Monday 18 August 2014

  1. JJ Valaya
    Fashion designer
  2. JJ Valaya is a noted Indian fashion designer and couturier from New Delhi, India. He founded the House of Valaya, a luxury fashion and lifestyle house in 1992, along with his brother TJ Singh.                       Born: October 8, 1967 (age 46), Jodhpur              Education:National Institute of Fashion Technology                     JJ Valaya (Jagsharan Jit Singh Ahluwalia, the name was shortened to J J Valaya to create the Valaya fashion label) was born on October 8, 1967 in the state of Rajasthan in India but spent most of his childhood traveling to different parts of the country due to his father's various postings in the indian Army. He studied commerce at college and planned to be a chartered accountant eventually. But his passion for beautiful things and fixation for the rich Indian art and culture took him to the National Institute ofFashion Technology New Delhi (NIFT) where he graduated in fashion design in 1991

    Early life

    1. J J Valaya (Jagsharan Jit Singh Ahluwalia, the name was shortened to J J Valaya to create the Valaya fashion label) was born on October 8, 1967 in the state of Rajasthan in India but spent most of his childhood traveling to different parts of the country due to his father's various postings in the Indian Army. He studied commerce at college and planned to be a chartered accountant eventually. But his passion for beautiful things and fixation for the rich Indian art and culture took him to the National Institute of fashion technology now delhi (NIFT) where he graduated in fashion design in 1991.

    Career

    He trained under a pioneer in Indian fashionRohit Khosal, before starting his own label. With his elder brother TJ (Tribhavan Jit) Singh, JJ Valaya founded The House of  Valaya in 1992 with the launch of its couture label. Valaya’s creative vision together with his brother’s organizational abilities have been the key factors for the success of Valaya as a luxury brand. Around 2003, when he launched his pret line, he was already retailing fashion and lifestyle products under three brands: JJ Valaya, Studio Valaya and Valaya Home-Life, in which his first couture label,JJ Valaya, comprising his trousseau line launched in 1993.The brand today encompasses Couture, Ready-to-wear, Home and a CSR prerogative, The Free Spirit Foundation also known as FSF.


    In 2010, Valaya's collection of ALIKA showcased at several events in Dubai was highly acclaimed. In this collection, the storyteller in him found expression through which he narrated the story of the female musicians of India’s royal courts and their romantic affairs with the princes of the land, Alika, his fall/winter range consisted of finely worked jalabiyas, kaftans saris and anarkali-churidars. Valaya has used his couture creations to tell stories that intrigue him. That’s perhaps part of the reason for his fascination with India’s royal history. This collection also saw the birth of his signature Alika Jacket.



    In 2011, Valaya's Winter/Festive collection at Lakme Fashion Week titled TASVEER received positive reviews. The collection combined Valaya’s twin passions: photography and fashion. The collection was inspired by the evolution of photography from black and white to sepia to hand-stained, natural and digitised images. It was an interesting journey of colours and an amazing story, told through clothes. Valaya, in one of his interviews said “It’s almost like there are two personae in me: the photographer and the fashion designer. I intend to keep both alive,” there was also about 10 menswear outfits that included sherwanis, bandhgalas, breeches and Nehru jackets. 
    In 2012, Wills India Fashion Week Valaya's collection AZRAK stayed true to its meaning - rare and common. The collection was inspired by West Asia and the Ottoman Empire of Turkey. His creations had juxtaposed elements of minimalism and grandeur, Western and Indian silhouettes, traditional motifs and modern drapes & feminine form. The range showcased saris, jackets, anarkalis, breeches, blouses and dresses. Showstopper Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut was dressed in a pristine white gown teamed with traditional Indian jewellery and a rich brocade Maharaja coat. The surprise elements on the ramp were faces such as Suneet  Verma, Rohit bal, Navtej Johar, Jamie Stewart, Sumant Jayakrishnan and Navin Ansal to name a few, who were among the twelve showstoppers that took to the runway for the designer. 
    The year 2012 also marks 20 years of JJ Valaya work in the fashion industry. The designer took a series of initiatives — launched a limited edition financial year calendar in Delhi. Shot by noted fashion photographer Tarun Khiwal, the April 2012 to March 2013 calendar has Valaya’s close friends and “wonderfully inspired individuals”.

