Anita Dongre: Fashion For Good

One of India’s most prolific designers, Anita Dongre has stayed at the forefront of the industry with her brand of mindful fashion. In a career spanning almost three decades, she has taken this culture to international markets as well.

An advocate of Fashion For Good, her approach to business is purpose-driven, bringing economies back to rural India while empowering women artisans and modernising crafts. This ethos flows into her brands that disrupt the norm of the luxury category.

“The economic gender imparity is an inescapable reality. Not only are there instances of women getting paid less for equal work but there is also an access issue. One of the factors contributing to this is the large, untapped rural population. For us to reduce the gender gap it’s important to focus on creating employment opportunities for women in rural India. Putting money in the hands of women affects change in communities. As a design house, this is something we strongly believe in and consistently work towards,” says Dongre.

Dongre has been growing her brand consistently. Earlier this year, she opened a flagship store in the historic Sassoon Building in Mumbai. “It’s been a particular joy to realise a vision that mixes Indian crafts with colonial architecture against art that celebrates nature’s bounty,” she says, explaining why she restored the building maintaining its original form.