Mountain Song

Designer Prabal Gurung talks about dressing Michelle Obama, his love for art and being a voice for Nepal.

- Butool Jamal

It’s a story almost out of a fairytale. A young boy, born in Singapore, raised in Kathmandu, Nepal, studies hotel management before he decides to dedicate himself to fashion. A stint at NIFT, New Delhi is quickly followed by a degree from Parsons The New School for Design, New York. Once he sets foot in the Big Apple, it’s clear that there’s no turning back. In 2009, he launched his own label without any financial support or backing. Praba Gurung would go on to win the CFDA Swarovski Fashion Award in 2011 and become the designer of choice for women like Michelle Obama, Zoe Saldana and Deepika Padukone, who appreciate his ability to make poised, elegant dresses with subtle, sexy undercurrents.

Tell us about the start of your label.

When I launched the label, we were in the midst of a recession (2009). Many people suggested I wait for a better time but I had gone on unemployment and put everything I had behind this. Our first collection and presentation was an intimate one. When I woke up the next morning and saw that we had made the cover of Women’s Wear Daily, I called my family back home in Nepal. It’s a moment I’ll never forget.

How has your home in Nepal influenced your aesthetic?