New-edgy and earthy romance to textile wizardry and contemporary chic define the design language of Rohitash Notani (Rosani), Charmee Ambavat (The Terra Tribe), Kriti Greta Singhee and Shimona Agrawal, the winners of the GenNext programme presented by INIFD. They are all set to showcase at Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI, to be held between March 13 and 17, in Mumbai. t2 caught up with the quartet.
Congratulations! How did you celebrate the win?
Charmee Ambavat: I am not big on celebrations; I enjoy the little things in life and they bring me the utmost joy. After I was crowned one of the four winners of GenNext, my husband just got me my favourite flowers and that’s all I needed.
Rohitash Notani: The realisation that I was one of the winners of GenNext took a minute to settle in, surely, but once it did, I got on to a flight to Goa — a quick 48-hour beach retreat. I needed that brief interlude of reflection and rejuvenation to feel grounded and ready before diving headfirst into the creative whirlwind that is Lakmē Fashion Week X FDCI. It was a much-needed recharge. Such milestones deserve their own rites of passage, don’t you agree?
Kriti Greta Singhee: I celebrated the win with my family and friends who have always supported me through my journey for GenNext.
Shimona Agrawal: Well, thank you so much! It was a moment of joy and reflection. Being one of the winners of GenNext marked the beginning of an exciting chapter in my fashion career. I decided to celebrate this special moment with my loved ones around (my family and friends), shared stories from the journey at Lakmē Fashion Week X FDCI and expressed my deep appreciation for their unwavering support and encouragement towards my aspirations. I also celebrated with my team and conveyed gratitude for their continued efforts and hard work in bringing to life all my ideas and vision. Their dedication and creativity have been instrumental in this journey.
How old is your brand?
Charmee: I started my brand Terra Tribe in 2020.
Rohitash: Barely a toddler in years but a giant in ambition. We launched on September 1, 2023, so almost six months old now. In this short time, we’ve made significant strides, laying a strong foundation for our vision of redefining menswear. It has been truly a rewarding and deeply humbling journey.
Kriti: My brand is under a year, around nine months old.
Shimona: My brand is just 1.5 years old and in such a short span of time, it has experienced tremendous growth in terms of sales quality, appreciation, and appearance, which I am very proud of and grateful for everything that has helped us reach where we are today.
Did you study design?
Charmee: I am a finance professional and have studied chartered accountancy, post that I went on to work in investment and banking for three years and then studied design at NIFT Mumbai for two years.
Rohitash: While my academic background is in fashion marketing from IED Milan, the bulk of my design knowledge comes from hands-on experience in Italy’s fashion scene, learning directly from the industry’s pulse through my work in the luxury fashion sector. Everything I know is from my experience within these studios, their stalwarts, and their runways, and I do not say this lightly — from their streets.
Kriti: I pursued Bachelors in Fashion Design at National Institute of Fashion Technology, Calcutta, and then went on to do my Masters at Istituto Marangoni in Milano, Italy.
Shimona: I graduated from National Institute of Fashion Technology, Gandhinagar, after completing a four-year course in fashion design from the prestigious college.
What clothes fascinate you?
Charmee: My style is androgynous with some feminine elements to elevate the looks. I love colour-blocking with my classics and stripes.
Rohitash: Give me clothes that scream ‘I am who I am’ without uttering a word. Fashion to me is really a canvas, a voice — one that we can tactfully use to tell the world something about ourselves, or who we are, or how we feel that day. If your outfit whispers secrets and stories that are originally you, I’m hooked. I like ensembles that have a unique identity.
Kriti: I am fascinated by innovative, sustainable, trendy yet wearable clothing that completes a person’s personality and makes an impression. I love clothing to speak today’s language yet be well-tailored with unique stylisations. Distinctive cuts, lightweight fabric and impeccable craftsmanship. Innovation in textiles and clothing that have been designed with a lot of past research and new improvised techniques fascinates me the most. I have incorporated my research on various weaves and textures on Indian textiles in the new collection for my showcase at Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI on Third Space — Sustainable Futures.
Shimona: Well, I firmly believe that one’s clothing choices reflect their personality. I am often intrigued by garments that are versatile, effortless, stylish and environmentally conscious.
What is the DNA of your label?
Charmee: At Terra Tribe, we elevate everyday minimal clothing with a conscious heart.
