Shilpa Chavan

She has a disclaimer when Fortune India asks to do a photo shoot with her. “It’s just a room and I do all my work there sitting on the floor, sometimes,” she says. “The big things are not in the room; the big, cool things are in my head.” A graduate of London’s Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, and popularly known as Little Shilpa, Chavan is India’s best known milliner and studied under the legendary Philip Treacy. Showcased on the runway, her work has been described as art. Her work is shown in fashion boutiques and collections such as Al Sabah in Kuwait City. She has also made hats for Lady Gaga. She is inspired by everything from roadside toys to skylines in different cities.