Exclusive Conversation with Fashion Designer Payal Singhal
The brand's approach to blending history, culture, and tradition with a contemporary outlook is commendable.
It's interesting to note that the quintessential #PSGirl is described as well-travelled, individualistic, and fashion-forward, reflecting a sense of independence and openness to exploring beyond boundaries. The ability of Payal Singhal ensembles to seamlessly transition between traditional and non-traditional settings is a testament to the brand's versatility.
The signature aesthetic of Payal Singhal, which combines contemporary and minimalistic elements with a vintage touch, showcases the brand's unique style. The emphasis on wearability, comfort, value for money, and effortless impact further reinforces the brand's commitment to providing high-quality designs that resonate with its patrons. Expanding beyond fashion, the Payal Singhal brand allows patrons to embrace its signature aesthetic in different aspects of their lives, creating a cohesive and distinctive lifestyle brand.
Overall, Payal Singhal's dedication to innovation, contemporary appeal, and attention to detail have contributed to its position as a leading South Asian fashion house, catering to the evolving tastes and preferences of its discerning clientele. Payal talks with us about her journey, the challenges she has faced and many more aspects of how she has built the business.
When did you start your journey?
While the brand was launched in 1999, my journey in fashion started much before that. I grew up in an environment steeped in fashion, films and art — my grandfather is the late renowned artist and photographer J.P. Singhal, and my father is designer and entrepreneur Dinesh Singhal of London Fashions.
I created her first couture look at the young age of 15 —was awarded the ‘Designer of the Year Award’ by Shopper’s Stop, and the winning look was worn by then Miss World Aishwariya Rai Bachchan. I graduated in fashion design from SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai, and pursued multiple certificate design courses at The Parsons School of Design, New York and at the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, before launching the brand in 1999. Since its launch, the brand has been committed to an Indian modern aesthetic, reinventing classic Indian wear with an experimental twist. I was living in New York for the formative years of the brand, where we had a store at Gramercy Park. Since my move back to India in the mid-2000s, we have opened flagship stores in Mumbai and Delhi, created multiple collections and collaborative lines, and travelled the world with our PS Travelling Trunk Shows.
What are the Challenges you have faced to be a Fashion designer?
I moved to New York soon after launching the brand here. So to build the PS brand in a country, introduce it to a new audience, and grow it there while also still servicing our patrons back in India was a challenge. Since we’ve always championed contemporary Indian wear, it involved a lot of education in the initial years to acclimatise the customer with our ethos and silhouettes.
How Indian fashion industry has changed over the years?
There has been a massive change, the entire industry has evolved immensely. There were only a handful of designers 25 years ago, and it was all very bespoke and family-run. The industry has grown exponentially ever since. There are multiple designers across categories today. It is all better strategized, with more exposure, and servicing a wider range of clients as well. Indian fashion is also being global, with an increasing number of designers showcasing across the world, opening stores abroad and being spotted on red carpets and celebrities the world over.
Tell us about your five favourite pieces from the latest collection and why?
Our signature Kalidar sharara and tie-back choli is definitely one of my favourite combinations and one we keep reinventing every season. Some of the other favorites from this collection are the stone embroidered choli and skirt, the embroidered bib yoke bustier, the Gulbagh print pantsuit and the mint frill sari.
What is contemporary Fashion? Explain the past, present and Future. Environment impacts on Fashion?
Contemporary Indian fashion is a modern take on classic Indian silhouettes that retains its original essence while reimagining it with present-day relevance. Back when we launched our label with an India Modern aesthetic, the concept was relatively unheard of. Ever since there are now umpteen designers subscribing to this contemporary take on our heritage.
What does Fashion mean to you?
Fashion is beyond just the tangible for me — it’s not just the clothes or accessories or what you put on yourself every morning. It’s a form of expression, an extension of your personality, a medium to make a statement. Fashion captures a moment in time… not just in the life of the individual but also society at large.
