For SWGT, pausing is about stepping away from the urgency of constant novelty. This collection, A Portrait of You, becomes an invitation to slow down, to reflect and to listen. It resists the idea of fashion as something loud or declarative and instead embraces a quieter, more intentional expression.
A Portrait of You was conceived in one of the small pauses the studio takes after launching a collection. During this time, they moved away from moodboards and instead returned to the values that shape their practice, such as devotion, childlike curiosity, eureka, righteousness, rebellion, isolation and silence. We’re in conversation with Shweta Gupta on how these experiences encourage a moment to pause, reflect, and continue creating with depth and clarity.
How did spending time in the hills change the way you approached your design process for this collection?
The mountains became mirrors for us. They created a space for introspection where silence allowed deeper clarity. The collection emerged from that stillness and heightened awareness. Mountains are our long-term friends. Like meeting someone from childhood yet discovering something new each time. Sometimes it is simply about sitting in silence with them and reflecting on our process. This collection is shaped by that feeling, the winter sky and the quiet geometry of these natural structures.
Could you tell us a little about the materials used in this collection?
We have worked with materials that feel intimate and responsive to the body, such as lightweight Mulberry silk, organza, poplin, and Chanderi. Many pieces feature tonal dyeing, sheer layering and soft structures. Alongside these are traditional textiles and techniques like Kantha, Tagai, and Appliqué, often inspired by details such as Buransh flowers and the changing landscape of Himalayan foothills through seasons. The materials are chosen not just for how they look, but for how they move and feel on the body.
Many of the techniques here are slow and detailed. How important is slowness to the way you like to create?
Slowness is central to our process. It is synonymous with the level of detail we work with. Since this collection emerged from a reflective time in the mountains, we naturally leaned into meditative techniques such as Kantha, which is a first for us. These processes require immense patience, integrity and intention. Each piece carries the time and care of the craftsmen who bring it to life. For us, slowness is not a limitation but a way we honour craft and resist disposability.
We have worked with materials that feel intimate and responsive to the body, such as lightweight Mulberry silk, organza, poplin, and Chanderi. Many pieces feature tonal dyeing, sheer layering and soft structures. Alongside these are traditional textiles and techniques like Kantha, Tagai, and Appliqué, often inspired by details such as Buransh flowers and the changing landscape of Himalayan foothills through seasons. The materials are chosen not just for how they look, but for how they move and feel on the body.
Many of the techniques here are slow and detailed. How important is slowness to the way you like to create?
Slowness is central to our process. It is synonymous with the level of detail we work with. Since this collection emerged from a reflective time in the mountains, we naturally leaned into meditative techniques such as Kantha, which is a first for us. These processes require immense patience, integrity and intention. Each piece carries the time and care of the craftsmen who bring it to life. For us, slowness is not a limitation but a way we honour craft and resist disposability.
I’m interested in the title A Portrait of You. Who did you have in mind while designing this collection?
This collection is not about a single person. It is about the many selves we carry, the seeker, the wanderer, the gatherer, the thinker. It began with our own emotional landscape as creatives, but we soon realised that these are not unique experiences. They are universal. The collection becomes a mirror, allowing the wearer to see themselves more clearly, to feel seen and to connect with their own inner world.
According to you, what is the next big thing in contemporary Indian fashion?
We believe the future lies in deeper authenticity. A move away from surface level storytelling towards meaningful narratives rooted in craft, culture and individuality. More importantly, it is time to not just tell your story but to live it. India is no longer a reference point for others. It is building its own vocabulary on its own terms. There is a growing confidence among designers who are no longer translating Indian craft for a western gaze but presenting it as a complete and self-sufficient aesthetic. The interest today is not in exoticism but in integrity, in understanding that what you hold carries time, skill and human touch that cannot be replicated at scale. That is where Indian fashion holds real power.
What are you working on currently and what’s next?
We continue to explore the dialogue between self, landscape and craft while staying rooted in intention and emotional connection. At the moment, we are working on our next collection and gathering inspiration from past learnings, nature and our relationship with mountains. Each season, we work with a new craft cluster while continuing to build on existing collaborations. Right now, our focus is on developing textiles with our weavers. These explorations form the foundation of what the next collection will become at SWGT.
Words Neeraja Srinivasan
Date 1.3.2026