Its not just fashion in life, you just dont know where youll be or what will happen.
I am so lucky to be able to do what I love.
I never take it for granted.
Ashish in his studio in East London, a few days before his A/W2025 LFW show, February 2025.
Ashish, in particular, has proven a certain level of resilience.
The buyer called me and said, Somebody just walked in wearing one of your jumpers.
Can you come in and see us?
Some of the Ashish team in London, during casting for the AW25 show. From left to right: Brigitte Kovats, Alec Bizby, Amy Stephenson, Flora Huddart, Ashish Gupta.
We love your collection.
But it also meant I had to start my own [direct-to-consumer] e-commerce platform, he says.
I got that up and running last year.
Boxes of sequins in Ashish’s studio in East London.
But better late than never.
Some of the Ashish team in London, during casting for the AW25 show.
From left to right: Brigitte Kovats, Alec Bizby, Amy Stephenson, Flora Huddart, Ashish Gupta.
Casting for the Ashish AW25 show.
I never wanted the responsibility in a way.
She was instrumental in encouraging me to get it off the ground, he says.
Ashishs collections have been traditionally loud, sparkly and humorous, or rather ironic.
Detail from the shelves in Ashish’s studio in East London.
We got this 9 am slot and I was like: Who wants sequins for breakfast?
But then I thought, Actually its like the walk of shame, isnt it?
Which is perfect in a way.
Casting for the Ashish AW25 show.
I would love to see someone wearing a sequined dress at 9 oclock in the morning.
Boxes of sequins in Ashish’s studio in East London.
I was making things in such small quantities and everything was handmade and really heavy on time and skill.
Flora Huddart and Ashish Gupta in Ashish’s studio in East London.
Gradually, that operation has grown, he says.
I dont have any extra stock ever, theres no wastage.
I dont have embroidered fabric on rolls where Im cutting things and throwing away unused textiles.
The Ashish team during casting for the Ashish AW25 show.
The pattern pieces are beaded rather than the roll of fabric.
Everything is just needed for the actual pattern piece.
Its almost like a couture way of working.
Shoes in Ashish’s studio in East London.
I dont do anything, I dont socialise I just work.
And then when it happens, its almost the best feeling in the world.
Casting for the Ashish AW25 show.
you’ve got the option to work with artists, photographers, directors you become more malleable.
Ive always loved collaborating with people, so that was a really nice opportunity.
Like, working with Rottingdean Bazaar; that was hysterical.
When else would I get an opportunity to do something like that?
Why do a show now?
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Detail from the shelves in Ashish’s studio in East London.
The collection he is showing today at 180 is titled Crisis of Confidence.
these days, I am exploring ideas around uncertainty and confidence or a crisis of confidence, Ashish explains.
Social media tells us to always be strong, to look perfect and always achieve our goals.
But there is a freedom in saying we are allowed to fail.
The thing is, its harder to fail when youre so good at bouncing back.
Flora Huddart and Ashish Gupta in Ashish’s studio in East London.
The Ashish team during casting for the Ashish AW25 show.
Shoes in Ashish’s studio in East London.
