Payal Singhal takes us down memory lane as she completes 25 years in fashion JHANVI DUGGAL Lifestyle Writer
Not just through thick and thin, but through tassels and trends, Payal Singhal stands tall as a prominent name in Indian couture and celebrates 25 years of fashion this year.
Putting India on the global map for heritage, culture, rich weaves and contemporary designs are a few things Indian couturiers are turning pro at. It has been a pleasure to witness India’s couture scene turn heads globally in all these years and one of these acclaimed names completes 25 years of excellence this year- Payal Singhal. Let’s just say if you’ve caught yourself obsessed with tassels, contemporary blouses, or breezy resort wear lately, there’s a high chance that you’ve taken a stroll in one of Payal Singhal’s flagship stores. I wouldn’t blame you if you walk out of the store dreaming about more than just one outfit; that’s the kind of energy her silhouettes exude. Over the past 25 years, Payal Singhal has not only carved a niche in couture, she has added a contemporary flavour to Indian silhouettes and taken it around the world- as she likes to call it, #PSGirlsAroundTheWorld. From being designer of the year at the mere age of 15 to being one of the most successful women in fashion today, Payal Singhal completes 25 glorious years in fashion. Her years in the industry might just be 25, but one can’t put a number on her achievements, so we have the woman herself celebrating 25 milestones of her journey with us from 1992 to 2024.
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Payal Singhal shares 25 milestones of her career: 1992 to 2024
1992: Payal Singhal won the Shopper’s Stop Designer of the Year Award at the age of 15, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan wears this winning outfit.
1996: I was the winner of the Chrysalis ‘Most Elegant Collection of the Year’ at her graduation show at SNDT Women’s University Mumbai.
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1999: I launched my eponymous brand after additional design courses at Parsons School of Design and FIT, New York. The launch is marked by a store at Altamount Road, Mumbai, which continues to be one of the brand’s three flagship stores in the city.
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2003: The brand puts up its first international show with a showcase at the Singapore Fashion Festival to represent India.
2004: The label Payal Singhal represents India in Miami at the Fashion Week of the Americas, which is now known as Miami Fashion Week.
2006: Long before the wave of Indian brands opening international stores, our label leads the way with the first flagship store in Manhattan’s Gramercy Park.
2007: The following year, I opened a flagship store in New Jersey to service the demand from her PS Girls in the USA.
2007: I made my Lakmé Fashion Week debut with the collection ‘New York, New York’, as an ode to the Big Apple has been integral in shaping the India Modern Indian ethos the brand is celebrated.
2010: Extending my repertoire of contemporary occasion wear for women, I launched the first-ever festive kidswear line.
2013: With a global, forward-thinking approach to business, ‘Payal Singhal’ recognised the importance of e-commerce in fashion and launched an online store to make the brand accessible to #PSGirlsAroundTheWorld.
2014: Another forward-thinking move on my part has been to collaborate with like-minded brands in the lifestyle space, which she has been doing for over a decade now. Our juttis and footwear collaboration with Fizzy Goblet (an ongoing one to date) is one of the most successful examples.
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2015: Payal Singhal launched the first PS bridal collection — a reflection of my old-meets-new aesthetic — and the line was first unveiled at the Vogue Wedding Show in New Delhi.
2016: PS Accessories was born in collaboration with a non-profit organisation, the Desai Foundation. The brand’s award-winning accessory range now features several bestsellers such as tote bags, travel wraps, ties, pocket squares and so much more.
2016: The brand released the first issue of its in-house magazine, PS Diary, a first for an Indian brand at the time.
2017: I was one of the early Indian designers to democratise my collection with a high-street collaboration. Our first was a multi-functional occasion wear line The Label Life. This also eventually gave birth to our PS Pret line, well before many other occasion wear designers stepped into the space too.
2018: PS does menswear, first launched at multi-designer store Curato. PS Men is a mix of prints, bold colours and modern silhouettes that mirror the brand’s DNA.
2019: The brand celebrates its 20th Anniversary with a special ‘#PS20’ collection, which was showcased at Lakme Fashion Week. Long-time PS muse Shibani Akhtar closed the show with her partner Farhan Akhtar. It was the couple’s first time walking the runway together.
2019: As a part of our two-decade celebration, we also launched PSHomes with a wallpaper collaboration with Marshalls Wall Coverings, as well as an organic beauty tie-up with Ranavat Botanics, and a vegan cruelty-free footwear collaboration with PAIO.
2020: The brand’s SS’20 show ‘Parvaneh’ sees the Indian women’s cricket team captain Mithali Raj walk the runway, as well as real #PSGirls who also turned showstoppers for the brand.
2020: After a pandemic-induced halt, the brand finally opened its second flagship store in Khar, Mumbai in September 2020.
2021: The brand’s latest collections during the year are greatly influenced by changing customer preferences due to the pandemic. ‘The New Normal’ is also accompanied by a thoughtful campaign that demonstrates the impact of the pandemic on the community. ‘Kismet’ is the brand’s first #PSAthleisure line (a unique athleisure-led take on Indian wear, which has become a signature element in all collections since) showcased at India’s first Drive-In Fashion Week. The next collection ‘Suroor’ is the finale show at the Bombay Times Fashion Week.
2022: The brand dresses long-time PS Girls and celebrity brides Shibani Akhtar and Mouni Roy for their mehendis, with their custom looks that have gone on to become bestsellers. Shibani’s entire mehendi event was designed and planned by Payal Singhal to showcase a quintessential #PSMehendi soiree.
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2022: The brand forays into jewellery with its first jewellery collaboration with Jaipur-based Sangeeta Boochra.
2023: The year marked two important store launches — the third flagship store in Mumbai in the historic district of Kala Ghoda. The brand also opened a new exclusive store within Ogaan Dhan Mill.
2024: The year marks 25 years of paving the way to modernise Indian wear with global influences. The year is set to be paved with several launches and celebrations to mark this occasion.
P.S.: She’s not done yet, it is probably the beginning of another 25 years of style, craft and excellence!
Hero and Featured Image: Courtesy Payal Singhal
PAYAL SINGHAL INDIAN COURTURE
Jhanvi Duggal
Lifestyle Writer