    Valaya introduced the ‘Diasun', a pattern comprising two inverted ‘V' and the sun motif from the JJ Valaya crest, which now comes on every garment produced by the label in some way or the other to put a stop to plagiarism and imitations of the market.

    JJ Valaya is a founder member of the Board of Governors of the Fashion Desigh council of India 
    The designer currently has around 250 embroidered workers and craftsmen working exclusively for him out of 40,000 sq ft headquarters in Delhi.

    His clothes have been worn by various GCC royals and celebrities including Joseph Fiennes ,Cate Blanchett , Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor.

    He remains one of the biggest names in the bridal trousseau market in India, and was one of the first Indian labels to invest in sampling, research and development at their "House of Valava" establishment at Manesar  on the outskirts of Delhi.




Tuesday 5 August 2014

  1. Ritu Kumar
    Fashion designer
  2. Ritu Kumar is one of India’s foremost fashion designer, and the first woman to introduce the ‘boutique’ culture in India under the brand name ‘Ritu’. 
  3. Born: November 11, 1944 (age 69), Amritsar
  4. Children: Sshvin Kumar
  5. Education: Briarcliff collage , lady lrwin collage
  6. Movies: The sun is not still starting 
  7. She is one of India’s foremost fashion designer, and the first woman to introduce the ‘boutique’ culture in India under the brand name ‘Ritu’. She has developed a unique style of her own, reflecting the ancient traditions of Indian craftsmanship in a contemporary vocabulary. With a background in art history and museology, which has enriched her horizons, Ritu’s understanding of ancient designs and the innovative use of traditional crafts has created a new classicism.
    Ritu Kumar as a brand has been admired and worn all over the world. Its patrons include Indian stars such as Vidya Balan, Aishwarya Rai, Priyanka Chopra Lara Dutta, Dia Zmirza  to name a few and international celebrities such as the Mischa Borton , Anoushka Shankar and Anna Ivanovic Since 1994, Ritu Kumar has also designed the wardrobes for the Femina Miss India contestants for their participation in international beauty pageants such as Miss universe, Miss world and Miss Asia pacific. Ritu Kumar’s outfits have also been patronized by style icons such as Late Princes Diana and jemima khan
    Ritu Kumar has been awarded the padma shri Award 2013, the country's fourth highest civilian award for her exceptional and distinguished service in the field of fashion, textile and craftsmanship.
  8. Ritu Kumar is credited as being one of the first Indian designers who was catalytic in bringing a contemporary idiom to several ancient skills and has been a strong force in marketing them to a dynamic modern India. Over the years, Ritu Kumar’s work as a fashion designer has shown a progression, which has matured beyond textile crafts. She has a unique ability to evolve with each collection into creative styling, translating textures and embellishments into refreshingly new and contemporary silhouettes, making her work particularly relevant from India’s fashion point of worldview.
    While Ritu Kumar’s forte lies in traditional Indian clothes that draw heavily on the textile and embroidery heritage of India, she has also evolved another style for the young buyer, a collection that in her words has “redefined traditional handwriting to meet the changing needs of the new generation.” The inspiration of these garments is basic Indian motifs, prints and embroideries but with the usage of a wide range of western silhouettes mingled with Indian styles.

Monday 21 July 2014




  1. Rohit Bal        
    Fashion designer
  2. Rohit Bal is a fashion designer from New Delhi, India. He designs for both men and women.Rohit Bal was born in Kashmir. He graduated from Burn Hall School, Srinagar and then received a Bachelors degree in history from St. Stephens College . 
  3. Born: May 8, 1961 (age 53), Kashrmir
  4. Siblings: Rajiv Bal
  5. Movies:True West 
  6. Education:National Institute of Fashion Technology, St. Stephen's Collage, Delhi
  7. Bal started his career with his brother Rajiv Bal in New Delhi in 1986 the Company Orchid Oversea Pvt.Ltd, and started his own first independent collection in 1990.
    Bal was also chosen by the Khadi Gram Udyog, the largest handloom textile operation in Panchkula to work with them. Bal won the 'Designer of the Year' award at the Indian Fashion Awards in 2006. He has also won 'Designer of the Year' at the Kingfisher Fashion Achievement Awards in 2001. He was announced as the Lakme Grand Finale Designer for 2012.
    Bal has designed for the game show Kaun Banega Crorepath



     Bal opened a flagship store in Delhi, as well as stores in Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Chennai. Bal has also ventured into the designing jewellery.  
    Bal's clientele list includes Uma Thurman, Cindy Crawford, Pamela Anderson, Naomi Campbell and Anna Kournikova. Most of his fashion shows in India, New York, Paris and Singapore are sponsored by The Swatch Group. He has also been the brand ambassador for Omega SA since 2001.

