Aashka Mehta Exhibits Connection Through Fashion
In America, we’ve been experiencing a division. While this is not unheard of, it certainly is not comfortable either. The struggle is to find common ground upon which to relate. As most of us know, that common ground can be found in….fashion. Okay, maybe that’s not quite the expected point of union but fashion designer Aashka Mehta has proven with various projects that we all have commonalities. There’s a great deal to be understood about both fashion and the ability to build bridges in Aashka’s work and it’s not the first time that the contributions of someone from outside the United States helped this country become both better and brighter. As a nation founded by immigrants, the contributions of different peoples and cultures is the foundation of America. American companies and institutions have proven their recognition in the value of Aashka Mehta with awards and funding. Her time at Nordstrom, Calvin Klein, and other instantly recognizable companies conveys the respect the industry has for this daughter of India who sought the allure of the US fashion industry and community.
The Fashion For All Foundation’s Bridge to Basel initiative seeks to empower minority and BIPOC creatives in the fields of fashion, art, and design. In 2022, the foundation awarded Ms. Mehta a $15,000 grant based on her presentation of her fashion essay “Creative Consciousness” which incorporated influences like protest rallies supporting Mahsa Amini and conversations around global conflict, expressing them with remarkable nuance and emotional depth. Selected from more than a dozen top artists in the US, Aashka’s work articulated her ideas on memory, heritage, and their role in shaping a forward-thinking creative force. Complementing her essay, she developed a thirty-three page visual presentation and designed a full knitwear collection inspired by her Art Basel experience. The collection showcased her exceptional skill in knitwear design—a niche field within fashion—and reflected her deep knowledge of art history and material development. Her research, paired with authentic curiosity, lent a profound sense of purpose and narrative to the project. In a manner which communicates how social awareness and art meet fashion, Aashka describes, “By engaging with contemporary works such as Johan Andersson’s To the Depths of Hell and Christian Black’s Love Thy Neighbor, as well as witnessing a powerful protest in honor of Mahsa Amini, I began to understand how heritage and present-day sociopolitical realities can exist together within a unified creative consciousness. These experiences opened my eyes to the emotional and symbolic weight of artistic resistance—and its ability to question power, reveal injustice, and affirm humanity. They deepened my belief that art can serve as a bridge between individual experience and collective awareness. In response, I turned to fashion as my chosen medium, specifically knitwear—a form that moves like water and adapts seamlessly to the wearer’s body. Through this tactile and intimate approach, I began incorporating paint, embroidery, and writing into my designs to create garments that act as living narratives. In doing so, I sought to transform fashion into a storytelling platform—one that honors memory, celebrates culture, and carries forward a message of empathy, truth, and hope for a more inclusive world.”
The iconic Kentucky whiskey brand Jack Daniels also recognized the talent and awareness of Ms. Mehta in awarding her the Jack Daniels Classic Remix Grant in the amount of $20,000. Aashka brought the international origins of the company’s founder and namesake into a line of designs focusing on Aran stitches, Fair Isle stitch, and traditional Scottish fabrics that date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Developed with a color palette directly inspired by the Tennessee Apple product: yellow for corn, green for apple, white for malted barley, and black as a nod to the iconic Old No. 7 branding, Aashka’s full-zip sweater hoodie, patterned belted cashmere blend cardigan, Quarter Zip Pullover with Cable stitches, and others offered a womenswear knitwear collection rooted in tradition, sustainability, and storytelling. Though Jack Daniel was born in America, the whiskey-making traditions that shaped his signature product, Old No. 7, have their roots in the time-honored techniques of Scotland and Ireland. This alludes to the very identity of America as a revered country which uses the influences from other lands and cultures to create something unique and inspiring. Aashka reinforces stating, “As an immigrant myself, I find a meaningful parallel in how my own professional journey has been shaped by the traditional arts and craftsmanship of India. These cultural references guide my design choices, influence even the smallest details, and inspire me to carry forward my heritage with integrity. Just as Jack Daniel’s legacy is strengthened by its connection to history, so too is mine—anchored in the spirit, artistry, and stories of those who came before me.”
America is a country which offers nearly limitless possibilities for those who dare to excel beyond all others. Vision, creativity, and hard work are requirements for excellence and qualities which Aashka Mehta possess in great abundance. She remarks, “My vision for my future is to build a fashion brand focused on women’s artisanal sweaters—thoughtfully designed, ethically made, and deeply rooted in traditional Indian heritage. The grant will support critical areas like developing a strong supply chain, partnering with overseas manufacturers committed to quality and sustainability, and ensuring all production processes meet high environmental and animal welfare standards. Additionally, it will help create compelling branding and packaging to effectively communicate the story and ethos of my brand. These grants have brought me one step closer to realizing my dream—not only to become the best fashion designer I can be, but also to eventually create similar opportunities for others in this field. I am truly grateful for this support.”
Writer : Calvin Hooney