Rohitash: At the heart of Rosani is the interplay of fluidity and freedom, a commitment to challenging the norms and embracing the expansive spectrum of menswear. We don’t do dull, and we certainly don’t do limits. We are a celebration of possibilities and courageous self-expression. In effect, Rosani is here to blur lines, break walls, and dance on the edge of fashion’s frontiers. Conformity and we are arch-enemies, really.
Kriti: The DNA of the label is contemporary, sustainable, authentic, luxury, artistic, innovative, Indian craftsmanship and culture.
Shimona: The brand’s DNA is rooted in elegance, creative use of textiles, and sustainability. We prioritise conscious materials and ethical practices, creating collections that celebrate individuality and empower wearers with quality, and conscious fashion, blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics for timeless pieces.
Who is your muse?
Charmee: Now that you ask, it got me thinking. I design keeping my personal style in mind. So, everyone who would connect with my own sense of style can connect with the clothing.
Rohitash: The concept of a single muse is too confining for the world Rosani envisions and the one I want to create. Rather than a single muse, I find inspiration in the diversity of life’s experiences and the myriad of individuals who cross my path, each bringing a unique influence on my creative process.
Kriti: Beyonce and Kate Moss.
Shimona: My muse is the modern, confident woman who is conscious of the impact her choices have on the environment. She is someone who embraces her individuality, and seeks quality over quantity and craftsmanship in her clothing.
Who are your icons?
Charmee: There are a lot of people and books that inspire me, some that stand out for me are writers and thought leaders like Oprah (Winfrey), Julia Cameron and Robin Sharma. They have inspired my way of working.
Rohitash: From the pantheon, Maharaja Yashwant Rao Holkar II and Carine Roitfeld stand tall in my influences. Closer to home, my naani was a firebrand fashion figure serving as my earliest and most personal icon. She had this set style of wearing sleeveless blouses with immaculately paired saris and shoes and the right perfume of course to go with it all. It was glorious to have witnessed it. Her timeless grace remains my guiding star.
Kriti: Coco Chanel, Diane von Furstenberg, Manolo Blahnik and Jil Sander.
Shimona: Behind every successful step I’ve taken in my life, are four remarkable men — my father, my brother-in-law, my father-in-law, and my dear spouse. These individuals serve as the pillars of my life, inspiring me to better myself each day and fueling my drive for excellence.
What would you say is your creative expression of the world we live in?
Charmee: I just feel that since the time I moved from finance to design, it has really nurtured my soul. I cannot live without creating and it could be any medium.
Rohitash: The world today is obsessed with labels and boxes. Divided by stringent boundaries and boring binaries. Of left and right. Of whole truth and whole lies. Of black and white. Of his and her. And frankly, I do not stand for this. Rosani thrives on the chaos of inclusive multitudes. Our creative expression is that of mixing the unmixable, blending the seemingly un-blendable, enmeshing our commonalities and our contrasts and celebrating the ‘all’ in a world fixated on ‘either/or’.
Kriti: For me, the contemporary world we live in is the modern world. This modern world is made up of objects of design. These objects of design could be categorised into periods of design, such as Bauhaus, Gothic, Arts and Crafts, modernism and finally post-modernism. Post-modernism includes various groups of philosophers who use multiplicity. They provide opportunities to discuss different subjects in different creative ways. They learn to respect cultures and nationalities… we are looking to change and evolve, which are the most important contexts of creativity.
Shimona: My expression of the world we live in is one of vibrant diversity and endless inspiration. I see a world where traditional craftsmanship meets modern innovation, where every culture and heritage adds its unique flavour to the global tapestry of style. It’s a world where creativity knows no bounds, and where every garment is a work of art. I see a world where fashion reflects our values, and where we cherish the beauty of well-crafted pieces that stand the test of time. It’s a world where fashion is not just a trend but a way of life, where we express ourselves authentically and inspire others to do the same.
The most stylish personality according to you?
Charmee: Gigi Hadid is someone whose style I really admire but having said that, I love a lot of people on the web who do some lovely colour-blocked androgynous style.
Rohitash: David Bowie, without a shadow of a doubt. His approach to fashion as a boundless canvas for creativity and self-expression resonates deeply with Rosani’s ethos of creativity. David didn’t just wear clothes; he turned them into a rebellion, a statement, a piece of art. Fashion for him was the ultimate playground, and he played to win. What a legend.
Kriti: My grandmother. She had an effortless, chic, and classic style of dressing, adorning gorgeous and rare textiles she collected that are timeless and paired with her strong personality.
Shimona: Deepika Padukone is indeed celebrated for her impeccable style and stunning fashion choices.