Fashion is always connected to manual work, previously at least. That's what couture is all about. Today, this is giving an opportunity to people with those skills, but who don't really have those jobs anymore - it's something I always make sure I do.

When I use color, people say, "Oh he's Indian, that's why he's using color!" Perhaps this is true, Indians aren't scared of color, and perhaps that's what makes me different. But also, I personally love color, regardless of where I come from.

Fashion is always connected to manual work, previously at least. That's what couture is all about. Today, this is giving an opportunity to people with those skills, but who don't really have those jobs anymore - it's something I always make sure I do.

It's not like I studied abroad, I went to school and university in New Delhi. So many people in India think of me on the level of big artists, which is wonderful - and also an enormous responsibility.

Whatever you have in your show should be special, but not over the top to the point that it takes the focus away from the collection. After all, the clothes are the most important. But I don't see why I shouldn't do something that makes people smile: they are three weeks into fashion weeks, they are running all over the place, so there's no harm to coming to a show and being entertained. Of course, it has to work with the concept of the collection, it can be tricky but I know where to stop.

Clothes are functional but that doesn't mean they're not a form of art. They're just another way to express creativity. It could be film, it could garment.

Fashion should go back to what it should be: closer to art, not totally commercial but have some artistic value at its core.