Gaurav Gupta: ‘2023 Has Been An Absolutely Magical Year For Me’

“2023 has been an absolutely magical year for me,” expresses couturier Gaurav Gupta as he looks back at a defining year for the couture brand that’s so special to him. In the world of Gaurav Gupta, there’s mystery, there’s magic, and there is celebration of art through design.

It has been a year of magical firsts for the master of couture. The year began with Gaurav making his Paris Couture Week debut in January and Beyonce for the first time, adorning not one, not two, but three ensembles from an Indian couture brand. The year also marked the opening of Gaurav’s new store in Mumbai.

Here’s a look back at Gaurav Gupta’s global dominance in 2023:

To Paris, With Love

“This year we were invited to showcase at the Paris Couture Week by the Federation de la Haute Couture. We did two shows—Shunya in January and Hiranyagarbha in July—where we took ancient Indian concepts and philosophies to the most important stage of fashion in the world,” shares Gaurav Gupta.

At the Hiranyagarbha collection showcase in July, American rapper Cardi B attended Gaurav’s show dressed in a lime green, artfully moulded hooded creation.

In 2024, Gaurav will once again showcase his new collection at Paris Couture Week.

Couture Meets Renaissance

Iconic designs deserve iconic fashion moments. Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and entrepreneur Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter was styled in not one, not two, but three gorgeous ensembles designed by Gaurav Gupta for her Renaissance World Tour concert. This was the first time an Indian designer was featured on her illustrious Renaissance tour.

When Beyonce first walked on stage in the infinity crystal bodysuit paired with crystal legging boots, Gaurav described her as the epitome of hope, infinity and freedom. And the bodysuit was inspired by the new logo of Gaurav Gupta Couture. He also went ahead and thanked the successful partnership with Hema of Maison Bose for making this happen for him and his brand.

But that wasn’t all, Beyonce made another style statement in Gaurav Gupta’s neon green athena saree gown from the Hiranyagarbha Paris Couture Week AW 23/24 collection. “I have always been fascinated and enamoured by the history of the saree and the more than 600 different ways it is traditionally draped in India. We, at Gaurav Gupta, are deeply inspired by this almost mythological tradition of drapery and have tried to interpret and innovate with it in our

own sculptural ways. Eternally grateful to Hema of Maison Bose for creating magic as always,” share this heartfelt note on Instagram.

Beyonce’s third choice for the Renaissance World Tour in Atlanta was another exquisite ensemble from the Hiranyagarbha Paris Couture Week AW 23/24 collection. The moondust crystal-encrusted orbit gown looked surreal on Beyonce.

The GG’s Global Icons

This year Gaurav Gupta collaborated with global icons like Beyonce, Cardi B, Shakira, Jenna Ortega, Sharon Stone, Maluma and many more. Gaurav Gupta’s signature electric blue colour palette with sculpted detailing was adorned by Shakira for the cover story of Billboard and Cardi B slayed in hooded electric blue sculpture gown 65th Annual Grammy Awards. “It really has been a defining year to take this Indian couture brand global,” adds Gaurav Gupta.

Apart from the International celebrities, Gaurav Gupta’s couture was celebrated at The Academy awards this year, by actor Jr NTR. The actor adorned a velvet bandhgala featuring the majestic antique Tiger embroidery, as homage to India and also to celebrate the film RRR on the global platform. Gaurav’s couture has also been adorned by stars including Alia Bhatt, Ananya Panday, Janhvi Kapoor, Suhana Khan, Ranveer Singh, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Kiara Advani among others.

Coming Back To Art

This year, Gaurav Gupta found himself going back to art and architecture, abstraction and magic. And eventually, incorporated these in this new store in Mumbai and the revamped atelier on the outskirts of New Delhi. “Our Mumbai store is an experimental space based on the concept of Shunya. It’s like a world of voids which carries our couture and luxury pret. Our atelier on the outskirts of New Delhi is a surreal space for our artisans and teams to create magic without any boundaries.”

Co-creating these spaces for Gaurav has been like creating new cultures, a new way of thinking. “And for me and my whole team, at GG family, are looking forward to creating magic from these two spaces which are very concept forward and close to my heart,” adds Gaurav.