Quotes from Masaba Gupta

My father was as involved as he could be. He was busy, but called me every day. He knew what was happening in school, and even came for my tennis matches.

Calcutta is a very culturally-forward city. People encourage art, music, literature and I just feel like that's a city that looks for experiences over just retail.

I agree the SS 2014 collection from my own line comprising knee pads and polka dots didn't feel too good but I'm proud of the fact that it was original.

I wanted to be a musician and studied vocals in London for a year and then I gave it up.

There were boys in my class who would stick pencils in my curls, and say 'oh it's like a cushion' and laugh at me. Even my body type was very different from the other girls in my school. So I grew up thinking that I don't look good enough.

I am a big fan of players like Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Leander Paes. I would love to see them play.

I do want to do a strong bridal line.

Everyone has a perception if you are divorced. I got so busy with work that I didn't even have the time to realize what was happening in my personal life. I had my own way of dealing with it.

A piece that is extremely close to my heart is a gold ring with bouts of mint and baby pink that my grandfather gave to my mother and she passed it down to me. What's sweet is that it has my grandparent's name on the flipside.

Normcore doesn't equal wearing the first pair of jeans and T-shirt from your wardrobe. Behind dressing easy, lies a precise selection.

I make and wear black and white for myself because it centers me.

Layering is the best way to express yourself through jewelry; each piece makes a statement, each piece has its story and if curated and layered well, it can enhance your look and make sure you stand out.

I can't wear a sari to save my life. So when I'm designing them, I know what I want: it definitely has to be lightweight and have pockets - girls have a lot to carry around, let's face it.

My childhood had much clarity. I didn't see abuse. I didn't see my parents bickering. I didn't live in a dysfunctional family.

I believe getting rid of the divide between men and women will truly establish what it is to be equal. Fashion is increasingly acting as a weapon of change, inspiring ideas that blur that division, albeit in a subliminal manner.

The power of Bollywood is undeniable. When a celebrity wears your clothes, it sells out - stars here can make you a household name.

See, I just don't want to starve at my wedding. So, my dream wedding is one where I get to eat a meal while everyone else enjoys themselves as well.

I literally grew up reading the papers about my existence... that I was a love child. To a kid, it doesn't make any difference. I always thought that if somebody can have an extramarital affair, someone can have a child out of wedlock.

Designer labels, throughout the history of fashion, have maintained an air of exclusivity around themselves. Call it hype, criticize it if you will. But fashion has used this 'exclusive' tag to make itself coveted.

I started out fairly easier but I had the problem of proving that I'm actually talented. People think you have a privilege over others and I had to keep working harder.

I was born in the Eighties, and at that time the idea of having a mixed-race child wasn't welcome. Then I was also an unusual mix nobody was used to seeing. So people weren't very accepting of me in the beginning, but later that changed.

We are now welcoming a world where fashion is not bogged down by binary gender norms. The trend is moving beyond symbolizing its wearers' identity or gender. It's now being accepted by the mainstream as more of a look, both on the catwalk and the high street.

When I made my debut, I remember bridalwear being the only thing you ever showed at a runway presentation.

Only you can give yourself the love you need and deserve.