Sandhya Garg, Boldly Luxurious

“I stand for freedom of expression, doing what you believe in, and going after your dreams.” – Madonna

With creations that spark the imagination utilizing vivid color palettes and bold original textiles, designer Sandhya Garg draws heavily on her Indian roots in the creation of her own label, Sandhya Garg. Since graduating from the London College of Fashion, Sandhya has perfected her design abilities working at some of the top international fashion brands like Alexander McQueen and Temperley London. After making her debut on the hit tv series, Project Runway, Sandhya gained the acclaim of industry icons like Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia and Zac Posen.

Sandhya Garg, Boldly Luxurious

Black Chalk : Tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? What are your interests?

Sandhya Garg : I am originally from India. I moved to London for my fashion education and now travel extensively for thrill of adventure. I love getting inspired at farmer’s and flea markets around the world. In almost every city I visit I find myself diving into vintage shops, and hunting for new fabrics. I literally just find myself starting random conversations with strangers.

Black Chalk : What does fashion mean to you?

Sandhya Garg : Fashion is all about personal style and beliefs. We are what we wear.

Black Chalk : When did you realize you wanted to become a fashion designer?

Sandhya Garg : I realized I wanted to be a fashion designer when I was 10 years old. I started designing clothes for my dolls when I was 8 and have stuck with it ever since.

Black Chalk : What was the first article of clothing you ever designed?

Sandhya Garg : I designed, and constructed a circular skirt for myself when I was 10 years old. It came out pretty nice. I wore it quite a lot.

Black Chalk : How long does it usually take you to construct a piece?

Sandhya Garg : It depends on how complex the construction is. If the deadline is close I tend to work harder and faster. As an average, it would take 2 – 3 days for a decently complex dress.

Black Chalk : Describe the general process you go through to design and realize a piece of clothing.

Sandhya Garg : I start with an inspiration, a feeling. My inspiration comes from street styles, the latest trends, my travels and mythological stories. One of my favorite images to work from is a beautiful sunset. Then I do a lot of research to create the prints, and fabrics for my collections. I sketch a lot of looks for the new line. After choosing the best styles from the sketches, we start creating samples for the collection. A lot of time and effort goes into making each piece of clothing.

Black Chalk : What do you believe makes a perfect article of clothing?

Sandhya Garg : I think to achieve the perfect article of clothing, you need fabric of good quality to make it. Partnered with ethical production techniques and a unique design behind it, of course.

Black Chalk : Do you consider yourself an artist?

Sandhya Garg : Definitely an artist, a poet, a dreamer, a treasure hunter and a story teller to boot!

Black Chalk : What matters to you most as a fashion designer?

Sandhya Garg : A unique point of view, I wouldn’t make it in fashion if I did follow my intuition.

Black Chalk : What advice do you have for aspiring fashion designers?

Sandhya Garg : Persevere, it will never be easy.

Black Chalk : How would you define the style your line exemplifies?

Sandhya Garg : My clothing line exemplifies “Resort Chic.” By wearing a Sandhya Garg creation, you will always be the center of attention!

Black Chalk : Future Plans?

Sandhya Garg : Keep producing beautiful designs, showing at various events, and selling the collections. I am looking forward to doing a lot of editorial photoshoots with poetic storylines, partnered with my latest lines.