The fashion industry, like many others, has increasingly provided a platform for change. Many designers have leveraged their brands and teams to advocate for social causes and changes they support. However, most brands tend to shy away from making social change a core pillar of their universe, as designers and investors don't want to alienate customers by saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.
However, a newer generation of designers is throwing the conventional advice out the window and championing the causes they believe in, putting them front and center in their work and unapologetically telling the world and their customers what they believe in and what they think is right. A large part of this is that the new generation of designers is more diverse and has had to overcome greater challenges than designers previously did. And there are few who embody this challenging journey than Prabal Gurung. A creative who came from humble beginnings is now on the verge of becoming a mainstay on the red carpets of America's biggest galas and award shows. His journey exemplifies the barriers he broke and the social causes he now champions.
The Fairy Tale Story: Prabal Gurung's Fashion Journey
Like something out of a fairy tale, Prabal Gurung's entry into the world of fashion is as inspiring as it is fantastic. Originally born in Singapore, he grew up in the colourful world of Nepal with all its sights, sounds, smells, and rich culture. However, a young Prabal dreamed of more, a life in fashion. In 1999, he made the leap after a short stint in India. He attended Parsons School of Design in New York City not just for his own sake but in the service of the women who inspired him throughout his own childhood.
After successful roles with New York-based brands like Donna Karan, Gurung launched his own sake label specializing in evening wear and established himself as not just another new kid on the block, but a tour de force. He captured the attention of celebrities and iconic cultural figures, including Michelle Obama, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton.
The Philosophy of Prabal Gurung
Rooted in the orante and showmanship of evening wear, Prabal rejects convention and places the power back in the hands of the women who wear his clothes. He doesn't create pretty packaging for his customers, but rather empowering, beautiful gowns that allow women to express themselves with confidence.
Furthermore, Gurung's approach to breaking barriers extends beyond the confines of his runway shows and the clothing he creates. At every turn, every initiative he contributes to or spearheads himself, he has consistently championed diversity, inclusion, and representation in an industry often criticized for its elitism and inaccessibility. In 2011, he established the Shikshya Foundation Nepal, in 2015, he launched the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund, and co-founded the House of Slay in response to anti-Asian hate crimes during COVID-19 in 2021.
For Prabal, social justice is neither performative nor an accessory, but the DNA of his brand and who he is as a person. Through his social work and regular appearances as an activist, diversity champion, and politician, Prabal demonstrates that fashion isn't just about having a pretty face, but can also be a powerful instrument for changing the world into a better place.
Mission Driven: Empowering Women Through Design
In the world of Prabal Gurung, women's empowerment isn't a marketing concept or a buzzword in a PowerPoint. It may be the singular driving force behind his work as a designer and is rooted in a deeply emotional journey that began as a child. Raised by a single mother in Nepal, Prabal developed a deep respect for women, their perspectives, and the understated perspective of femininity. He has consistently put women at the forefront of his brand and celebrated femininity whenever possible, as seen in his Fall-Winter 2017 collection, which featured feminist slogans like "The Future is Female" on T-shirts.
His latest venture is a debut eyewear collection with ZEELOOL, representing the next step in this mission. The collaboration, titled "See the Power in You," takes Prabal's high-fashion aesthetic and blends it with ZEELOOL's accessible design and functional eyewear. This results in a value-driven product line that is available to more women, allowing each of them to define themselves on their own terms. Further, each product in the collection is named after a famous Hollywood icon, from Marilyn Monroe to Sophia Loren, representing some of the women Gurung has been inspired by.
Designer and Champion of Change
Throughout his career, one thing is clear: Prabal Gurung has demonstrated to the world that fashion can positively impact the world without being preachy or compromising beauty and craftsmanship. He has also shown that it doesn't matter where you come from, that your voice is valuable and needed. From Nepal to the New York fashion elite, Prabal has managed to remain true to himself and where he came from while achieving the highest levels of personal and professional success.
As such, the ZEELOOL x Prabal Gurung Collection represents more than eyewear; it is the representation of the two brands' belief that everyone deserves to feel empowered in their style choices, and everyone deserves to be represented in fashion. Gurung's work, and in particular this new eyewear line, is sure to inspire aspiring designers and fans alike.
