Founder of the label happï space, Jhalak Mittal grew up with an inbuilt knack for all things fashion, graphics, prints, interiors and the arts. She was that kid who would neatly arrange hand written notes analysing fashion shows and trends, had multiple folders of typographies and had a plethora of graphics and prints saved on the computer she shared with her brother. The pre-Pinterest era she calls it. The natural inclination led her towards a degree in textile design from NIFT, Delhi, and a trend forecasting master's degree from Polimoda, Florence. She briefly worked at a forecasting agency in New York where she truly realised how culture impacts design, and they go hand-in-hand. One thing led to another and she conceived happï space. we're in conversation as she tells us more about the practice.
The Practice
The idea of joy. It's that simple. I want my clothes to be a mood lifter. Someone wrote to us the other day about how my clothes spark joy in them, and it all kind of made sense. When we started off during the pandemic, August 2020, it was a rough time with a lot of uncertainties. Happï Space became my own little diary I could express myself through. The colours, the easy fits of the garments, and everything was what I wanted to wear myself. Everything was so gloomy. People needed some energy in their wardrobe when they were simply hosting at home or going for staycations with their loved ones.
The Inspiration
The time we were in inspired me. In all honesty, when I look back at the kind of work I was doing back in design school is exactly what I am doing now, only it's on a public platform. All my design work was pretty abstract. I became comfortable with colours very recently. I always thought, why do people take themselves so seriously? Where's the sense of humour? Our lives are becoming minimal; maybe our wardrobes don't have to. Happï Space is my canvas, and I am happy people are getting to wear it and loving how it makes them feel. The pure sense of joy, comfort, and a little bit of freshness.
The Practice
The idea of joy. It's that simple. I want my clothes to be a mood lifter. Someone wrote to us the other day about how my clothes spark joy in them, and it all kind of made sense. When we started off during the pandemic, August 2020, it was a rough time with a lot of uncertainties. Happï Space became my own little diary I could express myself through. The colours, the easy fits of the garments, and everything was what I wanted to wear myself. Everything was so gloomy. People needed some energy in their wardrobe when they were simply hosting at home or going for staycations with their loved ones.
The Inspiration
The time we were in inspired me. In all honesty, when I look back at the kind of work I was doing back in design school is exactly what I am doing now, only it's on a public platform. All my design work was pretty abstract. I became comfortable with colours very recently. I always thought, why do people take themselves so seriously? Where's the sense of humour? Our lives are becoming minimal; maybe our wardrobes don't have to. Happï Space is my canvas, and I am happy people are getting to wear it and loving how it makes them feel. The pure sense of joy, comfort, and a little bit of freshness.
The Creative Process
The creative process is pretty simple. Every season is a feeling; what do we feel like painting. It kind of flows on the paper. We convert them into prints and decide on the method of printing we want to use for that particular print. We usually work with both screen prints and digital prints, depending on the kind of print we have developed. But literally, we never ever even have a mood board. It's just the mood of the day.
The Sustainable Blueprint
We are a slow fashion made-to-order brand; we almost have 0 to no excess production or wastage. We are also running an amazing Re-love programme on our platform where people can buy and sell their pre-loved HS garments easily. Circular fashion is the need of the hour, and we are doing a little part.
The Fashion of Now
Free. Fashion of now should let people express themselves, who they are, what they are. I am a big fan of some of the Indian street brands that are cropping up, representing the best of culture. Fashion is individualistic and expressive. No one can really define what it should be or how it should be. Indian fashion is going through a massive epiphany, and it's beautiful to watch all these amazing works that we are getting to see today through street brands, sustainable brands, and local Indian techniques being modernised for today's time. It's all so inspiring to watch and see fashion evolve in India. I am always going to be a student, forever learning.
Text Unnati Saini
Date 09-05-2022
The creative process is pretty simple. Every season is a feeling; what do we feel like painting. It kind of flows on the paper. We convert them into prints and decide on the method of printing we want to use for that particular print. We usually work with both screen prints and digital prints, depending on the kind of print we have developed. But literally, we never ever even have a mood board. It's just the mood of the day.
The Sustainable Blueprint
We are a slow fashion made-to-order brand; we almost have 0 to no excess production or wastage. We are also running an amazing Re-love programme on our platform where people can buy and sell their pre-loved HS garments easily. Circular fashion is the need of the hour, and we are doing a little part.
The Fashion of Now
Free. Fashion of now should let people express themselves, who they are, what they are. I am a big fan of some of the Indian street brands that are cropping up, representing the best of culture. Fashion is individualistic and expressive. No one can really define what it should be or how it should be. Indian fashion is going through a massive epiphany, and it's beautiful to watch all these amazing works that we are getting to see today through street brands, sustainable brands, and local Indian techniques being modernised for today's time. It's all so inspiring to watch and see fashion evolve in India. I am always going to be a student, forever learning.
Text Unnati Saini
Date 09-05-2022