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In our Indo Western fashion community, we celebrate bold and inspiring individuals. That is why, in our Let’s Talk Indo Western interviews, we speak with them about Indo Western fashion, personal growth, and their fashion journeys. Our goal is to meet and connect with exciting new people, find inspiration, and grow together as a community.
We spoke with Asha Raval — a maximalist fashion content creator, product designer, startup advisor, and passionate fashion lover. On her Instagram channel, @ashamode_, she excites and inspires her community of over 24,000 people with bold, colorful, and unexpected looks that challenge the visual status quo. In our interview, Asha shares how she transformed her identity struggles and upbringing in a tech-driven environment into a powerful source of creativity, how her community motivates her to keep pushing forward, and why she believes the world needs Indo Western fashion.
STYLØR: Since our community is all about Indo Western fashion, we’re so curious to know, have you ever heard of Indo Western fashion prior to this interview?
Asha Raval: To be honest, no. But I think it’s really interesting. I’m a half Indian and half European mix. My mom is German, Ashkenazi, Jewish, English, and Italian. She met my dad in California. He’s from Gujarat, North India, and fully Indian. They met each other and fell in love, which totally broke both of their cultures to do that. My dad was supposed to marry someone from an arranged marriage that his family approved of, but he rebelled. My mom’s family, on the other hand, all went to Harvard, have very pale skin, and didn’t expect anyone with dark skin to walk into their family. So I think what’s really cool about that story is that although I don’t necessarily know what Indo Western fashion is, I have been brought up very influenced by many cultures. Throughout my life, my parents were so open-minded and so encouraging. I really think that plays a big role in where I find inspiration, as well as in shaping my mindset and openness to styling things in unique ways. I have so much fun creating new, unexpected combinations that we don’t necessarily see in our everyday images, magazines, or advertisements. I love to break that mold and put things together that you wouldn’t normally see.
STYLØR: After exploring Indo Western fashion on our website and visiting the brands’ online shops, what are your thoughts on it?
Asha Raval: Oh, so cool. I think this is something that’s really missing nowadays. I have this urge for more color and more interesting patterns. I want to see things in our everyday stores that just aren’t there right now. When I look at your website, what you’re doing, and the designers you’re highlighting, it’s just so beautiful. I wish more people in America could see these innovative fashion pieces and the different ways to look at the world. Especially since we have been in this phase of neutral and minimal fashion, which is beautiful in its own way. However, I think it would be amazing to bring that different perspective, the Indian DNA, and the rich ancient heritage to the West. Put differently, the craftsmanship, the tailoring, the level of quality and intention put into the clothes, and then taking that into a more modern, innovative, cool direction with Indo Western fashion. I am ready to buy everything, honestly.
STYLØR: Were there any brands that really stood out to you and that you haven’t been able to stop thinking about since?
Asha Raval: Yes. I’m obsessed with Manish Malhotra. As you know, I love blazers, so I remember this really awesome Silver Sequence Trench Coat with Shirt I saw on your website that I really want to buy. I’m also obsessed with the Doublet Dark Emerald Baguette Band from Isharya. Furthermore, I need the Shilpa Shetty in Nebula Nightfall Babydoll Dress, Bejewelled Gold Chain-Link Belt Bag, Sweet Escape Co-Ord Set, and The Wildcat: Stiletto Heels from Papa Don’t Preach.
STYLØR: We would love to learn more about you as a person. Imagine someone meets you for the first time. How would you introduce yourself?
Asha Raval: I’m Asha, and I’m really at a point in my life where I am fully living for myself. I’ve gone through a lot, trying to find my identity. As someone who is mixed race, I often turn to fashion to figure out who I am. Yet, I’m at this point now where I have a three-year-old son, an amazing husband, and I’m also a product designer at Meta. My passion, though, is fashion and empowering others to be themselves. Hence, I believe that I’ve found my calling in fashion by helping people feel confident and find their voice.
STYLØR: Could you tell us more about your childhood and how you grew up?
Asha Raval: I grew up in California, in the Bay Area. My dad was a Silicon Valley tech guy. Because of that, we had a lot of really cool, nerdy people around. My mom, on the other hand, worked in marketing and at a lot of startups. So, I always saw my parents as very entrepreneurial and tech-savvy. In stark contrast, I was always that weird, creative child. For example, when I was two years old, I would go around the house changing my outfit every hour and dropping clothes on the floor. My parents were so confused because they were not into fashion or artsy stuff at all. My dad has a physics PhD, so he would always say in a sweet way, “Your main goal in life should be to study physics and you really need to be good at math.” Yet, I got pretty bad grades in physics and always had another dream. I wanted to be in New York and be in fashion. Hence, I moved to London to study painting at Central St. Martin’s College. I also got the chance to intern at a lot of cool fashion magazines and went to fashion week. Living in London, such a fashion city, was an incredible and fun experience. Yet, eventually, I ended up coming back to California. I realized that I am creative, but tech pays the bills and helps me get the clothes I want. So, I became a product designer and now work at Meta. I am just so grateful for my past. Even though I struggled a lot with my culture and identity growing up, I think that was a driving force for me to express myself and be this rebel. I am proud of who I am and where I am.
