From the outset, Nikita Nayak knew that she was destined to make a mark in the fashion world. Therefore, she continued working hard to realise her dream despite not getting the much-needed support from her parents. In 2018, she launched herself by showcasing her collection at the Delhi Times Fashion Week, a three-day fashion extravaganza where she was pitted against some of the top names in the Indian fashion industry. In a candid conversation with Orissa POST, Nikita described her journey in the fashion world.
Nikita spent her childhood in a small village of Sundargarh where fashion was never a subject of interest to the people. “I did my schooling in an Oriya medium school at Koida, a backward village. As a child, I loved to paint. When I was six, my uncle took me to Raghurajpur, a heritage crafts village in Puri district known for Pattachitra, an art form which dates to 5th BC. I was so impressed by this art form that I decided to learn it and create a fusion of Pattachitra with contemporary fashion trends and make something different.”
Determined to make a career in the fashion industry, Nikita took admission in the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Bhubaneswar without informing her parents. “Whenever I expressed my desire to join the fashion industry, I was discouraged,” says Nikita. “So, I had no choice but to pursue something that my family approved of. I did my BBA in KIIT University because my father wanted me to join the family business as I was his only child. I then completed my MBA with good grades. After that, I secretly took admission in NIFT for a one-year course in Fashion Manufacturing Management. I used my pocket money to pay the fee during admission. However, when the time came to pay tuition fees for the second semester, I couldn’t keep it a secret. Though my parents were upset when they came to know that I had joined NIFT, they did not ask me to discontinue. While continuing my diploma course, I decided to launch a start-up.”
Finally, Nikita had her own boutique Nikita Couture. “My creativity and passion for designing helped me get into the business of making people look good. My expertise in designing is more towards prêt and Indo-Western custom-made couture designs. I would describe my style as very elegant, chic and modern. I always try to create a subtle blend of classy and edgy styles. My collection comprises prêt dresses and customised couture-based gowns, visual asymmetry dresses, peplum tunics, cloaks and capes along with Indo-Western styled dresses and many more blends based on a particular design or style. My designs are unique, and the designer’s hard work can be seen in every creation. It has been over a year since I launched this label and I am glad that I took the plunge. Getting finance for my start-up was not difficult as my father supported me. My friends stood by me but unfortunately no one from my family appreciated my work.”
Nikita keenly follows the work of top Indian designers like Sabyasachi Satpathy, Manish Malhotra, Tarun Tahiliani and Anita Dongre. “My favourite is Rourkela-born Bibhu Mohapatra,” she says. “He is truly an inspiration because he has dressed some of the most influential women including former US First Lady Michelle Obama and Hollywood stars Gwyneth Paltrow and Hillary Swank. Besides, I am really inspired by the weavers and masters who have traditionally played an important role in the sector but are rarely recognised. Keeping in my mind the diversified culture of the state as well as the low income of weavers, I regularly use handlooms and paintings of Odisha in my creations.”
About future plans, Nikita says, “India has a rich heritage of handloom weaving. But the handloom industry is struggling because of lack of support. I am a contemporary designer and would like to do a fusion of handloom and modern fabrics. I want to give a fillip to the fashion industry by reviving lost crafts, textiles and weavers, and provide financial impetus to the communities engaged in the process of creating beautiful fabrics. Our rich traditional textiles like ikat, bomkai, patta and tussar are not being well marketed outside the state. I would like to make these textiles famous worldwide through my designs. I would like to build a sustainable apparel industry for style-oriented clients.”
Nikita’s creations were appreciated at the Delhi Times Fashion Week. She says, “I showcased my new line of Indo-western wear. My collection was based on Odisha’s traditions while the theme was based on the famous Oriya song ‘Rangabati.’ The show was conceptualised by fashion consultant Swagat Ranjan. The fashion week brought the best designers and retailers of fashion and lifestyle brands together on the same platform. I was very nervous as it was my first show and I was representing Odisha as a sole designer. The event was packed with senior and well-known designers and I was probably the youngest there. However, everyone involved in the extravaganza supported me and appreciated my collection. They liked my ‘Rangabati’ theme. It was a well-organised show.”
Following the success of a calendar shoot in Russia and the appreciation received at London Fashion Week in 2018, Nikita is looking forward to Milan Fashion Week where she will showcase her latest collections. On this upcoming event, she says, “The objective of Milan Fashion Week is to create a photographic book. Creating a photo book in Milan with a team of industry professionals will be a plus in a highly competitive world where you need to stand out.”
Her other programmes include participation in a five-day fashion show that starts from September 10 followed by another in Paris from September 15-17, 2019. Nikita dreams of seeing Nikita’s Couture among the top hundred global fashion firms.
RASHMI REKHA DAS, OP
