7 Fashion Designers Define What 'Freedom' Means to Them

Eliciting elegance, power, and vivacity, label Rose Room Couture strives to create timeless couture pieces that work extensively in everyday women’s lives, symbolic of the empowered women of modern India.

"Freedom, to me, is the right to be myself—unapologetically. It's a choice to live a life that I want for myself and grow into the person I want to become on my own terms. This is also reflected through our creations at Zwaan. Our fuss-free feminine designs empower the wearer to become a version of themselves they aspire to be. The simplicity of our silhouettes evokes in them a sense of confidence, while room to experiment allows them to express themselves however they like." - Tanvi Sawlani, Creative Director, Zwaan

"Patriotism for me is being rooted to where I belong. Encouraging and optimally utilising local produce means to elevate and flourish towards a progressive future. Motivate and buy local!" - Kunal Anil Tanna, Creative Director

"Freedom comes from within; when we decide for ourselves what we want, when we want, and how we want it. I experience immense happiness and freedom when I create and design each collection—keeping at heart the aspirations of my clients. I feel every woman must have a sea of options to choose from." - Saloni & Salman, Founders, Gulabo Jaipur

Vedika M keeps an age-old tradition of three generations alive through her designs. Honouring the handicrafts of block printing and hand painting, Vedika's designs induce a sense of independence and are made to suit the versatility of millennials.

"Freedom is an extremely powerful word. It can mean several things and is extremely individualistic. While to some it may mean independence, to others it signifies the ability to act and speak freely —or to go where they wish. For us, freedom is what we express through our designs—which allows us to be creative. Finding new paths to and from creativity, through our designs. Designers can potentially make an important contribution to this quest, given that design is about imagining and achieving a better future and going sustainable." - Sukriti and Aakriti

"The feeling of freedom fills an individual with a sense of power, a progressive attitude, and a discernment of confidence. India, through ages, has evolved keeping these virtues at its core. Synonymous to the modern Indian woman—a subject of my design ethos—India is a free republic that's individualistic, independent, and formidable. Traditional at heart yet blends in with modernity—a New Age India is a land of hopes and opportunities. And, it fills my heart with immense pride when I realise the fact that I, too, can contribute to this evolution through design, style, and creativity." - Ridhi Mehra