Diving into Amit Aggarwal’s collections can feel a bit like a science lesson. His combinations of materials both industrial and organic include khadi gamchas and polythene bags, raffia and glass fibre, and even, as in his most recent collection ‘The Evening Edit’, pollen and polymer strips.
But the 43-year-old designer doesn’t have a background in science and our conversation with him veers more towards the philosophical, touching upon everything from Vipassana and reincarnation to the moments of peace he finds while drawing or draping cloth on a mannequin. But at the end of those musings is a very real, growing business with a team that’s over 500 strong, retail presence across the country, and both bridal and prêt collections. Like last year’s India Couture Week 2024 show that got a standing ovation and the now-iconic Banarasi collection—that’s been worn by everyone including Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ananya Panday, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Isha Ambani.
Butool Jamal chats with the designer on the runaway success of that Banarasi line, which celebrity he would love to see in one of his upcycled pieces, and more.