STYLØR: When you look back, what do you consider to be your greatest success in life so far?
Asha Raval: Honestly, my greatest success has really been starting and pursuing my Instagram account, ashamode_. I work 12 hours a day at a very tough company. I’m a mom. I have a husband who’s also running a startup. I have a lot of big life responsibilities. But I’m so proud that I listened to my heart. There’s a part of me that loves fashion and self-expression, and also wants to connect with other people around my passion and empower them. So I said to myself, I’m going to find the time and build my empire. A lot of us give up on our dreams when we become adults, especially when we have a child and a job. We limit ourselves a lot as we get older, and it’s easy to stop having dreams and stop believing. For me, my greatest success is not a big promotion or hitting a milestone. Instead, what I’m most proud of and what brings me the most happiness is that I pursue the dream of my Instagram fashion community. A community that gives me joy every single day and honors my creativity. That gives me happiness.
STYLØR: Fashion has clearly played a pivotal role in your life. What is your earliest memory of fashion?
Asha Raval: My mom. Although my parents weren’t really into fashion, my mom had a cool period in her life when she lived and worked as a VP of Marketing in New York before having kids. Back then, she had the coolest Ferragamo shoe collection ever. So, as a little girl, I would sneak into her closet, try on all her shoes, and just walk around wearing them. That was such a big moment when this exciting world opened up for me. Also, just watching my mom get ready for work and start her day was a really powerful memory for me.
STYLØR: Who or what has influenced your personal fashion style throughout your life?
Asha Raval: First of all, I would say so many confident women I look up to, like Iris Apfel. Just watching her speak in documentaries, films, or on her Instagram was super inspiring to me. Moreover, a lot of fashion photographers like Tim Walker and Annie Leibovitz inspired me while I was growing up as a fashion nerd. For example, instead of doing my homework, I would take my allowance, buy a Vogue magazine, and hide in my room to look at the pictures. Overall, what really inspires me are people who tell a narrative story with fashion. I’m a very imaginative person. For me, it’s not just about the outfit. It’s about being a character. I don’t want to be Asha from Silicon Valley. For example, on some days I want to be a queen empress who has magic powers. This also relates back to when my dad read many stories about Hindu gods to me. I would focus on the women with their sarees and beautiful hair in the images. I think sometimes it’s those stories, books, and images that give me a kind of flash in my mind when I’m shopping.
STYLØR: What does fashion mean to you?
Asha Raval: Fashion, to me, is really about freedom. It’s the freedom to be yourself and fully embrace who you are. I see it as a way to express and show my inner truth on the outside. That truth changes from day to day, even from hour to hour.
STYLØR: Where do you find the inspiration for the creative looks you share on social media?
Asha Raval: On some days, my inspiration comes from fashion designers or cool runway looks. On other days, it comes from my really good friends around the world who are also cool fashion content creators. But often, it can be something as simple and unexpected as my son’s cool car collection. Or I might take a walk in my neighborhood and notice the colors of a flower. If you look closely at the colors and shapes of a flower, you’ll find the most unique and interesting patterns. Then I think, wow, that would make a great outfit. At home, I pick up one of those colors and try to recreate it in some way. Another source of inspiration is my creative flow. When I have nothing to do, after taking a nice shower, I stand in my closet, look around, and just start trying things on.
STYLØR: You show your love for fashion on social media with great success. As of today, you have more than 24,000 followers. So, we’re curious to learn, what inspired you to start posting content on social media?
Asha Raval: That’s a really good question. For me, there’s something strange in my mind. If I come up with something for myself and don’t share it or teach others how to do it for themselves, I feel sad. For example, I know easy ways to make an outfit cool. While it comes naturally to me, it might not to others. So, it’s an incredible feeling to help people feel confident, fun, and empowered by sharing the tips and tricks I’ve learned throughout my life. I’ve found that even if I have a terrible day at work or feel stressed, when someone says, “Asha, you inspired me. I just bought a pair of gloves because you wear gloves,” I get so excited. My community is genuinely my friends. When they learn new things because of me, it means so much. At the same time, I also started posting on Instagram because I feel kind of lonely living in the Bay Area, where almost nobody I know likes fashion. So, I saw social media as a cool way to connect with people who love creativity and bold self-expression.
STYLØR: Are there any other fashion content creators you personally know who really inspire you?
Asha Raval: Yes, so many. Other content creators that really inspire me are GAYU (gayu_inkb), Navdeep Kaur (navik4ur), Lesly Maritte (mar.i.tte), Amarilla Marta (amiizmus), La Fancee Nancee (lafanceenancee), and my good friend Ritika (ritikax).
STYLØR: What are your next goals on social media?
Asha Raval: I really, really want to grow my following to at least 100,000 followers. Honestly, I don’t know why I picked that number. And if we’re being really ambitious, it’s 25 million. I just want to reach anyone in the world who loves bold and colorful fashion. Even if you don’t like my style but it inspires you to be bolder in your own life, I would love for you to follow me. I want to connect with those people, and eventually, I would love to become a fashion designer one day. In other words, transforming what I’m doing on social media into an actual brand. Although I’m a product designer, my true passion is fashion. I hope to find my niche where I can create something with a unique perspective that truly adds value.
