The Silk Road: A NYFW South Asian Runway Experience

First, tell us who you are and a little bit about the Silk Road Runway Experience.

My name is Pankti Doshi. I'm the founder and executive producer of the Silk Road South Asian Fashion Show for New York Fashion Week, and this is my third year producing the show. It's been an incredible experience because I created this to promote inclusivity. As you all probably know, New York Fashion Week can be invite-only or exclusive, and I realized I want to create a space and community where anyone can attend. I always say it's for the community, by the community; whether you're a model, designer, or a viewer, I want it to be accessible to anyone in the community.

Why fashion? Why the runway experience? What drew you to fashion specifically?

I think fashion and what you wear says so much about you, and I think the clothes that you pick, the clothes that you wear, are kind of an accessory to who you are. I find it so exciting to learn the stories behind why designers create the designs they do. And at least for today, we're working with six emerging South Asian designers, and they're all brand new, making a name for themselves and looking for a platform during New York Fashion Week. And I just love being the person to help from the inception stage to actual production, and just holding their hand throughout the process and giving them a space to connect with the community.

Okay, so you've done festivals like Masala Mixtape, Holi, Paint Nights, Poetry, Comedy Shows, obviously the fashion show. How do you choose what event goes when, and what draws you to specific types of events?

Every year, I think about different communities, niche areas, and audiences in our South Asian community, and it's important to me to represent all of them throughout my events. Every year, I pick a different niche audience and create something new from it.

Can you tell us a little bit about the planning process? How do you start? How do you choose your team? And what's the most important part of the process?

I always say that even though I'm the founder and executive producer, I cannot do what I do without the grand team that's behind me. Actually, from models, designers, media, press, and volunteers, we have 100 people on the team. So, it is a lot of people putting on this show today, and I definitely cannot do this without them. It takes a whole village and a community to put on something like this. I cherish it so deeply, and I'm so grateful for their support through the process.

Every month there are multiple events. How do you juggle it all?

Outside of my world of events, I'm actually a genetic counselor, and I really love that people are multifaceted, diverse, and can wear multiple hats, and it's something that I think is so important for people to do. You know, figure out what you gravitate towards and go all out in it. That's why I really just love creating these types of events and seeing what is natural and what I'm drawn to, and I think everyone has that special talent in them. And I genuinely love creating community and events and bringing people together; it's been something I've loved since I was a kid. It's so nice to do it on a more professional front now.

That's actually one of my questions: how do you combine this part of your personality as a genetic counselor into creating events? Or are they very separate?

No, I actually think there are similarities. One example is the psychosocial side of things. I think relationship building, whether it's being a counselor for genetics for people who are going through very deep, vulnerable situations with their health, like cancer, or building community and speaking to people who are actually attending my events. No matter how big the room is, or who is in it, I think presence, empathy, and compassion are so important. I think warmth and positivity when you're communicating with someone is the root I've built my life on. And something I always say is that when you come to my event, I want you to feel connected to someone. I want you to feel like you made a friend, or even left with a lasting impression that makes you want to come back. New York can be very loud, overwhelming, and kind of exhausting at times, but one thing I want with my events is to create a niche, loving, positive, vibrant community where people feel connected to each other.

What's the easiest and most difficult part about putting an event together of this caliber?

I would say the easy part is the energy. I think energy is transferable, so I think the more positive vibes you put out there, the more it kind of comes back to you in that form. So, I would say that part is really easy. I would say the hard part is the logistics. There are a lot of moving parts on the day of, especially. And again, I cannot do this without all the support and the team behind me. But I would say the logistics can be a lot to manage because there are so many moving parts, from media to volunteers, press, designers, and models, especially with all the excitement from the audience itself. So, I think managing all that and juggling it can be difficult, but I love doing it.

How do you choose the designers for the show? Did you have a hand in picking out the models and what looks they wear?

So, for the designers, some reach out to me, whether it's through social media or people in the community. Sometimes it's through referrals like, "Hey, I have a friend who's just started a brand; can you work with them?” And I'm always down to try something new and work with a new designer. No, I don't have a part in picking the models; the designers themselves pick the models. And I think that's so important. I don't come from a fashion background on a technical front. Obviously, I love fashion and am very appreciative of it, but no, the designers themselves, who are the experts, pick their own models.

Why is South Asian representation so important to you specifically?

I think, growing up South Asian in a very strong South Asian culture, I really love the experience I had growing up in California, in the Bay Area. And I felt so connected to where I came from. As I've met different people throughout the world, I've noticed that sometimes you lose touch with your family and your friends. And I think having your community and the culture you grew up with can make you feel a little more at home, so no matter where you are in the world, I think that's something I try to create within my own events where I want you to feel like even though it's so large and you might be far away from friends and family, you'll feel a little like home here.

What's your favorite part about South Asian fashion? And what is something you wish more people knew about South Asian fashion?

South Asian culture and fashion are so widespread. I think new brands are emerging left and right; whether they're local to New York or in India and the wider Indian subcontinent, there are so many. When I say South Asian, it's a mix of so many different countries, and I think bringing all these different designs, ideas, perspectives, and biases you've had has shaped the type of fashion you create. It's constantly growing and evolving, and I'm so excited to keep working with it. If [any readers] know any new South Asian fashion brands, or if you're a designer and want to work with me next year, please message me.

What's next for you?

This year, I'm leading Masala Mixtape, my South Asian music festival. It's actually my fifth year putting it on. It's always my favorite because we pick different up-and-coming South Asian musicians. And this year, out of all the five years, I'm actually not picking big headliners. I'm working only with up-and-coming, new, emerging musicians. So, it's a different take, and I want to go back to why I created the festival in the first place. We have brought incredible headliners like Raja Kumari, Arjun, Raghav, Anik Khan, and Memba. But this year, I want to focus on people who are just starting off. Let's give them the spotlight and the stage, and let's do it.

Do you have anyone that directly inspires you?

Honestly, I think it's my family. My parents are the ones who told me to take a risk, don't follow the cookie-cutter path, and try something that no one's ever done before. And I think that's something that I love getting inspired by every single day.

What's your dream?

My dream is to keep creating larger communities that still feel intimate. Even though a room can have 500 people, like we will have today, I still want you to feel that warmth and energy, and I'd never want to lose sight of that.

What kingdom do you come from?

I’m Gujarati.

What’s your zodiac sign?

I'm a Virgo.

Of course you are. Happy birthday!

Thank you so much, HARLO Magazine, for being here today. I genuinely really appreciate you all taking the time to interview us and understand what we're building here today. And I honestly believe that we wouldn't be here today without channels like yours connecting us to the community. So, thank you for being who you are today!

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