Boho goes traditional

Payal joined her husband Rajesh Pratap Singh as an assistant in 1998. Today she has her own brand and loves to dress up modern Indian women, rooted in Indian tradition

We do discuss and take each others suggestions. It is always good to have someone who honestly can critique my work,” Payal, who recently opened her first flagship store in the capital, when asked if she takes suggestions from her husband. The designer belongs to the 1994 batch of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIIFT), Delhi, and her batchmates include her husband as well as ace designer Manish Arora. Payal, who joined Rajesh as an assistant in 1998, married him 15 years ago.While working with Pratap, Payal dealt with the marketing part of his brand.

Payal, who showcased her collection for the first time on ramp at the spring-summer 2013 edition of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, says there was the immense pressure of living up to the expectations of the people. Her collection showed a mix of boho meets traditional. The collection had constructed tops with draped and flowing bottoms with exquisite embroidery. She used the on-going trend of peplum tops, lace and prints on fabrics of velvets and satins.

“While it was inevitable to have an overload of pressure at the debut keeping the circumstances in mind, I tried to keep it in abeyance and instead focused my energies on the collection and showcasing my best, leaning on the years of experience that I already had while working over a decade with Rajesh,” she said.

In 2010, she launched her own label “Payal Pratap” for the Indian woman who is modern, independent, yet deeply rooted in tradition. The designer considers India as a canvas and her brand specialises in creating a modern Indian line in rich and vibrant colours for today's urban women.

And she is overwhelmed with her journey so far.“The journey so far has been positively exhilarating. Every moment I am pregnant with new challenges and every collection is a new beginning. I have had a good response from customers and multibrand stores alike,” she said. With a deluge of new designers in the fashion world, Payal feels that having a formal training in designing and making of the garment can help in the long run.

“While technical knowledge definitely gives structure and a solid foundation to ones work, I think talent is something inherent. It also depends on how you use your knowledge in your business. I think fine detailing in any garment is very important and with proper training this comes to you,” she said. “I am working on a collaboration with Westside for an affordable premium range for the woman of today and it will make my designs more accessible,” said Payal, who has also designed for the likes of Kareena Kapoor, Kiran Rao and Sonam Kapoor.

-Nivedita