Muskan Ahuja - You Will Learn New Things Every Day Be Ready To Fail, Be Ready To Start Again From Scratch (Fashion Illustrator)

The fashion industry includes a lot of fields such as designing, styling, marketing, merchandising, illustrator where it can be seen that it isn’t just a women-centric in present, there are male designers such as Tarun Tahiliani, Manish Malhotra, Rahul Mishra, Shiva and Naresh, they all are doing phenomenal work as designers. 

1. Tell us about your background and journey.

It all started from my school days, I was focused on giving my entrance test for fine arts after I finish my 12th grade, I did prepare for that from a long time for one of the best fine arts colleges which was in our city. I used to make my portfolio the whole day there was no time limit I worked really hard for it, but I was not able to clear my entrance in that college. 

I passed it in another but I never wished to go to any other college. Fashion design was in my list at the end, I joined a designing college then, no it was not fashion, it had other subjects like communication design, accessories, glass and ceramic. 

I dropped that after 6-8 months I was not getting what I wanted to learn, it was a real depressing phase of my life I was failing on every step back to back. I took a few months gap and I started fashion designing course in INIFD Baroda, we don’t have any much fashion colleges in our city, due to family restrictions I was not able to leave my city for any studies. 

I started learning fashion in INIFD, the first year was really tough for me. I was not at all prepared for the subjects it had, information about the local designers, any basic skills of stitching, nothing. I just knew how to draw that too now I think that I was really basic in sketching too at that time. 

It again was a tough time to be there at the start, I was an introvert, was not much used to talking to people around me. I had a stage fear I never gave any much presentations for my projects, which was not a good thing to carry in this field, my teachers used to tell me that this thing will give you boundaries in future, change it before you enter into the professional world. 

As the year passed I did really well in my second year, INIFD students get an opportunity to participate in Lakmé Fashion Week Next Genand launchpad competitions which gave us a big opportunity to know this field closely. I didn’t knew the further rules I just gave my entry for the launchpad once. 

I made a collection which was a fusion of art and fashion, that was my idea behind the collection I always saw fashion from an artist point of view, which made my story and collection a bit different from others. My collection was a pop art fusion in autumn-winter collection. I got selected to showcase my designs at a big platform which I never expected. 

The next hurdle to cross was to showcase the collection and explaining about it in brief in front of celebrities, big designers, a lot of INIFD centres. Like I never spoke up gave any presentation in front of my classmates and I had to speak in front of these many people. I thought to back out but no how could I miss this big opportunity just because of my stage fear. 

I did my best I could that day. And from there my journey began, I realised that if I can overcome my biggest fear then I can do that with my other restrictive nature too. Fashion is a field where you have to open up, you cannot learn anything just by staying to yourself. 

I started participating and I volunteered for backstage too looking all the aspects very carefully, I was always confused about if I want to keep my track as a designer or I should practice as a fashion illustrator too. It was really hard to choose and to be honest fashion illustrators are not much valued in India. 

It’s an unexplored or we can say a side profession for people, they always keep designing the first. As I finished my final year in 2020 I had no option left to intern at a good place or leave the city. I decided to work over my illustrations. I practised and worked every single day. I started building my social media, my portfolio. 

I started teaching online fashion illustration. I explored my uniqueness in my work which stands out as different and my own original style. I am proud of what I am doing by giving my all-time in fashion illustration and keeping it my main profession and not a side one, it’s just a beginning to my career, a lot to come further.


2. Fashion industry is often considered women-centric and stereotypes men? What’s your opinion?

Yes it used to be women-centric, but as the decades passed it became equivalent. 

The fashion industry includes a lot of fields such as designing, styling, marketing, merchandising, illustrator where it can be seen that it isn’t just a women-centric in present, there are male designers such as Tarun Tahiliani, Manish Malhotra, Rahul Mishra, Shiva and Naresh, they all are doing phenomenal work as designers. 

There are so many designers who work on the male collection and if we look with a clients point of view men do have a lot of variety, options available in the market to choose from. A lot of male line collections walking the ramp every season which is leaving back the stereotypical thinking of fashion as a women-centred.


3. How can one become a successful fashion designer according to you?

There is no rule book or instructions to become a successful fashion designer. Maybe I am the wrong person for now to ask this question, I passed out as a fashion designer 6 months from now, still learning and trying to get knowledge and experience. 

Though according to my whole experience till now of being a successful fashion designer is to explore and experience when you start learning in your college days, try to learn as many new things as you can from people around you, no matter what background they belong to, try learning from your seniors and juniors too, be super active in participating in fashion shows whichever the work is, whichever the opportunity, be it the backstage or just even assisting models or taking things here and there, there is a lot to learn. 

Welcome, all the opportunities your institute offers you to give entries in fashion shows, even though you don’t get selected in your first try, participate again and learn from your past mistakes you made. 

Be up to date with the designers and fashion around you and notice this one thing in every designer that what makes them different from each other, how their work stands out and just by looking at their design you get the idea that this garment/collection is by this designer. 

Now think how your design/work will stand out from others and recognised just by looking at it, have originality in your work which will help you to become a successful fashion designer.


4. What are some of the top colleges for studying fashion in India and the world?

For studying fashion in India there are a lot of institutions which offers good knowledge, experience and opportunities are National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), International Institute of Fashion Designing (INIFD) JD Institute of Fashion Designing, Pearl Academy, and many more. 

One should choose a Fashion College according to their preference of field they wish to specialize in. International best Institutes are Fashion Institute of Technology, NewYork, London College of Fashion, London, Instituto Marangoni International, Milan.


5. Who is your favourite illustrator and why?

My favourite fashion illustrator is Nam Burachat Tj. Who is currently teaching at Burka Fashion School. I just love her techniques of illustrating and her every fabric renderings, details are too perfect. Though I work with a different medium than her but I still admire her a lot.


6. Do you have any tips for people who want to join this field?

Yes, be prepared to work at any time of the day and to visit places you might have never heard of. It’s ok if you haven’t figured out which specialization you want to be in, you will realise gradually where you belong and what is there in you which will stand you out from others. 

You will learn new things every day be ready to fail, be ready to start again from scratch.


7. Which is your favourite book and why?

I am not a book reader person but I can suggest you these two, one for pattern making which is Pattern Magic Series by Tomoko Nakamichi, a book series from Japan which guides you to create 3D and sculpted haute couture patterns. The other one is for illustration Figurino di for beginners.


- Muskan Ahuja (Freelance Fashion Illustrator)

Aged 22, Passed out from INIFD, Vadodara, Gujarat, India, Freelance Fashion Illustrator

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/illustrations_by_muskan/


Interviewed By Tuhina Rana