Bishwo Gautam’s designs represent the mastery of work that he puts to his creations. His taste in fashion developed at an early age while growing up in Chitwan. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in fashion designing from Namuna College of Fashion Designing in 2007, he went on to establish  Bishwo’s creations the following year. Gautam then put up his first solo show in 2011, in Soaltee Crown Plaza, where he showcased a total of 10 fashion sequences. 

In an interview with My City’s Sonam Lama, Gautam talked about his professional journey as a fashion designer.

What influenced you to get into fashion designing?
As a child, I remember the first time I touched my mom’s chiffon sari; I felt better and quite inquisitive about how every wear differs from each other. I hardly knew there was an academy for fashion designing until my high school. But when I saw a fashion designing course advertisement, I could not stop myself from enquiring about it. Meanwhile during my bachelor’s, winning the best designer title in the first semester was a further reminder that I was in the right place. I think my love for learning about fabrics motivated me to fashion designing, not only as a designer but also as a fashion entrepreneur. 

What do you enjoy the most about being a fashion designer?
I love what I do and that is the favorite part of my being a fashion designer. As a designer, I keep myself updated with the happenings in the industry. I indulge most of my time researching and sketching new concepts to serve my diverse clientele with innovative designs. I design the concept for collections based on research. In the meantime, I make sure that I experiment with the colors, silhouette, texture, and patterns every time. I also leave no effort in treating my staffs as family and this is how I learn and enjoy working as a team.

Do you follow any particular style in your designs? 
I carry out my work with style and elegance. It requires me to pay attention to minute details. Since colors and fabrics play a huge role in reflecting glamour and style, I keep the color combination in mind while working on my designs. White, black, red and royal blue are some of the color choices that I often play with.

What changes have you witnessed in the fashion industry in the past decade? 
When I started my career in 2004, there were a handful of boutiques around Kupondole. They used to mostly sell Indian designer’s traditional wear. Fashion and modeling paced up since the last decade. I started my journey into the fashion industry with a small initiative but later got the opportunity to create designer wear for national and international celebrities. Besides hard work and creativity, being a designer also demands you to have a good balance between your personal and professional life. 

What is your say on the fashion industry working to promote Nepali culture? 
I find many designers in the industry appearing with their innovative creations with a slight taste of their culture. Many designers from various backgrounds are joining hands to reflect the culture of the fabrics. We often see the usage of Nepali patterns like Dhaka and Mithila art in the designs. This trend plays an important role to save the culture, and at the same time provide style.

In your opinion, what skills are important for a successful career in fashion designing?
Prior to sharpening the skills, I think one should be able to have a creative vision for one’s designs and collection. It is the ideas that actually sell. Furthermore, understanding textile, fabric patterns, and measurements also stand as significant factors. Being artistic and creative is much praised, but one should keep in mind that new ideas generate when you are willing to work hard and are fully devoted toward your work.