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Kavita Bhartia

"I was born into a designer's paradise, for you see, with India's rich textile legacy, you can do whatever you dream of. Like most girls, I used to fantasize about wearing beautiful things, however at the time there weren't any ready-to-wear dresses in India. So, by age 11, I would go out by myself and buy fabrics from the market at Khan.Then I would sit with a tailor and tell him my ideas.

"I followed this passion into design school at Polytechnique, the only place to study fashion at the time. In 1989, fashion still didn't have a strong presence in India and I worked to promote it by opening a boutique to highlight the work of fellow Indian designers. From the year 2000 onwards, I started showing my own collections. Most notably along with Roberto Capucci in Rome, at the 'Best of Indian Haute Couture' in Singapore, and I have been participating in India's Fashion Week since 2003.

"My designs have been featured in Selfridges publicity campaign in London, and showcased in Galleries Lafayette, in Paris. Having built a name for me in India, my dream now is to follow in the footsteps of international designers. The fashion industry in India is only 30 years old, and there still is so much for us to evolve into. From a tiny group of 5 in 1989, my team has grown considerably and features experts in embroidery and block print makers, all whose families I support. I'm proud to have created a space for our creativity and innovation to flow.

"My work today represents Indian ethos because it has influenced me so much growing up. The essence of our people, arts and crafts are in the block prints I do. From here I continue to innovate as I never seem to tire of trying new things and experimenting.

"I see cool trendy people wearing my designs, and I feel proud. The way they wear my skirts low, below their bellies shows their own creativity. Politicians, Indian actresses, and models like Naomi Campbell have bought my clothes.

"I hope you enjoy the clothes as much as I've enjoyed making them. A lot of handwork has gone into them, for there's nothing like the beauty of the human touch.

"I'm very excited about Novica. It's a great concept and I'm glad to be reaching out to the world in a different way. I feel we are all walking and working in the right direction."