Designer Payal Singhal’s new line, Mayaa, was inspired by something wholly unexpected. “I stumbled upon a few pieces of jewellery from the Sumerian and Mesopotamian civilisations. The workmanship was beautiful and I was intensely fascinated. We’ve decoded those, and worked them into Indian embroidery,” says Singhal.
What about the prints we’ve come to expect of her? “This season we actually didn’t do prints, because we love to shock people. We’ll probably release a print later.”
Her silhouettes remain experimental, she explains – raised hem kurtas (cropped at the front, ankle length at the back) and low crotch pants. “It’s the kind of stuff you could wear on any festive occasion,” she says.
Actor Nimrat Kaur will be closing the show. Speaking about the experience of designing for her Singhal says, “I’ve worked with so many actors, but she’s been really easy to work with. She’s given me complete freedom, which actually kind of makes me nervous because now I really hope she likes it.”
“That’s a lot of pressure for me!” Kaur chimes in.
We couldn’t help but ask Kaur about her expectations from fashion week: “It’s kind of like fireworks. It’s over before you know it. When it happens it’s like, so amazing, so glam, but before you know it, it’s done. Over. You spend more time getting ready than you do on the runway!”
We listened in as Payal Singhal quizzed Nimrat Kaur:
PS: What’s the most tragic thing you ever wore?
NK: In college – in Delhi – it was cool to wear boots. But no one told us that you don’t wear boots in the summer, so I wore them through the April heat.
PS: Suffered for fashion!
NK: Yeah, fully.
PS: How would you describe my line in three words?
NK: Edgy, unpredictable and gorgeous!
PS: When I say lunch you think of…
NK: An incredible Indian film that became a massive success, that no one saw happening.
PS: What do you think fashion should be about?
NK: It should be about your individual style; it should start there. You should wear what your body can breathe in.
PS: what do you think it’s become about?
NK: It’s about what’s trending, which is fun if you want to try it.
PS: One outfit you can live in?
NK: Pyjamas!
Flip through the gallery to get a glimpse of the line
Photographs: Viral Bhayani
PS: Win a couples’ pass to Payal Singhal’s show, on August 26, 5:00 pm at the Palladium Hotel, Mumbai. In the comments below, tell us the name of the collection. Winner to be announced on August 26.
