British-Indian fashion designer Nikita Karizma brought a glimpse of the future of fashion to the Fashion Awards red carpet with her latest creation, The Robot. Nikita grew up in a third-generation Indian saree business, with her London-based label grounded in culture. Her designs celebrate the glamour of South Asian heritage, intertwining the essence of London’s rebellious edge with high fashion.
The Robot explores the connection between humans and technology embodied in a futuristic sculpture. Her design takes over her body, blurring the lines of a human silhouette with a mechanized exoskeleton. The Robot starts with a half-face, gold-plated mask that is robot-like, transitions to an armour-like robotic bodice, and ends with a mechanized armory wrapped around her leg.
Nikita’s design showcases the reality of today’s world, where technology integrates with one’s daily life, changing the way we express, communicate, and show ourselves. The Robot celebrates the future of fashion, showing the true realities of how technology can take over the human body. I was able to speak with Nikita Karizma about her creation:
Style Cartel: What first inspired the concept of “The Robot,” and how did you imagine merging a human silhouette with a mechanised exoskeleton?
Nikita: “I drew inspiration from Indian goddesses, their confidence, protective armour, and commanding presence alongside cyberpunk visions of female robots. I wanted the mechanised structure to feel like an extension of the body, tracing the silhouette, combining the spiritual power of the goddess with the sleek strength of a futuristic warrior.”
Style Cartel: Can you walk through the early stages of ideation? Was there a moment when everything clicked, and you knew the direction this piece needed to take?
Nikita: “The ideation began with research and moodboards. I was looking at Indian goddesses as symbols of power and protection, alongside cyberpunk imagery that speaks to the future and technology. In the studio, this translated into many sketches exploring how those two worlds could coexist. Choosing gold armour is when everything clicked, bridging the mythology and futurism together.”
Style Cartel: What were the biggest technical challenges when creating “The Robot?”
Nikita: “Achieving the illusion of real metal armour while keeping the piece wearable. I wanted it to feel structured and powerful, but it still needed to fit the human body precisely and allow for natural movement. Every element had to be carefully engineered so the exoskeleton moved with the wearer, not against her.”
Style Cartel: What message or emotional response did you hope viewers would take away when witnessing “The Robot” in motion?
Nikita: “I wanted time to pause for a moment. That brief stillness where you stop and simply witness presence, power, and design coexisting. The piece is meant to feel commanding yet graceful, creating an emotional response that lingers beyond the moment itself.”
Style Cartel: Was there a specific part of the creation process that felt particularly meaningful or transformative for you?
Nikita: “The most meaningful moment was seeing the piece fully assembled for the first time on the body. After months of sketches, testing, and refinement, watching it move and realising it carried both strength and emotion felt transformative. That’s when it stopped being an idea and became something alive.”
Style Cartel: “The Robot” explores the “tension between organic identity and engineered argumentation.” What aspects of our modern world were you responding to through this piece?
Nikita: “The design reflects the conversation between where we come from and where we’re going. Technology accelerates us forward, while identity asks us to remain grounded. “The Robot” lives in that space, honouring the organic body while embracing engineered form, creating balance.”
Style Cartel: How do you see technology reshaping the future of couture, craftsmanship, and self-expression?
Nikita: “As technology evolves, it gives designers new ways to empower the wearer. Couture becomes more personal, adaptive, and expressive, allowing people to engage with fashion as a form of armour, identity, and storytelling.”
Style Cartel: How would you describe your guiding design philosophy, and how has it evolved throughout your career?
Nikita: “Over the years, I’ve learned to listen to my instinct far more deeply, allowing what I feel in the present moment to shape the work. Today, virality and visual storytelling are part of the language of design. I want my creations to resonate immediately, to spark emotion, and to leave a lasting impression both IRL and online. My philosophy has evolved from purely crafting beautiful forms to creating moments that are felt, shared, and remembered.”
Style Cartel: Your work blends South Asian glamour with London’s rebellious energy. How do these dualities shape the way you approach silhouette, embellishment, and narrative?
Nikita: “For me, the duality is about feeling at home in two worlds. South Asian glamour inspires the richness, colour, and intricate detail, while London gives me freedom to play with shape, proportion, and attitude. That tension shapes everything from the curve of a silhouette to the placement of embellishment and ensures the story a piece tells is both rooted and forward thinking.”
Style Cartel: As a designer who merges heritage and innovation, what legacy do you hope to leave in the global fashion landscape?
Nikita: “I hope my legacy lies in empowering people to embrace individuality and authenticity. By merging heritage with forward-thinking design, I want to show that fashion is a universal language, one that can be deeply rooted in identity yet resonate across cultures, creating moments that are remembered, celebrated, and felt by everyone.”
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