About RWL Designs - By Rupert Wanlambok Lynrah in Police Bazaar, Shillong

RwL Designs By – Rupert Wanlambok Lynrah

He worked for a magazine and as a fashion consultant, then got his big break as a Design Manager for a large retailer in Dubai, but the creative and entrepreneurial bug never left Rupert Wanlambok Lynrah, one of Shillong’s leading young designers.

Leaving it all behind in Dubai, Rupert founded his own boutique in Shillong at MUDA Complex Police Bazar, three years ago and he has not looked back since.

RwL Designs presents shoppers with a range of meticulously crafted designer apparel and accessories, which are both traditional and western. Rupert had an artistic streak in him ever since he was a child and studied fashion design at the degree level. After that he worked for IMAGES Business of Fashion magazine and the Satya Paul label, but he counts his experience in the UAE - where he worked at Splash, a leading fashion retailer in the Middle East and part of the same family of brands as Lifestyle in India - as a “turning point” in his life.
“Splash was a huge learning ground for me. I learned and unlearned many things while working there. I travelled a lot and worked a lot with different people. There were many sleepless nights in the office and all of this really opened my horizons. What motivated me is the passion I feel towards my work, having an open mind, being positive and to strive for perfection and nothing less,” Rupert says.

He worked at Splash for almost 7 years, but the desire to make his own mark was too strong to resist. Launching an independent label is a huge risk, and the road to entrepreneurship is rife with pitfalls, but the 36-year-old, who is thankful for the encouragement he received from his family, was determined to take the plunge.

“I have always dreamt of having my own label and boutique. There is always a risk in any business and when I decided to venture on my own I knew that loud and clear,” Rupert explains. “It’s been worthwhile because I proved myself right and made my dreams come true. But having said that, I still have a long way to go and I’m still driven to be the best.”

Working at Splash gave Rupert an important insight into fashion shows – he did Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter Fashion Weeks every year in Dubai as well as abroad where the collections were showcased. He travelled to several foreign countries for top fashion shows and met with top designers and the overall experience, in his own words, was “incredible!”
So far, RwL Designs has been able to show off its creations at a couple of local events, like the UTM College Festival in 2013 and at a traditional/fusion Jainsem Fashion Show this year in Shillong, with all that experience abroad paying off.

As a Shillong-born lad who grew up in New Delhi and has worked abroad for several years, it isn’t surprising to find that our designer’s creations are varied, creative and draw on many influences. From jainsems that have a modern, classy finish, to unique western gowns, Rupert’s talent is all too evident. However, he is always mindful of his customers’ tastes.
“Tradition is here to stay and change is the only constant,” he says almost philosophically. “We just have to bridge the gap between the old and the new, and create a hybrid that works for all in unison. As an artist you have to love your work and I do that very much but in the end if you can't sell your work then there is no point.”
Creating a niche for oneself in a crowded and highly competitive industry is no cakewalk and Rupert has certainly never taken it lightly. His advice for youngsters who want to get their start in the fashion business is also tried and true – get a good foundation, work hard, persevere, be passionate and dedicated.

“All this and a bit of good luck thrown in,” he adds with a smile. He should know – his middle name means “to bring luck”.