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EXCLUSIVE: “Fashion is in dire need of moral policing,”opines designer Payal Singhal
If you thought Payal Singhal was only a fashion designer, think again! In an exclusive interview with Pinkvilla, the ace designer revealed that she will soon be stepping into the lifestyle section and home décor!
Every collection takes us by surprise. This time, Payal Singhal’s resort wear includes tribal prints and easy breezy, breathable fabrics. “I’m taking my cool new prints and forming a travel edit,” she starts off without much persuasion. Think kaftans, dresses and accessories like travel wraps that double as sarongs, shawls and even dupattas! But that’s not all, Singhal even has her own collection of travel kits that can be used as sling bags or as a pouch for toiletries and the likes. The idea behind this? Her struggle to find the perfect sized travel pouch when going on holidays. “These are products that have been designed for a need. All the other travel pouches are so small they barely fit anything!” says the designer who reveals that she is now expanding into a lifestyle brand.
Though she can’t reveal it all, she tells us just enough to keep our interest piping. “There are a bunch of collaborations to look forward to - wallpapers, perfume and even furniture.” These wouldn’t be her first collaborations. Previously, the designer collaborated with Fizzy Goblet to create juttis. “It started off around three years ago and was one of my first collaborations for my show. But the response was excellent and we are still going strong so much so that we come out with new collections every three months!” But what’s more exciting, is what is in store for Singhal next year. The designer is set to launch her own Pret line – PS Pret. “It is going to be more like print bazaar. Something that can be worn globally,” Singhal reveals but remains tight-lipped about everything else.
Her collection seems like a reflection of her personal style. “I always believe that less is more and have ensured that my designs portray the same.” When asked if she has a select few from the industry who resonate her style, she doesn’t shy away from taking names. “Neha Dhupia has an amazing style and never wears a piece the way I send it to her. Some might get offended at how differently she styles pieces but for me it is amazing because it gives me a new perspective. I also love the rock vibe Shibani Dandekar gives her outfits. And of course, nobody can match Sonam’s level of styling. To me, she is the reigning style icon. A lot of stylists seem to be repeating their looks and styling in their sleep right now and I’m so bored of it. Sonam and Rhea are the only two who seem to be working hard,” she says without inhibition.
A massive problem the fashion industry is facing today is that of plagiarism. And like many designers, Singhal too has been victim to it. Today, with popular page Diet Sabya generating new content everyday, Singhal too thinks fashion needs moral policing. “I myself have been a victim of plagiarism. It is depressing because we work so hard on creating our own pieces and it is copied in a jiffy and without any thought. It is painful and unfair to the designer. I know how hard I have worked in putting everything from the patterns to the colour combinations together. And we have started to copyright our prints so it is an open challenge to anybody who wants to copy our prints now.”
Singhal too, has been called out by Diet Sabya, but she assures us that the claim was untrue. When asked who she thinks Diet Sabya is, she says, “I think they are a bunch of people – boys and girls from Delhi. I think it is the language and their sense of humour that makes me think they hail from there.”
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