    He is best known for his use of Lotus and Peacock motifs.

  8. ROHIT BAL COLLECTIONS

    Rohit Bal takes his inspiration from everywhere. Rohit Bal designs evidently defy norms and regulations and venture into the creative and free side of fashion. Adorned with richness, sophistication and sartorial splendor, Rohit Bal dresses are a class apart.Rohit Bal combines both in his collections, Indian traditions and western sensibilities. Instead of being garishly covered with embellishments, Rohit Bal designs are subtle, unique and creatively adorned with lavish yet refined craftworks. Rohit Bal latest collections are flaunted by the biggest names in the Indian Celebrity world, especially Bollywood actors and actresses like Sharaddha Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Ileana Dcruz, Genelia D’Souza, Deepika Padukone etc.
     




  9. At the India Bridal Fashion Week 2013, the Indian fashionista and style icon of all girls and women, Sonam Kapoor, walked the ramp in a rich, mesmeric Rohit Bal Lehenga in cream colourm kundan work and gold embroidery. A Rohit Bal Anarkali Salwar Kameez was worn by Miss Universe Canada Sahar Biniaz which was in off white colour and had a reddish maroon festive shrug jacket. Other colours used prominently in the collection were royal blue, black, white, and beige etc. Elephants, peacocks, and lotus motifs are Rohit Bal’s favorite and are commonly seen on many of his designs


Sunday 20 July 2014

Sabyasachi Mukherjee


Sabyasachi Mukherjee

PROFILE


Summer of 1999, Sabyasachi Mukherjee graduated from the National Institute of Fashion Technology, India with three major awards. Four months later, Sabyasachi started his eponymous label which began with a workforce of just three persons. Over the years, he has successfully built a clothing brand which has a very strong social perspective. Quick to understand the demands of the Indian market, Sabyasachi has created a brand that has represented a comfort zone to global Indians and remained undestroyed through major socio-economical-political changes.






Early 2001, Sabyasachi won the Femina British Council’s most outstanding young Designer of India award,  which took him to London for an internship with Georgina Von Etzdorf, an eclectic designer based in Salisbury. Returning home with edgier ideas, Sabyasachi started retailing at all major stores in India.




In 2002, Sabyasachi participated at the India Fashion Week where his debut collection earned him  rave reviews from the national and international press. On a cover by Women's Wear Daily, considered the most coveted international trade magazine, he was reckoned as the future of Indian fashion.




Sabyasachi Collections

Sabyasachi collections are characterized by sophistication, royalty and elegance. He has himself described his collections as a revival of the ancient and the medieval imperial elegance.
Sabyasachi sarees and Sabyasachi Lehengas are usually seen to have off beat and understated colors that are brought alive by highly detailed embroidery and work. Sabyasachi has admitted that his work is an ode to the unusual, the non-commercial and to the path less taken.
Sabyasachi Mukherjee launched his designer label as soon as he passed out of the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kolkata in 1999. With 3 major awards already in his kitty, the designer started out with a workforce of just three people. His designs and the brand has always stood for and honoured Indian traditions and textiles to a great extent. Sabyasachi built his brand over the years with concern for the Indian market, as well as global Indians. In 2001, he won the Femina British Council’s ‘Outstanding Young designer of India’ award, which opened doors to an internship in London with the eclectic designer Georgina Von Etzdorf. Sabyasachi returned home with brighter design ideas and started retailing his brand at all major stores in the country. - See more at: http://www.metromela.com/designers/sabyasachi/#sthash.aeEBB5yd.dpuf
Sabyasachi Mukherjee launched his designer label as soon as he passed out of the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kolkata in 1999. With 3 major awards already in his kitty, the designer started out with a workforce of just three people. His designs and the brand has always stood for and honoured Indian traditions and textiles to a great extent. Sabyasachi built his brand over the years with concern for the Indian market, as well as global Indians. In 2001, he won the Femina British Council’s ‘Outstanding Young designer of India’ award, which opened doors to an internship in London with the eclectic designer Georgina Von Etzdorf. Sabyasachi returned home with brighter design ideas and started retailing his brand at all major stores in the country. - See more at: http://www.metromela.com/designers/sabyasachi/#sthash.aeEBB5yd.dpuf
Sabyasachi Mukherjee launched his designer label as soon as he passed out of the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kolkata in 1999. With 3 major awards already in his kitty, the designer started out with a workforce of just three people. His designs and the brand has always stood for and honoured Indian traditions and textiles to a great extent. Sabyasachi built his brand over the years with concern for the Indian market, as well as global Indians. In 2001, he won the Femina British Council’s ‘Outstanding Young designer of India’ award, which opened doors to an internship in London with the eclectic designer Georgina Von Etzdorf. Sabyasachi returned home with brighter design ideas and started retailing his brand at all major stores in the country. - See more at: http://www.metromela.com/designers/sabyasachi/#sthash.aeEBB5yd.dpuf


















