. She thought of highlighting this category and there was no looking back thereafter.
"Born and brought up in Ahmedabad, I have a rich inclination towards Ahmedabad handloom fabrics. Each of my collections has an Indian touch to it. Handwoven tussar, printed silk organza, crepe and cotton silks are some of the fabrics I usually work with for all my collections," adds Nikita. Her latest collection — 'The Blue Hour' is inspired by the mesmerising blue hour in the sky that makes everything look stunning and magical. Gold, blue, dark blue and black are the predominant colours of the collection. "I have focussed on pantsuits embellished with 'zardosi', gowns, saris with capes, corsets, lehengas and jumpsuits. This is a versatile collection and the purpose of this collection was to keep the mood of the festive season alive and exuberant," says Nikita.
Gold remains a common hue throughout giving the collection an edgy and international aura. Fashion for her is something that one creates for oneself and something they want to live with it. "It is an individual's distinct style and not something that they follow like a trend. Fashion being such as a vast platform, the biggest challenge in this field is to be different and to build up a line of clothing that creates an instant recognition of one's brand or label," she says.
Out of the many challenges she faces, coming up with a new collection without repeating the previous designs is something she has to look into more closely. The fashion scene in the country is an evolving one she says and India is one of the most fashion conscious nations. "The rapid pace in which the fashion scene is growing is no joke. Indian fashion designers are known on an international level today, and they are adding different flavours in the fashion arena," Nikita adds.
The most important lesson that she has learnt in life and that she wants to share with the aspiring designers she says is not to follow anybody rather create one's own designs.
"Recycling fashion is a better and wiser take than taking it from someone else. Be yourself and create something that you want to see people in and not what you have already seen," says Nikita.
Though she has completed her Masters in Entrepreneurial Management, she knew she is going to end up in the fashion world because of her interest in designing clothes for herself and her friends. It was her friends and family’s admiration that pushed her to choose this as her first career option. It has been 13-and-a-half years that Nikita Mhaisalkar has been glamorising the wardrobe of many fashionistas. "My forte is creating modern Indian clothing, clothes that are embellished with traditional embroidery but has a modern twist to it,” says Nikita. It was once when she was working for a destination wedding 10 years back, Nikita saw the high demand for modern wedding outfits by both the bride and groom’s family and that was when she realised that not many designers are working towards it. She thought of highlighting this category and there was no looking back thereafter.
"Born and brought up in Ahmedabad, I have a rich inclination towards Ahmedabad handloom fabrics. Each of my collections has an Indian touch to it. Handwoven tussar, printed silk organza, crepe and cotton silks are some of the fabrics I usually work with for all my collections,” adds Nikita. Her latest collection — 'The Blue Hour’ is inspired by the mesmerising blue hour in the sky that makes everything look stunning and magical. Gold, blue, dark blue and black are the predominant colours of the collection. "I have focussed on pantsuits embellished with 'zardosi’, gowns, saris with capes, corsets, lehengas and jumpsuits. This is a versatile collection and the purpose of this collection was to keep the mood of the festive season alive and exuberant,” says Nikita.
Gold remains a common hue throughout giving the collection an edgy and international aura. Fashion for her is something that one creates for oneself and something they want to live with it. "It is an individual’s distinct style and not something that they follow like a trend. Fashion being such as a vast platform, the biggest challenge in this field is to be different and to build up a line of clothing that creates an instant recognition of one’s brand or label,” she says.
Out of the many challenges she faces, coming up with a new collection without repeating the previous designs is something she has to look into more closely. The fashion scene in the country is an evolving one she says and India is one of the most fashion conscious nations. "The rapid pace in which the fashion scene is growing is no joke. Indian fashion designers are known on an international level today, and they are adding different flavours in the fashion arena,” Nikita adds.
The most important lesson that she has learnt in life and that she wants to share with the aspiring designers she says is not to follow anybody rather create one’s own designs.
"Recycling fashion is a better and wiser take than taking it from someone else. Be yourself and create something that you want to see people in and not what you have already seen,” says Nikita.