Deeksha Gulati
NIFT Graduate
2013-2017
Current Occupation
Head of the Woven Business Unit for Menswear at Lacoste headquarters in Paris
Select Campus
Kangra
Select Department
Textile Design Department
80 words summary write-up.
Currently heading the Textiles Department at Lacoste headquarters in Paris, leading the woven menswear collection across multiple product categories while managing a team of product managers. The role brings together product development, design collaboration, global sourcing, and strategic planning to create collections that balance creativity with commercial success. A passion for textiles and product innovation has been the driving force throughout the journey, with every season offering new opportunities to learn, collaborate, and bring meaningful products to life.
200 words detailed write-up including current position, career arc and major milestones.

My journey into textiles began at NIFT Kangra, where a strong foundation was built in textile science, garment construction, and manufacturing. A semester exchange at ENSAIT in Lille, France, sparked a curiosity for global fashion and product development, inspiring an international outlook on the industry. Later, completing a Master’s in Business in Paris further strengthened understanding of strategy, leadership, and the commercial side of fashion.

The professional journey began with Decathlon, managing apparel production and product development in India, working closely with manufacturing partners on industrialisation, quality, and supplier development. Moving to Decathlon’s global headquarters in France opened opportunities in fabric engineering before progressing to Product Development Manager for technical outdoor apparel. Combining a passion for sports with product innovation, the role involved developing collections from concept to market while contributing to sustainable materials and eco-design initiatives.

Joining Hermès headquarters marked an important milestone, offering the opportunity to work with some of Europe’s finest textile suppliers and gain first-hand experience in sourcing premium materials for the luxury sector. This experience brought a deeper appreciation of craftsmanship, precision, and long-term supplier partnerships.

Today, as Head of the Woven Business Unit for Menswear at Lacoste headquarters in Paris, the focus is on leading product managers and driving collection building through market insights, technical innovation, and close collaboration with design directors. The role brings together creativity, product strategy, and business priorities to shape seasonal collections.

Across this journey, working with textile mills, fabric manufacturers, and garment suppliers across Asia and Europe has been one of the most enriching experiences, offering a deeper understanding of materials, craftsmanship, innovation, and the people behind every product. It brings me enormous pleasure to be able to see people all around the world wearing products created by me over the years!!!