Manish Malhotra


Company Overview



Manish Malhotra started his career in 1990 as a Costume Designer in The Indian Film Industry, popularly known as Bollywood. Having won the first Filmlfare Award for Costume Design in 1995 for the film Rangeela, and styling for over 1000 films, Manish Malhotra has redefined and contemporized costumes in Indian Cinema and still continues to win many prestigious awards till date. His label is a hot favourite when it comes to styling India’s most glamorous Bollywood celebrities. Manish has not only designed clothes for most of the leading actors in Bollywood but has also designed clothes for International Stars like Michael Jackson, Jermaine Jackson and wife Halima, Van Damme, Reese Witherspoon, Kylie Minogue and supermodel Naomi Campbell.




Manish Malhotra’s areas of creativity span the broad spheres of Bollywood, design, styling, diffusion and everlasting bridal and couture. Manish is the first Costume Designer to have ventured into mainstream fashion in 1999 with his high profile couture store. He launched his own eveningwear couture label under his name ‘Manish Malhotra’ in the year 2004.


Manish has showcased his collections at various International Fashion Weeks like The South-Africa Fashion Week and the Dubai Fashion Week. His label is synonymous with opulent, contemporary Indian wear. His intention has been to create glamorous ensembles with Indian traditional colors, textures, embroideries, and craftsmanship.
Manish continues to create spectacular collections under his label and is one of the most coveted designers for Brides and Bridegrooms all over the world. His label currently retails across Mumbai, De
lhi, and Dubai amongst others.


Manish Malhotra is one of India's most successful fashion designers. Malhotra has designed for many leading actresses in Bpllywood. He is known in the Indian film industry for his different style and his ability to envision a 'look' for the character. He is known for designing the costumes for Urmila Matondkar in the film Rangeela. Stars including Sridevi Kaiol, Karisma Kapoor,Juhi Chawla , Kareena Kapoor,Rani Muskherii,Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, , Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif, Sonam Kapoor, Deepika Padukone,Sonakshi Sinha, Preity Zinta and Alia Bhatt have worn his designs.
Although he usually designs for women, he designed for Shahrukh Khan in Mohabbatein and Imran Khan in I Hate Luv Storys. He was also asked to design clothes for Michael Jackson when he visitedIndia for a Bollywood show.
 His designs have been seen in films such as Raja Hindustani, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenga Kuch Kuch Hota Hai ,Dhadkan andKaho Naa... Pyaar Hai.

Manish has trained fellow designer Surily Goel, who made her debut at Lakme Fashion Week 2006.
In 2005, he began a talk show named The Manish Malhotra Show.Manish Malhotra is considered to be India's leading and most successful fashion designer.
Manish Malhotra has designed for many leading actresses in Bollywood. He is known for his different style and his ability to envision a 'look' for the character. 

He is most probably known for designing the costumes for Urmila Matondkar in the film Rangeela. Stars including Kajol, Karisma Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Rani Mukherji, Aishwarya Rai, and Preity Zinta have all worn his designs. Although he usually designs for women, he designed for Shahrukh Khan in Mohabbatein. He was also asked to design clothes for Michael Jackson when he visited India for a Bollywood show.
His designs have been seen in films such as Raja Hindustani, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Dhadkan and Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai
Manish Mahlotra is a known face as he is one of the most successful fashion designers of Indian fashion Industry.  He is specialist in designing the outfits for bide and bridegrooms. He started his designing career as a costume designer in bollywood movies in the year 1990 and today Manish Mahlotra is not just a fashion designer, he is a brand.