CROSS-CULTURAL DESIGNERS
How They've Inspired Hamro Sansar
PURVI DOSHI
She is a South-Asian cross-cultural designer. Her works consist of bringing together westernized clothing with her South-Asian embellishments. Doshi states that all her designs are a reflection of spirituality and rich Indian traditions. In fact, her passion for fashion embodies the rich diversity, colors, and patterns she carries over from her culture: Gujarat. Her designs physically express her South-Asian identity through the use of jewelry embellishments alongside the outfit and the silky fabric of the outfit.
Although Purvi Doshi’s fashion line reflects traditional Gujurati Culture, and my project revolves around embracing Nepalese culture, both of our lines have the commonality that we want to integrate our South Asian cultures with westernized culture. I particularly paid attention to how Purvi Doshi places each of her jewel accessories on her outfits. On one of my designs, I was inspired by the way Doshi uses gold to emphasize her culture. Doshi was the first cross-cultural fashion designer I came across and she inspired me to design with both my Nepali and American identity.
PRABAL GURUNG
Prabal Gurung is a Nepali-American fashion designer. I grew up hearing his name because of his high accolades in the fashion industry (like designing the former first-lady’s, Michelle Obama, inauguration gown designer), so I wanted to learn more about him. Gurung's designs don't make a direct statement that it's cross-cultural; however, his culture and pride are still expressed through his fashion. For instance, many of his designs incorporate floral patterns and a silky aesthetic. These floral patterns represent Nepal's national flower, the Rhododendron. Gurung also represents his Nepalese background on social media and different interviews.
Gurung highly impacted this project because even if he didn’t create a lot of cross-cultural wear, he inspired me a lot throughout my project because he always expressed positivity for our Nepalese culture and our traditional lives. His energy and pride for my country Nepal are why I have had the motivation to create my line.