Inspirational quotes for the day?
Aristotle said: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”
It's interesting to note that the quintessential #PSGirl is described as well-travelled, individualistic, and fashion-forward, reflecting a sense of independence and openness to exploring beyond boundaries. The ability of Payal Singhal ensembles to seamlessly transition between traditional and non-traditional settings is a testament to the brand's versatility.
The signature aesthetic of Payal Singhal, which combines contemporary and minimalistic elements with a vintage touch, showcases the brand's unique style. The emphasis on wearability, comfort, value for money, and effortless impact further reinforces the brand's commitment to providing high-quality designs that resonate with its patrons. Expanding beyond fashion, the Payal Singhal brand allows patrons to embrace its signature aesthetic in different aspects of their lives, creating a cohesive and distinctive lifestyle brand.
Overall, Payal Singhal's dedication to innovation, contemporary appeal, and attention to detail have contributed to its position as a leading South Asian fashion house, catering to the evolving tastes and preferences of its discerning clientele. Payal talks with us about her journey, the challenges she has faced and many more aspects of how she has built the business.
When did you start your journey?
While the brand was launched in 1999, my journey in fashion started much before that. I grew up in an environment steeped in fashion, films and art — my grandfather is the late renowned artist and photographer J.P. Singhal, and my father is designer and entrepreneur Dinesh Singhal of London Fashions.
I created her first couture look at the young age of 15 —was awarded the ‘Designer of the Year Award’ by Shopper’s Stop, and the winning look was worn by then Miss World Aishwariya Rai Bachchan. I graduated in fashion design from SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai, and pursued multiple certificate design courses at The Parsons School of Design, New York and at the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, before launching the brand in 1999. Since its launch, the brand has been committed to an Indian modern aesthetic, reinventing classic Indian wear with an experimental twist. I was living in New York for the formative years of the brand, where we had a store at Gramercy Park. Since my move back to India in the mid-2000s, we have opened flagship stores in Mumbai and Delhi, created multiple collections and collaborative lines, and travelled the world with our PS Travelling Trunk Shows.
What are the Challenges you have faced to be a Fashion designer?
I moved to New York soon after launching the brand here. So to build the PS brand in a country, introduce it to a new audience, and grow it there while also still servicing our patrons back in India was a challenge. Since we’ve always championed contemporary Indian wear, it involved a lot of education in the initial years to acclimatise the customer with our ethos and silhouettes.
How Indian fashion industry has changed over the years?
There has been a massive change, the entire industry has evolved immensely. There were only a handful of designers 25 years ago, and it was all very bespoke and family-run. The industry has grown exponentially ever since. There are multiple designers across categories today. It is all better strategized, with more exposure, and servicing a wider range of clients as well. Indian fashion is also being global, with an increasing number of designers showcasing across the world, opening stores abroad and being spotted on red carpets and celebrities the world over.
Tell us about your five favourite pieces from the latest collection and why?
Our signature Kalidar sharara and tie-back choli is definitely one of my favourite combinations and one we keep reinventing every season. Some of the other favorites from this collection are the stone embroidered choli and skirt, the embroidered bib yoke bustier, the Gulbagh print pantsuit and the mint frill sari.
What is contemporary Fashion? Explain the past, present and Future. Environment impacts on Fashion?
Contemporary Indian fashion is a modern take on classic Indian silhouettes that retains its original essence while reimagining it with present-day relevance. Back when we launched our label with an India Modern aesthetic, the concept was relatively unheard of. Ever since there are now umpteen designers subscribing to this contemporary take on our heritage.
What does Fashion mean to you?
Fashion is beyond just the tangible for me — it’s not just the clothes or accessories or what you put on yourself every morning. It’s a form of expression, an extension of your personality, a medium to make a statement. Fashion captures a moment in time… not just in the life of the individual but also society at large.
Inspirational quotes for the day?
Aristotle said: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”