Multi-talented designer and Netflix star Masaba Gupta is the rising Asian talent to watch

You might have seen international celebrities such as Priyanka Chopra, Simone Ashley of Bridgerton, Ashley Park of Emily in Paris, and Grammy Award winner Maryanne J. George in House of Masaba creations. This Friday, fans of brand founder Masaba Gupta’s bold design language or followers of her hit Netflix show Masaba Masaba can finally have the chance to immerse themselves in her dazzling world here.

Presented by local retailer Melange Singapore at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, the designer’s first full-scale showcase outside India will unveil a trio of collections: her debut fine jewellery collaboration with Amrapali Jewels, the festive fashion line Varakh, and the bridal range, The Masaba Bride 2025.

Launching her business at just 19, Gupta has pioneered a playful, youthful modern Indian aesthetic that resonated with a new generation. Over time, the label grew into a 360-degree lifestyle brand with 23 flagship stores across India and a presence in fashion capitals from London to Dubai and Los Angeles. Her inclusive beauty line, LoveChild, further cemented her status as a creative entrepreneur.

And there are more feathers in Gupta’s cap. Beyond her hit two-season Netflix series, which blends scripted drama with candid real-life moments, she has also been honoured in the 2017 Forbes 30 Under 30 list, as well as multiple Fortune 40 Under 40 and Most Powerful Women features.

Reimagining traditions

A milestone for South Asian fashion on the global stage, this exhibition spotlights Gupta as a disruptor of how Indian style is perceived. “For too long, Indian fashion has been boxed into ‘bridal’ or ‘traditional’. My philosophy is ‘India, for the world’. I want to show that our heritage can be worn every day, everywhere, in a way that feels fresh, fearless, and unapologetically modern,” she states.

Her design DNA is three-fold, she adds. “Bold prints, rooted in Indian culture; effortless silhouettes that work across body types; and a fearless spirit that refuses to be subtle. These qualities are universal. Prints speak across cultures, comfort is a global demand, and boldness is aspirational everywhere.”

For her, Singapore’s role as a cultural crossroads and regional fashion hub made it the perfect stage to present her vision to a wider set. “It feels like the right place to test how Indian heritage can be reimagined for a cosmopolitan audience. You can expect a mix of heritage and innovation: bridalwear that rethinks tradition, festive wear that balances opulence with ease, and jewellery that celebrates craft while feeling fresh and wearable.”

The highlight of the upcoming showcase is a 40-piece fine jewellery line created with Amrapali Jewels, India’s most storied house of craftsmanship. Reimagining House of Masaba’s playful motifs in 18k gold with rubies, sapphires, emeralds, diamonds and pearls, it features chokers, cuffs and earrings designed as contemporary heirlooms.

“This is our first foray into fine jewellery — pieces rooted in tradition yet made for everyday wear, from a white shirt to a saree,” Gupta elaborates. “They’re designed to be investments that can be passed down for generations.”

The jewels complement her new festive fashion range Varakh, inspired by the glimmer of silver foil, and The Masaba Bride 2025, a fearless reimagining of bridal couture recently fronted by Bollywood actress Janhvi Kapoor.

The makings of a star

Masaba Gupta’s trajectory of growth and success is extraordinary. The daughter of West Indies cricket legend Sir Vivian Richards and acclaimed Indian actress Neena Gupta, she grew up with a multicultural identity that became the foundation of her design language.

“My parents gave me two very different but equally important gifts. From my father, I learned resilience, discipline, and how to thrive under pressure. From my mother, I learned fearlessness, authenticity, and how to trust my instincts. Their lives showed me that your background doesn’t have to define or limit you — you can carve your own identity.”

On her brave foray into fashion at the brink of adulthood, she has this to say: “Honestly, it was equal parts courage and naivety! I didn’t overthink it. The brand aesthetic was an extension of my personal style when I started designing. I saw a gap in the market: There were no playful prints, no bold colours, no real representation of young India in fashion. Over the years, my vision has evolved from just designing clothes to building a lifestyle brand that includes fashion, beauty, jewellery — all under one umbrella.”

As a cross-cultural child, she acknowledges that she “grew up between worlds, never fully belonging to one box”. And that gave her a distinct advantage. “I had the freedom to create a language that’s hybrid by default. My prints might carry Caribbean influences, my silhouettes might nod to Indian craft, and my styling might have a global edge. That cross-cultural lens allows me to be both rooted and experimental.”

And her leading role in Netflix series, Masaba Masaba, has propelled her career even further. In the humorous biographical drama featuring her family, her love life and her career as a fashion designer, Gupta and her mother play fictionalised versions of themselves.

“The show gave me something design couldn’t: relatability. It allowed people to see the woman behind the brand — the chaos, the humour, the vulnerability. It created an emotional connect that design alone sometimes can’t. It humanised House of Masaba and made it less about commerce, more about community,” says the designer, who has already begun filming the drama’s third season.

If you haven’t begun following the show or House of Masaba, perhaps it’s time to witness for yourself her talent — onscreen or in-person this Friday.