After 16 years of blissful married life, being a fabulous mother and a supportive wife, Payal Pratap decided to do something that was just for herself. In 2010, after handling husband and more famous half of the Prataps, Rajeshs production and merchandising, Payal launched her label, quietly from multibrand stores. And with encouragement from friends and batchmates (NIFT 1994) like Namrata Joshipura, Manish Arora and Puja Nayyar, she is ready to fly solo with an opening show at the WIFW on Oct 6, Pragati Maidan.
Moving away from the shadow of her husband, Payal has her own signature style and look, Indian but with a contemporary twist. Gypsy would be the right word, almost folk-ish, says Payal, as she sits across her large desk and hopes to start working on her press release soon.
A quick look at her collection and you will see, a touch of Gujarat, with a burst of colours in her intricate embroideries, delicate gathers at the waist and cross stitch detailing dexterously placed on choli-inspired kurtas, draped dhotis, Kutchi tops and roomy shalwars. Two people may be married but their design philosophy and ideas may be quite disparate. My look is more of a fusion, while Rajesh is a minimalist, she smiles.
With cool cottons, Monga silks, silk cottons and Chanderis dominating the spectrum, Payal admits that working with her husband, the perfectionist had instilled discipline. Rajesh pushes the proverbial envelope, he has a no compromise attitude and this is what I have taken away from him, she says.
And besides two beautiful children that they raise together (11 and eight), Payal, the seasoned multitasker, has added spunk in Rajeshs organized life. I am 39 years old, if I didnt follow my dreams now, it would be too late, it was now or never. I was getting too complacent and enjoying my mundane routine, but the label has given me a new life, added excitement and a spring in my step, she says.
And the one lesson that has stayed with her since her NIFT days, is a passion for work, doing what you do with fun, and utmost belief, as well as not to be scared of experimentation or adventure is what motivated her to swim into the dark, deep ocean of designing. But it seems like this ace swimmer is set to win the last lap!