You have been working in India for over 15 years but have never showed your work here, why such a delayed homecoming?
For years I had been hoping to sell in India and was thrilled when I received an invitation from Bungalow 8.

Many Indian designers have tried to take an Indian sensibility internationally but haven’t quite made a mark. Why do you think Dosa has succeeded?
With Indian textiles, I try to show the essence of the handmade fabrics – especially khadi. We don’t embellish so that the fabric doesn’t become lost. Although I am inspired by Indian shapes, we do a lot of re-working: draping and fitting as if it were a 3D sculpture.

How would you describe the style of Mumbai women, having interacted with so many? Any particular women that have stood out?
Mumbai women have a refined, eclectic style that I connected with. I felt they were very curious and open minded. If I presented an idea, they tried it – so there was a great interaction between us. Jamini Ahluwalia, Simone Singh, Sree Goswami, Priya Jhaveri come to mind.

Many eco-activists would argue that ethical design and luxurious price points cannot go hand in hand. How does Dosa reconcile the two?
If you are conscious of paying fair wages throughout the production chain and do a fair mark up, then our prices reflect the true value of the item.

Having your own retail space in LA, what advice do you have for retailers like me to stay ahead of the curve? Which are your favourite boutiques in the world?
At both of our retail spaces, Dosa818 and Dosa New York, I am interested in presenting a curated space that tells a story and morphs with changing inspirations. My favourite boutiques worldwide are Santa Maria Novella in Florence and G Lorenzi in Milan. Egg in London and Tokyu Hands in Japan.

What challenges Christina Kim now, so many years into the design business? And what do you feel you still haven’t done and would like to do over the next five years?
I am still learning and that is always a challenge. The initial idea is easy to do, but the biggest challenge is trying to do production with the same light note as the original inspiration. I have always wanted to design eco-friendly hostels for budget minded travellers.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Everyday life!

Your vigorous work and travel schedule is legendary, how do you manage to pack in so much?
I am super organised and I have a lot of energy. My team calls me the ‘energiser bunny’.

What does luxury mean to you?
Time.

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