Designer Prabal Gurung – who has dressed Kamala Harris, Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama – draws inspo from Nepal’s culture, crafts and mountains, and loves oud and David Attenborough

Mar 1 , 2025

New York-based designer Prabal Gurung – who’s dressed Kamala Harris, Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey – grew up in Nepal, and retains an affinity for his country’s culture, crafts and mountains... as well as oud and David Attenborough. Photo: Handout

Gurung cites the Hyatt Regency in Kathmandu as among his favourite hotels – and James Dean, Marlon Brando, David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan as his style heroes

Nepali-American designer Prabal Gurung is as global as his designs. Born in Singapore, he was raised in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, and now helms the eponymous New York-based atelier he launched in 2009. He prides himself on celebrating cultural identity and championing inclusivity, and has dressed the likes of Kamala Harris, Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey. Since 2022, he has been vice-chairman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

Style had a chance to catch up with the designer before his panel as a guest speaker at Fashion Asia’s Fashion Challenges Forum in November 2024.

Reading matters

Hernan Diaz won the Pulitzer Prize for his 2022 novel Trust. Photo: Amazon

Trust by Hernan Diaz is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. It talks about men taking over space and hardly giving women their credit. That’s the world we live in, and it talks about it so beautifully – it is bone-chillingly amazing.

Instagram loves

Sir David Attenborough, as seen on The Green Planet, in December 2021. Photo: BBC Studios

Recently, I started following Instagram accounts that share clips of animals like @thedodo and animal documentaries like @animalplanet. Anytime I come across David Attenborough’s voice-overs I listen, and that’s how I get ready for bed.

Grooming essentials

Oud oil, widely used in perfumery, is derived from agarwood, also called aloeswood. Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto

I’m a little indulgent when it comes to beauty and self-care. I was in Saudi Arabia two years back and I bought oud oil at a local market. I just mix it with my perfumes from Chanel and Jo Malone.

Designer Prabal Gurung – who has dressed Kamala Harris, Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama – draws inspo from Nepal’s culture, crafts and mountains, and loves oud and David Attenborough

Gurung cites the Hyatt Regency in Kathmandu as among his favourite hotels – and James Dean, Marlon Brando, David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan as his style heroes

Reading matters

Instagram loves

Grooming essentials

Souvenir hunt