In the game of life, every individual fight their own battles. There are struggle and success stories out their that inspire several. This is another story of rags to riches in the realm of fashion. This Indian fashion designer lived a life in turmoil. He had the front row seat in witnessing the trial and tribulations of his father that later pushed them into a sea of uncertainty. But he was a dreamer. He dreamed, struggled and achieved. Today, he is known for her intricate craftsmanship and how weaves Indian tapestry overall his couture and high-end jewellery.
This designer battled depression, struggled his childhood, but now has worked with the creme-dela crem of the society. He is the man behind some of the best wedding couture. But it never came easy for him. He has worked with Isha Ambani, Anant Ambani, Radhika Merchant. His elite rosters feature Anushka Sharma, Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif and so many other big names in the film fraternity. This is the journey of fashion maestro Sabyasachi Mukherjee. Just like is garments, his journey is tale you will leave admiring.
Hailing from the land of culture and creativity, Sabyasachi Mukherjee was born on February 23, 1974, in Manicktala, West Bengal. He completed his primary and secondary education education from Sri Aurobindo Vidyamandir, Kolkata and St. Xavier College. His parents initially were not on board with his dream to become a fashion designer and wanted him to pursue something regular like engineer during that time and age. For the unversed, Sabyasachi Mukherjee is also the youngest board member of the National Museum of Indian Cinema and an associate designer member of the Fashion Design Council of India.
He was born in a middle-class family. When he just 15-years-old, his father was laid-off that brought financial instability in the family. Reportedly, the young dreamer once left home and took up job as a waiter in Goa. If these reports are to be believed, the designer sold books to be able to manage enough money to finance himself for further fashion studies at National Institute of Fashion Technology India.
Talking about his own battle with mental health issues and depression, Sabyasachi once wrote, “One of the bigger issues in society today, that very few people address, is mental health, and a little bit of awareness, empathy and kindness go a long way in acknowledging it. I have coped with crippling depression as a teenager for 7 years. I found my coping mechanism through radical clothing choices.I was sneered at and bullied, but it helped me find my way again.”
At an event in 2017, Mukherjee told India Today “I was depressed, and I tried to kill myself. I was unconscious, and my mom gave me a slap. I was sad at moving to a new place. Moving from Chandannagar to Kolkata was like moving from suburbs to Paris.”
In 1999 he completed his education, borrowed around Rs 20,000 from his sister and made his own label by 2001 and was gaining recognition. He eventually debuted at the Fashion Week, and eventually worked with Sanjay Leela Bhansali on the silver screen for Black. After the breakthrough, it was only upwards and forwards for Sabyasachi.
He has not only done several films, but also wedding couture for bollywood brides like Anushka Sharma, Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, Aditi Rao Hydari and the well-heeled celebrity clients list goes on. Speaking to Gulf News, he talked about Anushka Sharma’ pastel lehenga that became history. “She had just come straight from a (film) shoot and she was wearing no make-up and she looked beautiful. I asked: ‘do you think you can wear this for your wedding?’ … And, she went for her wedding with almost no make-up … She had the courage and confidence to do that and that’s what people noticed,” Mukherjee recalled.
Today, he known for his speciality in wedding wear. The designer made his Met Gala debut in 2024 and became the first-ever Indian designer to walk the red carpet of such a prestigious event.
According to a report by Lifestyle Asia, designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee had a net worth of about INR 114 crores in 2022.
