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Interview & Article By: Raven Horne
What do you get when you combine fashion-forward streetwear with the glamour and culture behind South Asia? You get Golconda, which is a South Asian-inspired luxury streetwear line. What makes Golconda unique compared to other brands is that they not only use premium and authentic materials synonymous with South Asian tradition and culture, but they also source their artwork from local artisans and craftsmen across South Asia. These partnerships have allowed for traditional art from the region to flourish and sparked newfound economic opportunity. In this interview, I got the absolute pleasure of meeting and sitting down with the founder of Golconda, Akash Pradeep. He is currently a student at the University of Texas in Austin, Texas. He previously attended college at the College of Creative Studies, specializing in Footwear Design in Detroit, Michigan. So far, Golconda has created products such as small bags, wallets, and clothing. In the future, the brand plans to create footwear as well.
Q: What is the meaning behind “Golconda” as a brand owner and designer?
A: First off, I'll give a little background about what Golconda means and then also the greater meaning of it too. Golconda is actually an ancient fort in India, and it is known to have housed some of the world's most precious diamonds, including the Kur diamond. And it's known for its royal reign over it, including diamonds, luxury, rich tradition and history. I think a lot of those core historic themes and ideas are heavily translated in what I'm trying to create. And Golconda, as a whole, is not only a testament to richness and the richness of South Asian culture, art and creativity. It's also a way for the rest of the world to appreciate this heritage — people who have often been left out of the limelight to be seen — and to relate with something more mainstream, something more accessible. Because at the end of this, I want this to be something that everyone is able to interact with and relate with, and all those things combined is what Golconda is aiming towards.
Q: What drove you to create your own brand?
A: I guess I'll take the premise of what the brand is and then tie it into what drove me. I’m a South Asian myself, and for me, cultural representation is really impactful, especially in terms of expressing yourself, but then also expressing your identity and things of that nature. The main reason I chose to pursue something like this is because currently, I notice that there's a lot of untapped potential in terms of South Asian creativity and South Asian creators. With just the art, culture, entertainment and media surrounding such a rich yet untapped culture, but that's steadily also on the rise. South Asian media, culture and creativity are gaining popularity due to globalization and other things with people just appreciating the culture and showing respect towards it. It's one of the oldest cultures in the world. It's one of the richest in terms of tradition, in terms of history, in terms of innovation and contribution on the global stage. Yet, it hasn't become as mainstream as other cultures, and also largely due to, you know, the rough history we've had in terms of whether it's like colonization or just discrimination for generations. Specifically contemporary fashion, such as streetwear. And so, that's part of the reason I really want to help amplify the voices of creators, thinkers and innovators that have brought so much from my culture, but also onto the global stage. I think it's important that as creators, we help chip in on that.
Q: What inspired you to create a brand revolving around streetwear?
A: So again, I think it ties back to what I said before, about being South Asian and then also seeing that South Asian culture is so prevalent and rich in history, but largely untapped to, in terms of creativity, mainstream media, and modern-day expression. Which is definitely something that I saw as a space lacking that material. Especially when it comes to streetwear, I think what's great about streetwear is that it's one, it is globalized like almost no other genre of fashion. I'd say regardless of what part of the world you go to, there is some inkling of streetwear. And, I think what makes streetwear so global and so recognizable is its versatility.
Q: What other pieces do you see will be created in Golconda?
A: Yeah, as of now, there are things that we've actually liked that we have samples of — things we've created that are limited to garments and clothing. But we're in the process of creating a sample for purses, like small bags, not handbags. So kind of like purchased wallets, whatever you want to call it. So, that's something we're working on, something smaller scale, but also along those accessory lines. Something that I definitely want to do in the future is footwear, especially South Asian-inspired footwear. It’s something I definitely want to create in the future, simply because I have a lot of experience with footwear. And I think footwear is so expressive, but also very eye-catching. I have a lot of good ideas for it. So, that's something I want to do in the future, and then, you know, I'm open to other accessories and other pieces as well.
Q: What is it like working with artisans and craftsmen all over South Asia for the brand?
A: I think it's definitely inspiring, and there's a lot of empathy within it too. But sometimes, it's also just like being starstruck or being in awe. Because one, you have to realize that some of these artisans, this is their main living, right? They're trying to make ends meet sometimes with the work they do, but then they also put in an insane amount of time and effort, money, and sacrificing all that to not only for financial needs. However, a lot of these artisans are also very passionate about what they do. It's the thing with all creators, really. Sure, you can do it for money and all this, but then at the end of the day, creators also have an underlying passion for that expression and just doing what they truly love. And so, it's definitely inspiring working with these hardworking individuals and seeing their stories, their struggles, and then their talent as well. It's always cool to see that. It is very inspiring, but then also that empathy of recognizing that, you know, like, ‘I respect your talent, craft, and that's why I'm working with you to help, you know, bring that to something more visible and where you can amplify that work.’
Q: What is the difference between getting pieces from South Asia compared to pieces that are inspired from it?
A: I think that question also obviously applies to South Asian materials in what is in it. Such as practices and commonalities, but I think it applies to really any sector of fashion, too, such as being able to get something from the source versus a close enough version. And, I think It's really anything you can wear, something you can interact with or consume something even, that is almost the same version. But, I think when you have a hold of the original or something that's true to its history or things like that, it builds a deeper emotional connection of the story and just how we interact with it. Or maybe on a spiritual level or even like literal senses. Something from South Asia, for example, like silk or a particular type of threading material, like gold leaf, is not something very common or something you normally interact with. So, it's also activating some of your senses, whether it's touching, how something feels on your body or on the garment, but then how it looks as well, such as visual appeal. I think both those things are something tangible and something more ephemeral. I also think both things combined adds a deeper meaning, something that the end user or consumer can start to build a story with, and relate to and also see the creator's vision.
Q: Has Golconda ever collaborated with another brand?
A: The answer is yes, we recently announced a collaboration this past summer with a Dallas footwear line called 33.9, they are a footwear line and the founder is Nicole Musselman. 33.9 is a dedicated brand and surrounds a former NBA and NCAA coach, Bill Musselman, who's also her father. This collaboration was announced in Summer 2024. Golconda's blend of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary fashion seamlessly merges with 33.9's innovative fusion of sports and personal stories, creating a collection that is both timeless and cutting-edge. This collaboration is a tribute to the relentless spirit of artisans and athletes alike, encapsulating the essence of cultural fusion and unparalleled quality. We are expecting to launch in Spring 2025. The collection will be centered off of 2 sets of sneakers and a small capsule of apparel.
Q: Finally, what advice would you give to other creators who are in the fashion field and would want to pursue a path like yours?
A: Oh, I don't know if I'm the best one to be giving advice to other fashion creators simply because I'm also new to this space. I think to other people who are also starting out, I think it's really important. I'm still figuring all this out myself. It's really important to see how you're different from others because what I've noticed is that there are a lot of 'ifs'. I wouldn't say the fashion industry and streetwear industry is over-saturated. Because, if you were to say oversaturated, I think it means there are a lot of good ideas that are just, like, not able to compete because they're all so good. I think what happens with there's a large volume in terms of fashion and streetwear, I think it's very evident, and you don't have to be in fashion to know. I think everybody realizes there are a lot of fashion labels and clothes in the world, but I think the mistake is that people jump into it, not thinking it through and also not separating themselves from others.
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