The Designer You Don’t Know But Need To Know About

As published in Wildabout Magazine

Neishaa And Pretam Gharat For The House Of Gharats Scarf Collection / Photographer: Brodie Thompson

Neishaa Gharat, the eclectic founder of the design house, The House of Gharats, a creative whose unique design house investigates and re-interprets the role of Indian art, craft and culture in the context of contemporary British and global design. Designed in London, and worn worldwide, the label avidly promotes Neishaa’s passion for Indian arts, crafts and textiles and enables cross-cultural ideas and collaborations. The House Of Gharats, through a mix of art and fashion, creates distinctively stylish, yet inherently classic designs.

Chantelle Billson: What Influenced You To Invent The House Of Gharats?

Neishaa Gharat: House of Gharats was born out of the love of living an artful life with purpose. House of Gharats is a design house, fusing cultures and blurring the lines between art and fashion, producing a delightful approach to everyday dressing and living.

We are driven by the values of art and craft in contemporary design and as a result, our designs are timeless objects that can be passed down through the generations.

CB: Describe The House Of Gharats In Three Words…

NG: Artful. Traditions. Unfollow.

CB: Who Are The House Of Gharats Patrons?

NG: We believe women and men with a mind of their own are patrons of our designs, they buy the idea of individual style. They are stylish, artistic, cool, and confident. They are intelligent, independent, driven, and accomplished. They are thoughtful. They have depth of character. They question the status quo.

CB: Define The House Of Gharats Style?

NG: Our style is somewhere between classic and nonconformist. The old and new play off one another in perfect harmony. There is an undeniable appreciation for tradition and the antiquated, but also so much creative progression – and a love for beauty, which is highly individualistic. The influence of our native country can be felt through our designs, grounded in tradition and timeless eccentricities, yet fearlessly modern.

CB: Describe your ready to wear collections?

NG: Textiles is where our story begins, that for me has been amazing, the bringing together of different people and cultural contexts, all unified through the language of textiles.

Design with purpose is what motivates us to do what we do everyday. It gives meaning to what we do. Creating beauty that is inside out. Fulfilling our responsibility to all the beautiful beings on this planet.

CB: What Can We Expect To See From You Next?

NG: Our designs are to include a range of ready to wear clothes, accessories, tableware, textiles and jewels, all made using traditional skills, that reveal an imaginative reinterpretation of traditional craft skills by contemporary designers.

CB: How Would You Interpret The Future Of Fashion?

NG: This statement by leading trend forecaster Li Edelkoort’s that ‘This is the end of fashion as we know it.’ In an interview, that drew upon her talk at Design Indaba in Cape Town gave me hope for the future in fashion, and the time to act is now

CB: How Are Crafts Connected To Your Designs?

NG: We work with crafts that are living traditions. We wish to bring the focus back to the makers and the skills. Our designs tell a story of interweaving of cultures, social changes and this juxtaposes between tradition and modernity. It’s a fascinating intersection of design, culture, craft and technology that wants to be a part of a new future. We feel that the future of dying traditional skills is about creating new opportunities through design and making it live and breathe by becoming part of the new market economy.

CB: What Made You Want To Be Apart Of The Slow Fashion Movement?

NG: In today’s times everything feels so temporary almost momentary which is unnerving. Not feeling grounded. We all have a piece in our wardrobe from our Nan or an object from the family heirloom that makes us feel rooted. It is this stability that I seek in our designs.

CB: Describe Your Personal Style…

NG: My style is constantly evolving just like life itself; I wear what makes me smile, fashion and personal spaces, as simple as my desk is a visual representation of my individual’s style and character. Based on my understanding of what clothing and objects represent, I’ve developed a style reflective of my interests and values.

CB: Are There Present Day Women That Inspire You To Challenge The Status Quo?

NG: There are many but the five women that I love who challenge the normal: The British designer, Dame Vivienne a businesswoman who uses clothes to impart knowledge. Her work is her message.

Livia Firth, founder and creative director of Eco Age Ltd. She founded the Green Carpet Challenge that, in the most literal sense, puts sustainable fashion in the spotlight at the world’s most high profile red carpet events.

Garance Doré the French photographer, illustrator and author, best known for her fashion blog, she has an authentic voice.

Jill Wenger, founder of Totokaelo, who took her dream from local boutique to global aspirations. NewYork magazine once said, “this woman sells clothes other stores avoid”. And I love that.

Lastly Caroline Issa, From modelling to management consulting, publishing to fashion design. She says she has lived her life by “Feel Fear and Do It Anyway”.

CB: How Well Does The British Audience Connect With Your Work?

NG: As a designer I feel very inclusive. The audiences have been very supportive. The fabric of Britain, its shared history and heritage with India has left a huge legacy of people who are interested in a new cultural exchange, a new future and that keeps me connected.

By Chantelle Billon