'I've Stopped Chasing Balance': Masaba Gupta On Motherhood, Designing For The Modern Woman

When you think of bold, contemporary Indian fashion, it's almost impossible not to mention House of Masaba in the same breath. Over the years, Masaba Gupta's aesthetic has rewritten the vocabulary of Indian handloom - taking a deeply rooted sensibility and turning it on its head to reflect what modern India looks and feels like today. As she puts it,“The one thing I constantly hear is how much they enjoy the ease of our clothes, even the most dramatic pieces feel wearable.”

And that captures her north star: championing a version of Indian fashion that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the modern woman - a daughter, a wife, a mother, but also a leader shaping boardrooms and cultural conversations. For Masaba, preserving identity means ensuring our clothes meet us where we are, that they shouldn't just be meant for the big moments of display, but should also feel 'lived in'.

Through Masaba Masaba, her eponymous Netflix series, she peeled back yet another layer-embracing vulnerability, confronting identity, and sparking conversations around womanhood and ambition. And last month, the designer - now also a new mum - turned her gaze towards Dubai to launch a fine jewellery line, adding another feather to the House of Masaba's cap.

In a conversation with Khaleej Times, she opens up about the 'myth' of work-life balance, the clarity motherhood has offered her, the honesty of Dubai shoppers, and the new chapter she's crafting.

Excerpts from an interview:

You recently wrapped your Dubai pop-up at VESIMI, showcasing the Varakh line and The Masaba Man. What inspired this festive drop, and how does a Dubai audience influence the way you think about design and styling?

Masaba Gupta (MG): The festive drop came from a space of wanting to celebrate joy in colour, in craft, and in attitude. Dubai has a very confident audience, and that energy always pushes me to design pieces that are a little more elevated, a little more dramatic. People here love statement dressing, but they also appreciate comfort and versatility, so I try to find that balance. The Varakh line and The Masaba Man both came from this idea of making festive wear feel special but still effortless.

This is not your first VESIMI collaboration. Your pop-ups at the same space have almost become a ritual. What makes Dubai a compelling market for House of Masaba, and how has your relationship with the city evolved?

MG: Dubai is a melting pot of cultures: Indian, Arab, global and that makes it such an exciting space for a designer like me. Every time I come back, I feel the audience has grown with the brand. They understand our aesthetic, they understand the story behind the prints, and there's a mutual love for bold fashion. My relationship with the city has become more personal over the years; it feels familiar yet full of possibility.

You hosted an in-store, intimate shopping experience for the festive season. What kind of conversations or feedback from Dubai shoppers stayed with you this time?

MG: The one thing I constantly hear is how much they enjoy the ease of our clothes; even the most dramatic pieces feel wearable, and that means a lot to me. People also talked about how our prints make them feel seen, expressive, and individual. Dubai shoppers are very honest; they'll tell you exactly what they want, and that clarity is refreshing. It always helps me bring more intention into the next drop.

Your work has always embraced a strong identity - bold, experimental prints and a narrative-first approach to fashion. What does reinvention mean to you now? How do you keep evolving without losing the Masaba signature?

MG: For me, reinvention is about staying curious. It's about allowing yourself to be surprised by your own ideas. The Masaba signature is the storytelling, the colour, the humour that stays. But the form, the fabric, the moodboard can shift. I don't believe in changing for the sake of change; I believe in expanding. Reinvention, to me, is evolution with intent.

We're entering a wedding season where maximalism is back - dramatic silhouettes, metallics, layered textures. Based on what you're seeing, what is the flavour of this wedding season? And how would you style it the“Masaba way”?

MG: This season is all about impact - whether it's a big silhouette, a strong colour, or a metallic moment. The“Masaba way” would be to mix drama with personality. I love pairing a bold print with a structured silhouette, or adding unexpected jewellery to lift an outfit. I think brides and grooms today want to look like themselves, just the extra version of themselves and that's exactly where our aesthetic sits.

From festive couture to makeup to menswear to now fine jewellery - you're expanding your design universe. What can you tell us about your new fine jewellery direction? How does it tie into your larger creative vision?

MG: Fine jewellery felt like the natural next step. I've always been drawn to stones, especially tourmalines, because they feel warm and global at the same time. This line ties everything together the heritage, the island energy, the storytelling. It's an extension of the House of Masaba in a more intimate, personal form. Jewellery is emotional, and I wanted to create pieces that feel timeless but still have that edge.

You're also now navigating the world as a relatively new mum. How has motherhood reshaped your creative rhythm and your relationship with work? Has it changed the way you view fashion or beauty?

MG: Motherhood has made me sharper and more intuitive. I don't have the luxury of overthinking anymore, I trust my instincts a lot more, both creatively and personally. It's also made me slower in the best way possible; I observe more, I absorb more. I look at fashion and beauty through a lens of comfort now, not just aesthetics.

The idea of balance is often oversold. Realistically, what does work-life look like for you today?

MG: Realistically, it's messy. Some days I'm fully in work mode, some days I'm fully with my child, and most days I'm trying to make the two flow together. I've stopped chasing balance. I focus on being present wherever I am. That's the only version that feels sustainable.

Masaba Masaba changed the way audiences saw you - not just as a designer, but as a cultural figure shaping conversations around identity, ambition, and womanhood. What did the show unlock for you personally?

MG: The show gave me a sense of clarity. It allowed me to tell my story in my own way, with honesty and humour. It also made me more fearless. Once you've opened up your life to that extent, there's a certain liberation that comes with it. It helped me embrace all parts of myself, not just the 'designer' part.

And the question everyone wants to know: Will there be a new season? If yes, what version of Masaba could we expect to meet next?

MG: If there is a new season, I think people will meet a more centred version of me, someone who has lived a lot more, who has become a mother, who has expanded creatively. It would be a continuation, but also a shift. I think I have a lot more to say now.

Finally, what excites you most about 2026? Whether it's a design experiment, a business vision, or a personal milestone, what's lighting you up right now?

MG: I'm excited about building a world, not just a brand, with everything from fashion to beauty to jewellery to storytelling. There's a lot of experimentation happening behind the scenes, and I feel like the next two years will be about scale with soul. Personally, I'm looking forward to more travel, more collaboration, and more moments of play - in work and in life.

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