Anjali Phougat’s Collection: Reflecting the Theme of Aarohan Adhyay

Anjali Phougat is a designer who believes in the power of storytelling. Her latest collection, showcased at New York Fashion Week, was inspired by her spiritual journey and the concept of “Aarohan Adhyay”, which means ascension in Hindi.

From Darkness to Light: The Theme of Aarohan Adhyay

Anjali Phougat explained that her collection reflects her transformation after she turned 40 and became more interested in spirituality. She said, “It is interesting because it resonates with my spiritual awakening journey, where, after 40, I had more interest in spirituality.”

She added that the theme of Aarohan Adhyay represents the process of rising from the night of the soul, a phase of hardship and difficulties, to the light of enlightenment and awareness. She said, “The theme itself says ascension right before your awakening; you see the bright light inside you. There’s a phase called the night of the soul, where you face hardship and difficulties. I feel difficulties help you build your resilience. I tried to portray the Night of the Soul by putting on all the black pieces. I tried to narrate that story visually about the night of a soul.”

She continued, “The dark phase is very deep, where you search for answers outside, and when you sit down in silence during that dark phase, you understand that you have everything within you. You just need that moment of quiet and looking within yourself before you enter that enlightenment and light phase. That’s how I portrayed some colours towards the end of the show. If you see, the showstopper is all gold and silver. The light is coming; the ray of hope is coming towards the end of the night of the soul journey.”

The Positive Reception and Feedback of the Show

Anjali Phougat’s collection was well-received by the audience and critics alike. She expressed her gratitude and happiness for the success of the show. She said, “I just have gratitude. I feel that it’s all divine blessings. It’s about the way you see and receive things. So I positively see things, and then the output is always positive. So I feel nothing but gratitude.”

She also shared how she deals with criticism and feedback, which she considers essential for her growth and improvement as a designer. She said, “Criticism is important. If you look at a rose, you can see how beautiful it is, but a rose has thorns. Thorns are needed to protect the rose. When you face hardships, difficulties, and criticism, you grow. You look for the solution to a problem, and that’s the most beautiful phase because, without criticism, there is no growth. I always look forward to the feedback, and I feel there’s scope for improvement in every show. Otherwise, what is the inspiration for doing so many shows, and creating so many collections? Because there is a scope for improvement, there is a scope for adding newness to my art. So, yes, criticism is important as long as it is taken in a positive direction or positive light.”

The Evolution of Anjali Phougat’s Design and Vision

Anjali Phougat also revealed that her design and vision have evolved, as she learns new things and experiments with different themes and inspirations. She said, “My designs are getting better. It’s getting more refined, more polished, better over the age and over time. And we are evolving with the betterment of our brand and aesthetic.”

She said that for every show, she comes up with a different theme, and the inspirations are her surroundings, nature, and everyday scenarios. She said, “I try to come up with a beautiful message. Problem-solving is the approach because everyone is designing themed fashion. If you look at Indian fashion couture, it’s too advanced in India, and people are just creating designs. But I feel that vision is essential. Giving a message to design and portraying your brand value is also very important. So any design I create, there is a vision behind it, there’s a story behind it, there is a personal touch of love and emotion behind my designs.”

What’s Next for Anjali Phougat?

Anjali Phougat has a busy schedule ahead, as she plans to showcase her work at various international fashion events and launch new segments and projects. She said, “There’s a lot. I’m all set to showcase at the Cannes Festival, Milan Fashion Week, Dubai Fashion Week, Lakme India Fashion Week, and then New York in September. Of course, because I do launch twice a year in New York. And in between all these things, I’ll be launching my bridal segment. Some music videos are in the pipeline, so there is a lot on my plate.”

She concluded the interview with a note of gratitude and joy. She said, “And as I said, I would like to wrap up this interview with gratitude. I’m grateful to each member of my team. Otherwise, I’m just a tiny particle of nature, and I am doing what brings joy and happiness to my soul. And that’s the most important thing. So I am just thankful.”