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“I grew up in fashion,” says Ranna Gill, a pioneer in the contemporary Indian fashion scene. The celebrated designer is renowned for creating elevated luxury apparel for modern women, blending global sensibilities with Indian craftsmanship. Nature is one of the most important elements in all their lines, and they recently showcased two spectacular collections: The Treasury of Trousseau and Tales from the Saddle at DLF Emporio Mall.
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From Trousseau’s Treasures to Stories in the Saddle
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Ranna reflected on the two collections, the inspirations behind them and her 25-year-long career in the industry. For Tales from the Saddle, Ranna shared that her inspiration was drawn from horses, their beauty, grace and elegance, as well as her interest in working with denim as a fabric.
As for him, the vision behind another recent showcase, The Treasury of Trousseau, Ranna credits the massive show featuring more than 62 styles for making him a true ready-to-wear designer. She says, “This was our first stop to introduce our evening wear – our cocktail dresses, cocktail gowns, and what better place to do this than DLF Emporia, as brides can shop our evening collection and then wear it as their special occasion, or wear it as they move forward in their lives.”
What first attracted you to fashion, and how did it shape your early design identity?
“When I was a little girl, my mom was in the business. I was always in and out of my mom’s factory. I was always looking at the products. I knew more about thread, color, fabric and pattern making. I grew up in this business. It was my backyard, my playground,” said the designer.
Your signature design style includes bold prints, florals and natural elements. How do you decide which inspirations to follow and which to discard?
Ranna told HT Lifestyle, “As a woman designer, I am always inspired by nature. I don’t think you have ever seen anything like this in a Ranna Gill collection, where nature is not in my mood board. It is really a part of my DNA. We start our mood board with travel, nature, flowers and places. This is our mood board before designing the collection.
What does a Ranna Gill mood board look like?
To this, the designer enthusiastically replies, “My mood board looks so lovely. I mean, you would, anyone would love to look at it. It’s such an inspiring mood board because I travel a lot. I live between New Delhi and New York. I’m always on the road. I’m always looking at new ideas, and it’s always nature.”
As fashion moves towards sustainability, how is your label adapting?
The designer says, “Fashion was always sustainable. I think the product I make is sustainable. You, your mother – if you are going to buy a jacket from Ranna Gill, even a pair of shorts, pants or a jacket, you can wear it anytime and even for years. I have been designing and selling co-ords for the last 5 years, and if that is not sustainable, what is? You in 2020 You could buy the Ranna Gill dress, and you can still wear it now, or in the fall of 2030. You can also wear my clothes. They are linen, which is breathable and organic.
Today’s fashion is based on changing trends. So, how have the tastes of your consumers changed in India, and how do you stay ahead of these evolving designs?
“I don’t make fashion that’s trendy. I’m not doing fast fashion. I don’t make $5 items. That’s not who I am as a designer. I’m not your trendy fashion designer who makes neon colors because everyone else is doing it. We create our collections with great care. We use linen and denim, which are sustainable fabrics. You can wear a denim jacket today, and you You can wear the same denim jacket 10 years from now, depending on your body and size, or give it to your daughter, sister, or someone else. So, I feel like I’m not a designer who’s chasing trends. I create beautiful, classic products made in India that you can taste, hold and use,” said the designer.
Out of the many celebrities you’ve seen wearing your clothes (Kareena Kapoor, Vidya Balan, Madhuri Dixit and Karisma Kapoor), is there any particular collaboration or red-carpet moment that stands out for you or your favourites?
“I like them all, but I loved it when I worked with Madhuri Dixit. I love her. She’s so classic; she shops the collections, and we always send them to her personally. Growing up in India, watching her films, working with her was a dream. I think she’s so talented and brilliant, even as a person, she’s so kind,” the designer confessed.
How much creative freedom do you have when working with celebrities and stylists?
“She trusts you. She gives herself to you, and she lets you do your thing. She’s not going to step in and say, ‘I don’t like this. I don’t like that.’ She’ll be like, ‘Okay. I am your inspiration. I mean, she might have some call-outs, but for the most part, she’ll let you do your thing,” the designer shared.
Is there a moment or a particular show that you consider a turning point in your career?
Ranna says, “So, I opened Lakme India Fashion Week 25 years ago. That was a turning point in my career. I was young, out of college, and I had launched my label. I was new to India. I was about 21, studying fashion in New York, and interning with Ralph Lauren… We were the original pioneers. We paved the way. We found the road. We basically Made a road from.”
What would you say to young designers who are just starting out?
Rana suggests, “Find your signature. Every designer has a message. They should determine whether they want to focus on ready-to-wear, bridal, or another area, identify their product, define their target customer, and establish their signature. And then stay consistent with it year after year, building that platform. It’s not easy, but it’s passion and drive, and if that’s what you want to do, then you can do it.” Can.”
Before starting your label, you interned with Ralph Lauren. So how was that experience?
“It was magical,” says Ranna. “Can you imagine being a 20-year-old in Ralph Lauren’s office at 650 Madison, working with the greatest of the greats. I mean, it was phenomenal. I was like a deer caught in the headlights. I mean, as a young kid in college, I was interning afterward. I got a job at the company. I would do whatever they asked me to do. I worked in the women’s apparel collection division. Worked. I was looking at a mood board. I was working with him. Fashion week, like how they come on the runway.”
Finally, on how the internship shaped her as a designer, Ranna says, “I think I learned it early on, and I had made up my mind that I would do ready-to-wear. When I started my career here 25 years ago, there were only Indian and bridal wear options – kurtas, sarees and more. I always knew I wanted to work in ready-to-wear. I did a few Did this for years because it paid my bills. However, I took the lead. Western clothes, which everyone wears now. I learned from Mr. Lauren that people wear skirts, jackets, and dresses and it’s part of their wardrobe. Western clothing is a genuine product, and it is durable. This is real. It is tangible. It’s a real line, a real product that you can work on and develop, which I Did.”
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