Culture & Lifestyle /
Interview With Designer Payal Singhal
“Understated and Unusual” this epitomizes Payal Singhal’s signature style.
Known for her unique designs that combine both eastern and western elements, Singhal has come a long way from winning the coveted “Designer of the Year” award by India’s retail giant Shopper’s Stop at the very young age of 15.
Singhal was born with the creative fashion gene, having a fashion designer in her father. Her path to success materialized with her graduating with fashion degrees from SNDT Women’s University(Mumbai) and the Parsons School of Design and Fashion Institutes of Technology(New York). The beautiful and intricate designs cater to the needs of everyone from party-goers to today’s modern brides, and to children who just can’t help but show-off their hip eastern outfits.
Apart from her success with various collections that feature everything from traditional Indian clothing for the hidden eastern fashionista in all of us, to western outfits for the fashion-savvy New York woman, the Payal Singhal brand soared to new heights by dressing none other than Bollywood heavyweight and former beauty queen AishwaryaRai Bachchan in one of it’s gorgeous outfits.
Actress Aditi Rao Hydari, who has also walked the ramp for Payal Singhal during Lakme Fashion Week 2013, has been seen in the designer’s dresses at numerous occasions, most recently at a success party for the movie Raanjhana. Other Bollystars who have been seen wearing Payal Singhal designs include Kajol, Padmini Kohlapuri, Maria Goretti, Tanisha Mukherjee and Shruti Hassan, among others.
Singhal’s brand continues to grow with a new online shopping portal, that promises to bring an easy and convenient shopping experience to its customers. We had a chance to chat with Singhal on her brand and the tremendous success she has experienced. Read below for what she has to say:
Summer Bride by Payal Singhal/ Payal Singhal Face book
You won Shopper Stop’s prestigious ‘Designer Of The Year’ award at the very young age of 15, a rare achievement. What/who inspired you to go into fashion designing at such a tender age. Did you know, as a child, that a career in fashion will be your calling?
It was my father’s dream for me to be a designer and he was the one who pushed me into it and helped me pursue my dream. He was a designer too so I grew up admist fashion but he was married at a young age and had to let his ambitions of being a designer take a back seat. His company did ready to wear Indian and western garments for the local Indian market as well as for exports.
Your western styles and designs reflect New York fashion, which also happened to be your choice of destination for post-secondary education. Where does this love and passion for the Big Apple come from? Is it a major driving force and inspiration in your designs?
I’ve always said that New York City is my favourite city and everything about the culture, buzz, fashion, architecture inspires my designs. When I design an outfit for my clients, I always mix traditional within a contemporary look and feel. NYC is where I started my brand and it will remain an influence in my collections.
The designer (Left) with Aditi Rao Hydari (Right) showcasing Payal Singhal creation at Lakme Fashion week 2013/BCCL
Looking at past fashion weeks that showcased your collections, we see everything from modern western styles in your Erte Collection, to the traditionally beautiful pieces in the aptly titled Umrao Jaan collection. Keeping these in mind, we ask, who would you say is your ultimate target audience?
I try to mix the themes for each collection to not only keep it exciting for my audience but for myself as well. My ultimate target audience women between 20 to 45 years old who are seeking a unique piece in design, cut and silhouette.
'Taj Collection'
Which one of your styles would you say most closely defines you? What is your signature piece/style/design, and why?
My last collection ‘Taj’ is the closest to my personal style and my vision as a designer. I like clothes that are easy to wear yet have some amount of interest and uniqueness so they make people want to see and talk about them. Understated yet unusual is what I would call my signature style.
You have recently launched your e-shopping portal, to make purchase easier for your customers. Why did you feel the need to provide this online shopping experience to your target market, in particular for your traditional eastern designs?
The e-shop was always going to be a natural progression for my brand and I very much felt that I needed to build a platform that allows for accessibility to my collections no matter where you are in the world. We’re so excited about our online portal as you will be able to view all past and current collections for purchase.
Having achieved great success at such a young age, you are truly an inspiration to many young and budding fashion designers. What advice would you give to youth out there who are trying to follow in your footsteps?
Whatever you may be passionate for in life or have that desire to pursue a goal or dream, you must take that risk otherwise you may never know what the outcome will be. Never take failure as the endpoint, because you will learn and grow from each experience.
'Payal Singhal' Kids collection
Anokhi wishes Payal Singhal great success in her future endeavours.
Sources
http://payalsinghal.com/website/
Images Courtesy of Payal Singhal’s PR – Peepul Consulting
Farah Khan
Author
Farah joined ANOKHI LIFE while finishing up her degree in English Literature and Writing at the University of Toronto. Her position since then has expanded across all departments, everything from office administration and corporate affairs, to ANOKHI's online presence and events. . .
COMMENTS
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
-
Our Exclusive Look: Porsche Ignites The Auto World With Their Fully Electric Taycan
-
Apsara Reddy, India Congress' First Transgender National General Secretary & Her Dreams For LGBTQI Rights In India
-
Make Your Place Smarter With These Cool AI Accessories For The Home
-
Why We Should Never Forget India’s SuperMom & Political Powerhouse Sushma Swaraj
-
Hot November Tech Gadgets That You Need Now!
