Behind The Sparkle: Ashish Talks Inspiration and Empowerment

The sign says it all. Scrawled in bold letters, sparkling with pink hearts and a defiant grin: SLUTS HAVE MORE FUN. It’s a statement, a provocation, a battle cry wrapped in sequins and self-assurance. The image—a young woman standing proudly amid a protest, her hair neon pink, her stance fearless—was pinned to Ashish Gupta’s mood board this season, sparking a collection that embodies the same energy of resilience, empowerment, and play.

For over two decades, Ashish has turned fashion into a glittering act of defiance, a space where joy and activism dance hand in hand. His clothes are loud in the best way: sequins spelling out slogans, rainbow-hued knits that refuse to be ignored, silhouettes that demand movement. This season, he takes that ethos even further, crafting a collection that celebrates self-expression in its purest form—unapologetic, cheeky, and filled with the kind of fun that shakes off shame.

From slogan tees reworked in hand-embroidered sequins to lingerie-inspired party dresses that teeter between empowerment and provocation, the collection is a love letter to those who refuse to be silenced. It’s about reclaiming language, redefining power, and dressing like you own the world. Because, as Ashish sees it, fashion should always be about joy—especially when joy itself is an act of rebellion.

We sat down with Ashish to talk about the power of play, the politics of dressing up, and why having fun is sometimes the most radical thing you can do.

Joshua Graham: What was the starting point for this season’s collection?

Ashish Gupta: 'This season didn’t begin with a single, defined concept but rather a feeling of uncertainty—both personal and on a larger scale. It feels like a reflection of the unpredictability of the world right now. A crisis of confidence.'

JG: Your work has always been unapologetically bold. What inspired the mood and aesthetic of this season’s show?

AG: 'The word glamour originally comes from the idea of casting a spell. This magical quality has always been key to my work. Sequins, of course, because we have an innate response to shiny, reflective surfaces—thought to be linked to our evolutionary need to find fresh water sources.'

'And big cities at night—the way they come alive, but also how they provide safe spaces for minorities. There is such visual energy in city centres after dark.'

For this collection, I wanted to push these ideas further in a way that feels more personal and emotional.'

JG: What emotions or reactions do you hope to evoke in your audience this season?

AG: 'A kind of rebellious joy, which feels radical in difficult times—we are still surviving, and we demand to be seen! Fashion must give us magic and a moment of escape.'

JG: Beyond the clothes, how are you shaping the atmosphere of this show—music, set design, casting?

AG: 'Since my show is early in the morning, I’ve decided to lean into that by framing it as a 'walk of shame' moment—in the best and most empowering way. It might also be the most logical reason to see a sequin before 9AM.'

JG: How does this season’s collection build on your past work, and where does it break new ground?

AG: 'Each season, I refine things a little more and experiment with new techniques. This time, I focused a lot on texture and tactility—both what soothes the optic nerve and what stimulates it.'

'I want things to have unexpected effects. A red dress sparkles on the body like a watercolour wash. Elsewhere I take the idea of technicolor and break it up into a pointillism effect. Another dress is covered in what appears to be shards of dragonfly wings.'

JG: After this show, what’s next for Ashish? Any dream projects on the horizon?

AG: 'There are a couple of things in the pipeline, but right now, the most exciting project I can think of is a holiday. Somewhere warm, for at least two weeks.'