Favoured by fashion conscious Indians and the larger diaspora, Payal Singhal’s trajectory is one for the books. As she prepares to hit the 25-year mark, Payal Singhal is treading down the classic, old PS path, laced with vibrant hues reminiscent of her original colour palette. The designer spoke to us about her journey, recent collection and future plans.
ELLE: How did you get started in fashion?
Payal Singhal (PS): 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. Since the launch of my brand, we have been committed to reinventing classic Indian wear with an experimental twist.
ELLE: What do you consider to be the highlight of your design career?
PS: The biggest win, I would say, has been creating our signature India Modern aesthetic, one that we have tirelessly honed over the last 25 years. Even though it was often considered ahead of its time when we launched, we have continued to innovate with contemporary occasion wear featuring silhouettes like cropped lehengas, churidar skirt combinations, and just an overall deconstruction and reimagination of Indian silhouettes.
ELLE: Tell us about your latest collection.
PS: I have a long-time, deep interest in Islamic art and architecture, and these references have informed the PS design aesthetic early on. You’ll see them referenced across various collections. With Modern Mughals we have dipped into the wardrobe of India’s erstwhile royalty and reimagined their ensembles with a playful, present-day twist. The collection’s construction, silhouettes and embroidery have been interpreted in an Indian context but also modernised to appeal to the contemporary bride.
ELLE: What does the future look like for the brand Payal Singhal?
PS: The focus is on building Payal Singhal into a global lifestyle brand true to our bohemian-meets-vintage sensibility. We are already well on our way to this with collections not just in clothing and accessories but also jewellery, footwear, home furnishings, gifting and tech accessories.
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Also read, The DNA Of Indian Fashion: Payal Pratap
