My name is Carina Advani and I’m the designer behind ‘NAUTANKI by Carina.'. Fashion has always been a passion of mine but I never really thought of pursuing it as a career until one of my closest friends insisted that I should give it a try. And from there on out there was no looking back. I went on to pursue Fashion & Accessory Designing which turned out to be the perfect career path for me. I’m also a certified Fashion Stylist and Consultant. To me Fashion has never been about just the clothes and ever since I decided to start my own brand I knew I wanted to do everything from Apparel, Handbags, Shoes to Jewelry, it just so happened that I started with Handbags first but it was never planned that way. Although I’m glad that’s how it turned out. In September of 2009, ‘NAUTANKI by Carina’ was born and it’s been a whirlwind ever since. Currently my handbags retail at a number of high-end designer stores in India.

I consider Fashion an Art-Form and Art should have no boundaries. And that’s how I design. I use a variety of materials, everything from Cotton, Canvas, Jacquard, Satin, Silk, Velvet, Suede, Faux-Leather and PVC among others. My target audience is anyone who appreciates a good design sensibility. Fashion has a universal appeal and that is the kind of demographic I cater to. My inspiration comes from things around me; it could be anything from a lamp to a wall hanging or even a building. We are surrounded by beautiful things at all times; we just have to take a closer look. What makes my designs unique is that they have great Style and they make a statement and that’s exactly what sets you apart from the crowd. In the words of Coco Chanel, “Fashion fades, only style remains the same.”

A design nightmare is only a matter of time I guess. Although I’ve had instances where a design turned out completely different from what it was on paper but thankfully I made it work. One of my biggest achievements to date is when merely 9 days after I started supplying to stores, my designs were featured in Bombay Times; The Times of India newspaper. My designs have also been featured in International Fashion Magazines. But I was more than pleasantly surprised when I was offered to design for an International Design House with a clientele that ranges from Halle Berry, Catherine Zeta Jones, Kate Winslet, Sandra Bullock, Angelina Jolie, Hilary Swank and Kate Beckinsale to the likes of First Lady Michelle Obama. It’s a great feeling creating something out of nothing and being appreciated for it. I couldn’t be more grateful that I actually do this for a living. I love what I do and there’s no better feeling. And that’s what makes it all worth it.