Fashion nately’ Inclined

A s an ardent lover of art and craft, it was only natural that Smt. Rashmi Kohli embraced the fashion industry, a field she always looked up to. Attaining her Honors in Psychology degree from Delhi University, she followed it up with a Diploma in Fashion and Textile Design from South Polytechnic for Women.
Amongst her litany of accolades is the Knitwear course from NIFT, New Delhi conducted by Nottingham Polytechnic University. As a design consultant for almost three decades, Smt. Rashmi continues to utilize most of her time designing and organizing seminars and workshops for the fashion inclined from her abode in India’s capital.

The Fashion and Apparel Design students of Garden City College had the privilege to spend some time with the talented woman. In between the sessions, GCC World Correspondent, Isha Jain engaged her in a conversation.

Excerpts from the Interview:

GCC World: Welcome to the campus. Your life seems to be interwoven with India’s fashion industry. What is your take on the industry?

Smt. Rashmi: Fashion Industry in India is booming. In the recent past, there is a growing awareness about fashion. India has got a lot of heritage, tradition and designers for the industry to thrive. I am proud to say that a lot of foreign designers look up to India for its resources.

GCC World: In your own words, what is fashion?

Smt. Rashmi: Fashion is the ‘present style’. It comprises of everything one puts on, be it clothes or accessories. The trends will always keep changing. The forecast silhouettes vary. The elite endeavor to try the new things and gradually it reaches the general masses. By the time the common people get hold of it, the craze for it fades away. To put it in a better way, the traveling period is the style period. And the ongoing style becomes the ‘Fashion’.
GCC World: Fashion is more related to the clothes or perhaps it is only the clothes. What do you say about that?

Smt. Rashmi: No doubt fashion has always been more for garments. This is because we change clothes more often than other things, say accessories. People today just have to name things and its there. Fashion is being trendy as well as being simple. International brands are always elegant and do not fade away. On the contrary, the trendy things live for a short time.

GCC World: What steps should be taken to improve the fashion industry in India?

Smt. Rashmi: The basic requirement today is to get hold of the right fabric. Blend of yarns should be accurate. We need white cotton which is expensive. Instead we get polyester because of its easy accessibility. The finishing needs a lot of perfection.

GCC World: Challenges one faces in the industry?

Smt. Rashmi: From outfits to styling, fashion is all about dreaming. Clients always look for the new-fangled clothes. Innovation and creativity is demanded in the profession. One has to be full of innovative ideas to succeed.

GCC World: What is your take on your work?

Smt. Rashmi: Designing for me is a beautiful passion. When passion becomes your business and not a job, you tend to enjoy. I eat design, talk design and sleep design. It is designing that keeps me moving.

GCC World: What are your future plans?

Smt. Rashmi: Currently, I am working on establishing a design campus for the rural populace. That is my priority. The campus will have a two-year programme which will teach the art of designing, developing and marketing products.

GCC World: Advice to all those who want to take fashion as a profession?

Smt. Rashmi: Be it production, designing, developing or marketing, one should have a passion for doing things. The work is demanding and needs lots of efforts in terms of creativity and innovative ideas. So, hard work and dedication are a must.

Milestones
Has completed Advanced Pattern Making course from NIFT conducted by Eddie Newton, Nottingham Institute, UK
Training program on setting ‘Small Scale Export Unit’ organized by the Polytechnic University
Has been a jury member for Design competitions and Graduation projects
Has organized and conducted short term courses in basic and advanced Textile and Fashion design for entrepreneurs
Has designed projects- Apparel, Craft products, Interiors, Home furnishing and Handicraft for Domestic and Export Market
Member of the Craft Committee for training of Weavers in design methodology, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India
Has set up a design studio for Big Jo’s, New Delhi
Has organized Fashion Show on Bridal wear for Ram Chandra Krishan Chandra Saris[RCKC] at India International Trade Fair

Isha Jain
BA (Journalism, Psychology & English)