Current Vine

By Denise Tong

Living in different countries and traveling the world can result in a potent creative cocktail. Sharon Gill, a New Yorker by way of India, has infused her clothing designs with a blend of Eastern and Western sensibilities.

Gill grew up in Mumbai, India; her awareness of fashion started in childhood with her admiration of the traditional saris her mother wore. She traveled often in her formative years to cities including Rome and London; as she came of age, she discovered Donna Karan and Calvin Klein through the faithful consumption of fashion magazines.

After coming to New York City to attend the Fashion Design Program at Parsons School of Design, Gill decided to remain in the city to launch her fashion career. Her first steps toward that end included creating prints and patterns for menswear company Santana, and later a five-year stint at Jones New York.

Gill later participated in the Incubator, a workshop offered by entrepeneuse organization Ladies Who Launch. For her project, which served to initiate her into the group, she created the concept of an Indian-inspired women’s clothing line geared toward U.S. customers.

Her concept from the Incubator served as a precursor to the designs she would later create for her own company—in 2004 Sharon Gill NYC was born, introducing clothing with Western shapes and Indian hand-detailing. All are designed with the busy New York woman in mind.

Gill has found fans in the U.S. and internationally. Notable customers include WNBC newsanchor Perri Peltz, Laurie Berkner of the children’s group The Laurie Berkner Band, and Lulu Powers of the Fine Living network show Lulu’s House.

Additionally, a portion of the proceeds from Sharon Gill NYC aids the research efforts of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Gill discussed with Current Vine the Indian influence on American culture and being a typical black-clad New Yorker.

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Q: What made you decide to start your own company?

A: I was frustrated with the job opportunities that were offered in the industry. After [the Incubator] project, I realized my dream of having my own company could become a reality. I wanted to create designs that were unique and strong, and I wanted to make sure that they were 100% my own and that my vision was not tainted in any way.

Eventually, I want to grow Sharon Gill NYC nationwide to be in over 200–300 boutiques and specialty stores.

Q: What have been some of your best moments so far?

A: One of the things I’m doing through my company is funding cancer research; I lost my father to that dreadful disease. The ability to fund that research has been an extremely gratifying experience.

It’s also satisfying to realize that I made the right choices, and to feel joy from what I’m able to accomplish through my work. I’m constantly surprised by—and really enjoy—when women gush over my pieces. That reaction is a reward for all that hard work.

Q: What do you strive for creatively? Was it always your intent to blend East and West in your designs, or did you originally conceive them differently?

A: When I visualized what I wanted to do, the blend of East and West was the strongest idea that came through and I just went with the flow.

I like designing pieces that make a strong statement; it brings pleasure to the woman who owns them—she radiates happiness when she’s wearing it. I enjoy working with textures and I love playing with colors, which is a big part of my design appeal and sensibility. Going forward I see myself designing more prints and integrating different techniques and ideas into my work.

Q: What influences your designs other than the traditional Indian styles you grew up with?

A: I love browsing through magazines and watching fashion shows. I want to travel more to get a feel for what’s out there and to get a fresh perspective. I follow trends, but at some point I like to walk away from them to create my own. I let an idea take hold and see where it goes, which is the most exciting experience.

Q: What do you think of the industry speculation that Delhi will one day rival fashion cities such as New York City, Milan, and Paris?

A: India is definitely looking for a place on the [fashion] map. There are Indian designers currently showing here in New York and London; there are buyers from Saks, Bloomingdale’s, and other companies visiting the shows in India to buy lines. So the Indian fashion scene is definitely getting noticed. I went to design school in India; some of my classmates are established designers themselves.

Q: There is a growing Indian presence in American entertainment—what pieces or ideas from the Indian fashion scene do you think will become popular here?

A: I think there is definitely more of an awareness of the Indian culture in the arts scene here, especially from movies like Monsoon Wedding and The Namesake. From the fashion perspective I think the tunic, or caftan, is an item that has gone mainstream. It built quite a reputation when Tory Burch put it into her collections. I have to include it in my spring/summer line every time; it has a great resort-beachy vibe that women love.

Q: Which designers do you admire and who do you find incredibly stylish?

A: Favorite designers are Chloé, Donna Karan, Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford, and [architect] Frank Gehry.

Stylish people: Angelina Jolie, Reese Witherspoon, and Cate Blanchett. My mother has a great sense of style; she can tell me right off the bat if this looks great and that looks horrible. She’s tried to wean me off wearing so much black, but that has yet to happen!