The slow fashion advocate and designer Ashish Gupta eats home-made pasta with Dame Zandra Rhodes, discovers new art at Studio Voltaire and would live up high in a Barbican flat.
Home is…
Queen’s Park when I’m in London, and my mum’s house when I’m in Delhi.
What is your earliest memory of London?
I came to London for the first time when I was 13 years old with my mum and dad on holiday. My one quite vivid memory is seeing Dolly Parton… at Madame Tussauds.
And your first job here?
Doing trouser hems in a basement on Bond Street. Not very glamorous! But I learnt a lot.
Most memorable meal?
Years ago, when Zandra Rhodes invited me to dinner, she made pasta and we sat in her living room and watched Deliverance. She made rhubarb pudding and then we got in her car and drove to the Millennium Dome because she wanted to see it at night.
Favourite pub?
I used to love a gay bar called 79 CXR on Charing Cross Road. If you know, you know!
Best thing a cabbie has ever said to you?
‘Do you want to see my tattoos?’ They weren’t on his arm.
Ever had a run-in with a police officer?
Define run-in!
What is your favourite gallery?
I always discover things at Studio Voltaire. At the moment they have this really lovely exhibition by an artist called Scott Covert. They support a lot of queer artists.
Favourite date spot?
The Lexi, my local independent cinema in Kensal Rise. It’s like a house that has been knocked through and turned into a cinema. They have blankets and tea lights, it’s really cosy and sweet.
What makes London style so special?
A sense of freedom, it’s a pretty accepting city. You can be who you want to be.
Who do you call when you want to have fun?
I have quite a small group of friends so I like to invite people over, cook dinner and watch movies. I like to mix it up with quite contrasting films. I got very good at Indian cooking over lockdown — I was really missing home food and my mum was sending me recipes.
If you could buy any London building and live there, which would it be?
I am low-key obsessed with those gorgeous, mid-century flats in the Barbican. I’d like one of those, really high up with an amazing view and a wraparound terrace.
What do you collect?
Homoerotic art. I have a really nice selection of Larry Clark photos, some very beautiful pieces by a young artist called Jake Grewal and one of my favourite things is a watercolour by Louis Fratino.
What are you up to right now for work?
I have been helping install a 20-year retrospective of my work at the William Morris Gallery. I don’t think I expected to be doing this for 20 years. For a small, independent London label, it’s nice to know I’ve survived this long, managed to do something I love and make a living at it. I feel very grateful.
Favourite pub?
I used to love a gay bar called 79 CXR on Charing Cross Road. If you know, you know!
Best thing a cabbie has ever said to you?
‘Do you want to see my tattoos?’ They weren’t on his arm.
Ever had a run-in with a police officer?
Define run-in!
What is your favourite gallery?
I always discover things at Studio Voltaire. At the moment they have this really lovely exhibition by an artist called Scott Covert. They support a lot of queer artists.
Favourite date spot?
The Lexi, my local independent cinema in Kensal Rise. It’s like a house that has been knocked through and turned into a cinema. They have blankets and tea lights, it’s really cosy and sweet.
What makes London style so special?
A sense of freedom, it’s a pretty accepting city. You can be who you want to be.
Who do you call when you want to have fun?
I have quite a small group of friends so I like to invite people over, cook dinner and watch movies. I like to mix it up with quite contrasting films. I got very good at Indian cooking over lockdown — I was really missing home food and my mum was sending me recipes.
If you could buy any London building and live there, which would it be?
I am low-key obsessed with those gorgeous, mid-century flats in the Barbican. I’d like one of those, really high up with an amazing view and a wraparound terrace.
What do you collect?
Homoerotic art. I have a really nice selection of Larry Clark photos, some very beautiful pieces by a young artist called Jake Grewal and one of my favourite things is a watercolour by Louis Fratino.
What are you up to right now for work?
I have been helping install a 20-year retrospective of my work at the William Morris Gallery. I don’t think I expected to be doing this for 20 years. For a small, independent London label, it’s nice to know I’ve survived this long, managed to do something I love and make a living at it. I feel very grateful.