PATIENCE IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS

Conventionally, you would mistake the name, FIZZY GOBLET, to be one related with a drink or a glassware brand. But this one is not. Fizzy Goblet happens to be a homegrown designer footwear label which turns traditional Indian juttis and gives them a more contemporary, new and likeable look. Conceived in 2014 by Delhi-born Laksheeta Govil, a Pearl Academy of Fashion graduate, Fizzy Goblet took shape because the young designer found a pair of bright and funky shoes unaffordable. So she picked up the paintbrush and created a colourful canvas shoes for herself. And it kick-started an eventful journey which the successful entrepreneur shares with Saurabh Tankha.

Why call a footwear brand Fizzy Goblet?
Fizzy Goblet is a name that was coined in time crunch. But I couldn’t have chosen a better name for my brand. It represents my love for Harry Potter and all things bubbly. It seemed to make perfect sense for a joyful and young label. The words may not directly connect with our product but they connect with me and everything the brand stands for.

What made you choose fashion designing as a career?
Fashion was always an area of interest and I always favoured fashion as my choice of expression.

You have worked with designers such as Narendra Kumar and Didier Lecoanet and Hemant Sagar and Puma. What were the learnings here which you implement in life now?
With Narendra Kumar, I was exposed to Indian festive wear and embroidery as an art form. With Lecoanet Hemant, my skills towards corporate wear and couture were sharpened. Puma gave me very valuable insights into athletic footwear. It was an amazing experience to work with them and gain insights and I still implement these learning in Fizzy Goblet today.

When was the first time that the idea to work on footwear hit you and how did you go about it?
A pair of really bright and funky shoes caught my eye once, but they turned out to be totally unaffordable! So, I decided to pick up the paintbrush and create colourful canvas shoes for myself. When they were well received among my friends and family, I realised this was my calling and an actual bankable idea. I believe accessories is a significant market and footwear has the power to make or break a look.

How challenging was it all?
The problem of scaling in the handcraft industry is quite challenging. But the phenomenal response we got as soon as we launched was what inspired us to keep going.

How do you and the brand keep reinventing themselves?
Collaborations are a really important aspect of keeping the innovation going. It’s a brilliant way to exchange ideas and get fresh perspectives on existing designs. In the past, we’ve collaborated with Tribe for a one-of-a-kind collection of Charm Juttis. They’re the perfect “jewellery for your feet”! Lately, we collaborated with Rahul Mishra and created some fresh, happy and comfortable footwear with floral motifs and embroideries, ruffles on sneakers, zippers and collars on juttis!

Any plans to get into men’s space?
We had introduced a line for men loafers in the past. In terms of an expansion in the men’s space, I’ll just have to ask you to keep a watch on our social media and website.

How did the period of Lockdown treat Laksheeta Govil?
During the lockdown, I have tried to keep the productivity up. I have been using most of my days to design and plan the future of Fizzy Goblet.

 When Laksheeta Govil is not with her brand and products, what is she doing?
I enjoy practicing yoga and this lockdown has also got me consuming a lot of content. Reading, watching Netflix are somethings I like to indulge in after a day of work.

Your inspiration – professional and personal.
My crazy team is what inspires me on the professional front. They’re just bursting with great ideas all the time. Fabrics and embroideries also really inspire me while designing collections. On the personal front, business enigmas like Jeff Bezos and Phil Knight inspire me. I tend to pick up books about them a lot.

What are the three things you think one needs to be successful in the fashion industry?
I think it applies to any industry when I say that patience has always been the #1 virtue when it comes to being successful. It is closely followed by understanding the importance of preparation and the importance of making mistakes and learning from them.

Your favourite all-time Indian designer(s).
Our collaborators, Payal Singhal and Rahul Mishra, have always been my sources of inspiration, even before the collab happened. I admire their style of working and the collections they create.

Your favourite all-time international designer(s).
Christian Dior has to be on the list. I feel they are ICONIC! Sophia Webster, Manu Atelier and Mansur Gavriel are personal favourites.