A New Design: Payal Singhal on her fashion journey so far - See more at:

A New Design: Payal Singhal on her fashion journey so far .

                    designer Payal Singhal’s first brush with fashion came in the form of a ‘Shoppers Stop Designer of the Year’ award at the age of 15. At the presentation ceremony, the moment Aishwarya Rai stepped on to the ramp, dressed in her creation, Singhal knew she was hooked. While she eventually studied fashion design at SNDT University, launched her eponymous label in 1999 and cut her teeth in the ruthless retail atmosphere of Mumbai, Singhal credits the six years she spent in New York, post her marriage, for helping her grow as a designer and entrepreneur. Having established a sizeable NRI client base in the interim, when she did return to India five years ago, it was with renewed zest and a new understanding of her aesthetic and style statement.

Her label’s 15-year creative progression has overlapped with Singhal’s self-discovery. Today, she has an online store catering to the international market and a celebrity clientele that keeps her in the news constantly. She keeps abreast with current trends by strengthening her social media presence, has become pretty active on Instagram and is all set to  take her label into its next phase with her first-ever show at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week’s (WIFW) Spring-Summer 2015 edition in October. Here are edited excerpts from an interview where Singhal discusses milestones, regrets and the path forward:

What has the journey been like so far?

I have grown with my brand. When I started the label, I was 22; now I’m 37. It’s been a very personal journey, because I’ve had to learn everything on the job. I’ve had my moments of self-discovery on the runway. If I look back now, I wouldn’t change it. But whenever young designers come to me for advice, I tell them to work with an established designer for a few years before launching their own label. I didn’t do that. I’ve not had a chance to do my homework, ponder and dabble. I tell them don’t do things for someone else, do it for yourself and your clientele. I did struggle in the last 15 years; I took too long to come into my own. But it’s better late than never.

Your design aesthetic has seen a radical shift in the last few years — from filmy and blingy to modern and minimalist. How would you describe it now?

I started my label under my parent company, which was a ready-to-wear Indian clothing brand. Even though there was no influence in terms of design, the process was closely monitored by my parents and we also had pre-conceived ideas of what worked or didn’t

But when I moved to New York five years later, I let loose. I went to the Fashion Institute of Technology and I was at continued…