Today we’d like to introduce you to Neha Kapil.
Hi Neha, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m an Indian-American visual artist and fashion designer from Minneapolis. I’m a creator that uses a range of diverse mediums to celebrate South Asian culture. From paintings & illustrations to clothing & design, my work centers around feminism, storytelling, and my South Asian heritage. Having worked as both a designer and illustrator, I use my artwork as the basis for my fashion line, where I handcraft wearable art as a means of spreading cultural awareness and representation.
Drawn to detail and tradition, my art is a modern take on classical realism & art nouveau styles that represent women of color and second generation experiences.
My brand AGNI is a fusion, streetwear brand that I initially started as an artistic outlet to explore my many creative interests shortly after graduating college. I had started out as a visual artist but found myself very drawn to beauty, fashion, photography, and graphic design. At the time, my work was very scattered and I was struggling to find my voice as an artist. I wanted to create a connection between all the pieces of my artistry, which is why I was looking to build something where I could be accepted as multifaceted while also representing the diverse stories of young adults and people of color today.
All I knew was that I wanted to use multiple mediums to be able to reach people and create something bigger than myself. What started out as sketches & illustrations ended up turning into a lot of experimenting on how to create wearable art that not only looks unique but empowers people to recognize their strengths, showcase culture in a positive light, and brings something new to the streetwear market.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Working on both AGNI and my personal artwork has definitely been extremely rewarding, but with that satisfaction comes a lot of struggles. I’ve always been passionate about my identity and heritage, but I found it difficult to create a way for people to connect to my experiences and learn from my culture without it being too overwhelming or complex to grasp. I was also someone who didn’t have a background in fashion design, which made getting started very intimidating. I was an artist with a lot of ideas, but I had no idea what I was doing and how I was going to transform my paintings & drawings to physical garments. On top of being an entrepreneur and having to take on a lot of new roles, I also had to teach myself how to screenprint, draft patterns, use a sewing machine, source fabrics, and how to achieve proper quality and fitting, all of which I didn’t understand and found confusing in the beginning.
On the other hand, I found introducing a new concept to the market particularly difficult. As a designer, I always want to create pieces that are really different, but when you enter an industry categorized by quick trends, it’s hard to create a balance between giving your customers what they want and not compromising your artistic vision. You want to empower people & make them feel confident but you want to be able to do it on your own terms and be respected for that.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As an artist, I’m a self proclaimed “maximalist,” known for being a jack of all trades with a love for bright colors and intricate details. I believe art is fluid and that we should have the ability to move between mediums to best express all the complex layers of human experiences. I believe in supporting creative curiosity & showing others what they don’t see. For me creating is more than expression, it’s learning, researching, growing, taking risks, and connecting with oneself. Whether it’s painting, design, or fashion, I draw inspiration from those who are unapologetically fearless.
My clothing line, AGNI is a streetwear brand inspired by South Asian art and culture. The name AGNI itself means “fire” in Hindi, which metaphorically represents what we stand for. The physical properties of fire can be dangerous, but just as much as it possesses the ability to burn, it also possesses the unique ability to bring light to dark spaces. Like fire, we believe that every person possesses a duality of intense fierceness just as much as we all have the power to shine our light upon the world. It’s this kind of power that is the core of our fashion and the message we use to inspire & empower youth everywhere.
As a fashion label, we are also known for bringing art to the forefront and injecting a sense of maximalism into the otherwise minimalistic world of streetwear. Being inspired by South Asian culture, we aim to bring the intricacies and details of our community to the world and prove that representation matters. I’m proud that we’re able to take our stories, experiences, and everything beautiful about who we are and fuse it into something contemporary yet still true to our roots. This is why our motto is “fire to be fearless,” a reminder to be loud and proud with culture, expression, and staying true to oneself.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
The Minneapolis community is definitely welcoming and inviting. It’s easy to build a small community that makes you feel seen and draw inspiration from the comforts of your hometown. But it’s also a place that lacks diversity in the arts especially in regards to culture and contemporary mediums like fashion and creative entrepreneurship. Because people aren’t as exposed to art made by young adults and people of color, there’s a level of ignorance that makes it difficult to introduce new ideas and grow beyond the “Minnesota aesthetic”.
Contact Info:
- Email: nehak64@yahoo.com
- Website: www.nehakapilart.com | www.agnistyle.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/itsnehalicious