-
Mississauga's Square One Glittered With The Premiere Of Their Own Diwali Market
-
A Chat With Human Rights Activist & Bangladeshi Journalist Shahidul Alam On His Battle For Freedom To Dissent
-
A Novel Idea: The Jaipur Literature Festival Comes To Toronto With A Glam 3 Day Event
-
Save Your Money & The Environment With These Cool Eco-Friendly Home Accessories
-
A Healing Tool Or A Marketing Myth: Is Reiki For Real?
-
India Is Studying Happiness And Here's Why We Should Too!
-
Priya's Shakti: The Comic Book Series That Battles Rape, Acid Attack and Human Trafficking
-
Fashion Heals For SickKids Showcased Support For The Wonderful Work At The Hospital For SickKids
-
House of Nonie, Rupi Kaur & Telus Join Forces To Battle Cyberbullying At Panel Discussion During NYFW
-
Hot October Tech Gadgets That You Need Now
-
ROOH Chicago Delights The Palate With Their New-Age Indian Cuisine
-
Howdy Modi: Our 5 Takeaways From The Modi-Trump Bromance In Texas
-
Why Ditching Plastic Straws Saves The Environment: Some Mindful Steps To Save The Climate
-
Trudeau In Brownface Scandal: Should We Forgive Him?
-
Our Desi Deep Dive: ANOKHI LIFE Launches ANOKHI UNCENSORED Radio Podcast Where Two Generations Tackle Important Issues That Concerns The Global South Asian Community!
-
The Hottest September Tech Gadgets You Can't Live Without
-
Collision 2019: 5 Things We've Learned From Attending The Impressive Gathering Of Tech Titans
-
ANOKHI MEDIA Is Now ANOKHI LIFE & Launches ANOKHI UNCENSORED Radio Podcast
-
It's Not Too Late: 5 Ways You Can Save Your Marriage
-
Keep Calm: You Need This Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Program
-
Back To School Style: Give Your Dorm Some Drip With These Space Saving Gadgets
-
Be Kind: Yes, You Can Train Your Brain To Be More Compassionate!
-
Why The Priyanka 'Hypocrite' Story Just Won't Go Away
-
Hot Ticket! The 6th Annual Oakville Diwali Gala Is Set To Raise Funds For Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital
-
You Can't Miss These Amazing Global TEDx Talks On The Powers Of Yoga
-
Thousands Vibed Pure Bollywood at Canada's Largest South Asian Festival--#BollywoodMonster Mashup 2019
-
Actioning Abundance: Mindful Ways To Bring Mental, Emotional And Spiritual Abundance Into Your Life
-
August 2019 Tech Gadgets That You Need Now!
-
Speak Up! Why Are We So Afraid Of Talking To Therapists?
-
Surprising Results! The South Asians Who Made The List Of World's Most Admired 2019
-
I Need A Spiritual Maintenance Plan And Other Lessons Oprah Taught Me From Her "Your Path Made Clear" Tour
-
Don't Lose Your Noodle: How To Make Sweet And Savoury Noodles With A Desi Twist
-
Mindful Inspiration: 5 Superb South Asian TED Talks You Can't Afford To Miss!
-
July 2019 Tech Gadgets That You Need To Sizzle Your Summer
-
Actioning Abundance: Mindful Ways To Bring Mental, Emotional And Spiritual Abundance Into Your Life
-
Watch It Now Before It's Too Late: Lessons On Mindful Medicine From The Documentary "Heal"
-
ANOKHI MEDIA's CEO Raj Girn Expands Her Authentic Vision With The Launch Of Her Coaching And Consulting Company
-
Write On! How To Achieve Peaceful Meditation Through Your Mindful Writing
-
"Girl Up" Documentary Reveals How Human Trafficking Is Happening Right Here At Home
-
Even The Dalai Lama Approves! Joy On Demand Reveals How You Can Find Your Resiliency Through Meditation
-
Robin Sharma Tells Us Why You'll Feel Victorious After Reading His Latest Book "The 5AM Club"
-
It's All In The Mind: Why A Growth Mindset Is Key To Mindfulness
-
We Tell You Why These June 2019 Tech Gadgets Needs To Be Had Right Now
-
Gaga For Gulab: A Fragrant Tour Of The World's Coolest Flower Festivals
-
“Manifesting Grace Through Gratitude” Did Oprah Winfrey and Deepak Chopra’s Meditation Challenge Really Work?
-
Chalo! What You Need To Make Your Road Trip Simply Rad
-
Our List Of Cool May 2019 Tech Gadgets That You Didn't Know You Needed
-
Keeping It Real: It's Time To Mindfully Embrace The Not So Perfect Pregnancy
-
Give Your Haveli A Boost Of Colour With This Year's Hottest Hues For The Home
-
Lifting Each Other Up: "The All About Women Show" Emphasizes The Importance Of Women Empowering Women
-
Chak De Chakras! What Are Your Chakras And Why You Should Care
-
The IN5 Experium: Stunning Exhibit Showcases The Golden Temple And The Tenets Of Sikhism
-
It Is All About You: Give Yourself Some Meaningful Self-Love The Mindful Way
-
You're Meditating Wrong: Our Mindful Tips For Masterful Meditation
-
It's Not Culture, It's Dangerous: 5 Signs You Are In A Toxic Relationship
Newsletter Sign Up
Subscribe to our FREE newsletter for all of the latest news, buzz, blogs and radio shows, delivered directly to your inbox!
MONTHLY 'REAL TALK' SHOW
AIRING
Recent Shows
Weekly Celebrity Talk Show
Airing
Recent Shows
