The Beginning  I worked with Rajesh Pratap Singh from 1998 to 2010 in various capacities, most recently as a Commercial Director;  assisting him in commercialising the collection, taking care of the stores and merchandising, meeting clients/buyers and generally helping with the shows and fairs.  After spending over a decade working with Rajesh, I felt the urge to express my own aesthetic and have my own label.

I am most comfortable in the space of contemporary Indian wear.  I also felt that there was a niche in the market where my product could fit targeted at the modern Indian woman who loves her Indian wardrobe yet is willing to constantly experiment.

Pratap x Pratap Rajesh and I were design students together at NIFT Delhi in the graduating batch of 1994.  We sometimes use each other as our sounding board, though he is not involved in the running of my label.  He is my best critic, and I guess I am for him as well. Our approaches to design are poles apart, Rajesh loves to start from the yarn itself and experiments with textiles and his strength is new silhouette developments. My forte and interest is prints, embroideries and surface treatments.  For me everything is more casual and comfort oriented.  Rajesh’s collections are more edgy and each piece is almost an intense work of art.

Above: image | Wearabout  source | WIFW S/S 2013

It’s never too late to accomplish what you want to achieve.  In fact my 15 years of experience have made the journey less rocky.  The Vogue Fashion Fund 2012 gave me a push towards doing my first catwalk show and the same year I also opened my store in Delhi in the quaint Lodi Colony Market. I don’t look at fashion trends.  I’m doing what naturally comes to me and also I work on a lot of mix and match, print on print and embroidery on print,  which I suppose is a fresh perspective. 

 

Above: image | Farzan Randella  source | Harpers Bazaar Bride India April 2014

Above: image: Errikos Andreou  source | Vogue India January 2015

Digital References  Style.com  Patternbank  Design Milk

Other References  Victoria & Albert textile references; I recently visited the A Ramachandran exhibit in Delhi and was completely mesmerized. The Beatles, Coldplay, Simply Red, AR Rehman, Pandit Ravi Shankar.  Films are a regular feature in my diet. Star Wars, Xmen, The Lord of the Rings, the Bourne series, Sherlock Holmes, mystery, fantasy and make believe.

I love the work of Dries Van Noten.  Especially his ability to derive from different cultures and create something so modern.  Also, his ability to juxtapose print, embroidery and textile so effortlessly and consistently.

 

Above: image | R. Burman  source | Elle India April 2014

Success Mantra  Identify and emphasize your strengths.  For me it is print, embroidery and colour.  Know your customer. Working well within price points is the key to commercial success and finally seeing your collection leave the shelves.  Be consistent.

Life Outside Fashion Very simple – I am a homebody with two lovely kids balancing work and home like any other working mother would. I love yoga, cooking, travel, swimming.

Work History  Creative Director, Payal Pratap, New Delhi, Aug 2010 – current Commercial Director, Rajesh Pratap Singh, New Delhi, December 1998 – August 2010 Design Assistant, Span India, New Delhi, June 1994 – December 1998

Above: image | Payal Pratap S/S 2015  source | WIFW

Above: image | Payal Pratap A/W 2014  source | WIFW

Above: image | Payal Pratap S/S 2014  source | WIFW