Anxiety is a trap, not a trend: Masaba Gupta

As Masaba Gupta addresses mental health and identity crisis with her latest collaboration, we catch up with her on her inspiration, design and style philosophy.

Designer Masaba Gupta just dropped a line of limited edition sneakers and launched 50 pairs of hand-painted shoes, showcasing a crossover between art and fashion. For this particular range, the designer used shoes as canvases for self-expression and introduced two design concepts – anti-anxiety and identity. She has used her signature quirky prints and motifs to depict the struggles and the state of mind of the current generation.

“I feel today’s generation wants to move and grow at the speed of light without even pausing for a second to take a better look at their mental health. Anxiety almost seems like a curse on this generation, and therefore, the anti-anxiety shoe just sheds light on this issue. Identity is another issue that needs to be addressed. I believe a lot of our validation comes from various external factors and amidst that, the generation has forgotten its true identity. The Identity shoe is a reminder for this generation that the key to finding yourself lies in knowing where we are, what work we do and always remembering the purpose. Anxiety is a trap; it’s not a trend to be followed. It’s not supposed to be cool, it’s meant to be fixed,” mentions the designer who is collaborating with Puma for the first time.

Masaba, who recently collaborated with a beauty brand, a jewellery brand and released a line of merchandise for Game Of Thrones, is grateful for all the collaborations that come her way. Speaking about her spree of brand associations, she says, “As a young and growing brand, it allowed us to keep experimenting and explore all the segments. Our brand is known for its eccentricity and to look at ordinary with a different and vibrant eye. We have incorporated the same in the Puma Cali shoes too. Since print is our DNA, we’ve utilised our iconic motifs such as the palm and the caricature to bring out the message clearly. For me, inclusivity is a very important subject because it’s a diverse world and every person is different and unique. I think, it’s necessary to have something for everyone, and we strongly believe in reflecting this ideology through all our products.”

The designer also hints at a new festive line dropping soon and hopes to see her latest collaboration on the runway paired with the fusion set. Speaking about her personal style, she reveals, “My style is all about being comfortable in every outfit I decide to wear. Since I’m always on the go, I think it’s necessary to have basic strappy sandals that go seamlessly with everything you wear. Apart from that, a good pair of high heels and sneakers for the days you want to sprint. I, absolutely, love shoes, especially statement shoes. I believe the right shoe has the power to take your entire outfit up by a notch.”

Masaba is also close friends with Bollywood’s ‘It sisters’ Sonam and Rhea Kapoor, as well as other celebrities. Like any other young brand creator, she too is quite active on social media and often shares glimpses from her buzzing social life. Speaking about sharing vignettes of her life with her followers on social media, she quips, “It’s just a sneak peek into my everyday life.”