Niti Gupta
Founder & Creative Director, The AFRA World

Part curator, part creative powerhouse, and 100% fashion visionary, Niti Gupta is the dynamic driving force behind The AFRA World, where global couture meets cultural soul. With over two decades of experience across fashion, events, graphics, and branding, Niti isn’t just a trendsetter, she’s the one designing the stage they debut on.

Armed with an uncanny eye for tomorrow’s icons and a flair for turning fashion into a form of storytelling, Niti has transformed The AFRA World into a runway where heritage flirts with haute couture, and South Asian luxury takes center stage. From championing rising stars to collaborating with design royalty, she turns every thread into art and every showcase into a global conversation.

In fact, this season, The AFRA World even played host to some of the most influential names in South Asian fashion, with the legendary Rina Dhaka who came out of her self-imposed hiatus leading the Indian brigade in style. A showstopper in every sense. Under Niti’s reign, The AFRA World isn’t just a platform, it’s a rousing fashion movement. Chic, smart, and irresistibly global.

In fact, this season, The AFRA World played host to some of the most influential names in South Asian fashion — with the legendary Rina Dhaka, emerging from a self-imposed hiatus, leading the Indian brigade in signature style. A showstopper in every sense.

Under Niti’s reign, The AFRA World isn’t just a platform… it’s a rousing fashion movement: chic, smart, and irresistibly global.

Here, in an exclusive tête-à-tête stitched with insight and style, Niti Gupta, Founder & Creative Director, The AFRA World, unzips her style hemmed journey in a candid chat with Sumita Chakraborty, Editor-in-Chief, TheGlitz.

Over To Niti Gupta – Founder of The AFRA World

The AFRA World is quickly becoming a powerful platform for South Asian luxury fashion. What inspired you to create this stage, and how do you envision its role on the global fashion scene?

I have always felt that there are so many young designers coming up in India and so much talent; many talented designers are getting lost in the competition, since this is a space where thousands of people are vying for the same spot. We wanted to create a luxury platform where we could give importance to and shine a spotlight on emerging designers, who we handpick ourselves. This exposure can catapult them to the next level in a much shorter duration of time.

And so, the role that our platform plays in the global fashion context is quite significant as we are giving this much-needed impetus to young, emerging designers. Our initiative will definitely redefine the global fashion scene because of importance we accord to bringing very talented designers into the spotlight, on the same platform as top-level designers and on equal footing. Our role is that of a catalyst that is rapidly and surely transforming the global fashion landscape.

With over 15 international shows under your belt, you have a vast global perspective. How do you balance tradition with innovation when showcasing South Asian fashion to a global audience?

Indian and South Asian fashion has become very global. Even traditional cultural attire is no longer restricted to being worn in the same style as it was envisaged or even designed. This has led to the rise of fusion design or fusion styling, which has become overwhelmingly popular. South Asian fashion has the potential to maintain its traditional roots while also being fused with fashion-forward international styling. The richness of South Asian fashion is being translated into very cool iterations in the fashion world, especially in couture fashion.

You’re known for bridging cultures through fashion. How do you ensure that The AFRA World reflects the diversity and rich heritage of South Asian fashion while pushing boundaries?

At The AFRA World, we bridge cultures through fashion—we fuse them together, we bring about a wave of thought processes where accepting fashion from different cultures becomes a way of life. The AFRA World reflects the diversity of South Asian fashion. Our curation is conscious of the diversity and rich heritage of the South Asian fashion landscape, while seeking new evolutions—whether in our styling, or the nationalities and cultures we draw from. And so, while we are maintaining the rich heritage, we are also opening new doors for our designers to transcend new boundaries, access new clientele, and to constantly innovate their styling with diverse accessories and jewellery.

The AFRA World features some of the most influential South Asian designers, including Rina Dhaka. What sets this platform apart from other luxury fashion events, and what makes it so unique in terms of cultural representation?

Yes, The AFRA World features some of the most influential South Asian designers and it’s a pleasure to have Rina Dhaka leading the Indian contingent this time around. What sets this platform apart from other luxury fashion events is that we bring in unique cultural representation from various nations. This time, we have designers from 15 nations participating in our lineup, with each nation bringing its own flavour. It is a new wave of culture and authenticity that also lends itself to being fused with cultural crossovers and innovations, creating a new, very adaptable environment for fashion to thrive.

You’ve built an impressive network through the NIFT Alumni Network. How has your experience in fashion entrepreneurship helped you curate and guide The AFRA World’s vision?

Yes, I’ve built the NIFT alumni networking group over the last two decades. My own interactions with so many young fashion graduates and enthusiasts over the years has really shown me the need for credible and influential platforms and guidance for young entrepreneurs, as well as the ability for them to connect and network. These observations are what truly inspired the creation of The AFRA World. Today, I believe that the USP of Afra world is our focus on building up these emerging designers and young entrepreneurs, and also facilitating the growth of existing designers on the international stage.

Looking ahead, what can we expect from The AFRA World in the future? Are there any upcoming initiatives or shows that you’re especially excited about?

The AFRA World is brimming with several exciting collaborations—we have joined hands with the Serbia Fashion Week and Global Africa, and will soon announce many more collaborations as they unfold. The journey ahead is inspiring!