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Styling with a difference
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From draping MTV artistes, popular models and now the hospitality industry, designer Puja Sahney has put her training in clothing science and trade to effective use.
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CHIC & STREAMLINED: The Curry `n' Rice uniforms.
SHE DESIGNED clothes for her sister, a make-up artiste with MTV, a set of chic yet functional dungarees to hold make-up tools which became a hit, and she ended up designing clothes for the MTV artiste Nandini for her shows in Dubai and Goa apart from her casual and formal wear lines. In the twin cities, "I did a red lycra swimming costume with a sarong for ex-model Shipra when she was going for the Mrs World pageant and lots of separates for model Jhanvi especially the famous Latin American dress for her portfolio shoot. It is a fun dress in bright colours," says the versatile designer Puja Sahney. "It was a very big hit. She understands your need and does not go overboard with colours," says Jhanvi about the designer.
Puja's logical approach to clothes stems from her sound textile, garment construction and clothing science degree from Lady Irwin College New Delhi, a fashion-designing course from JD Institute of Fashion Technology and a post-graduate in foreign trade. With a heady mix of fashion and business studies, Puja is now doing corporate styling as well, the 42 sets of uniform for Giant hypermarket, uniform for Viceroy Hotel sales and guest relation executives, ensemble for Taj Banjara executives and uniforms for Curry `n' Rice restaurant of the hotel.
"I have begun to enjoy doing corporate attires. I follow an ISO kind of procedure when it comes to uniforms. The biggest challenge is when the customer approves the dress. The management has to approve as well. Thus every facet has to be incorporated. Also I look for super functional clothes, for instance, you can't give stuffy clothes in summers for the sales team," she says.
VERSATILE DESIGNER: Puja Sahney
"Hotel industry is glamour driven. We are a part of show biz where the curtain does not draw at all. Over the last few years, the uniform has become a part of the whole ambience. Earlier the lobby and rooms were designed by interior decorators. Today the look is as important. It is essential to make your frontline people look smart. There are professionals you could take help from. For Taj luxury hotels we have Ritu Beri and for Taj business hotels Ravi Bajaj. For Curry `n' Rice, the speciality restaurant, we decided to go with Puja and she did a great job. The uniform is inspired by the charcoal paintings of the restaurant," says Satish Nambiar, general manager, Taj Banjara.
Chic cravat and aprons for boys and a conservative bow and streamlined dress for girls at Curry `n' Rice, the slim Chinese collar coat with mother of pearl buttons for the executives at Taj Banjara or a silver grey and peach dress for Hotel Viceroy, the lines are bright. Puja does drapes for men and women as well. "People from South Africa look for lots of colour and glitter-- stones and sequence, while those from U.K. and Canada believe more in cuts and opt for very classic and muted shades and natural fabrics, and those from Dubai go for filmy cut and still opt for satin. I have an informative client base from whom I learn a lot. I am more comfortable doing Western wear but have evolved my own style in the Indian lines as well, not too much zardozi as it will speak more than a person. I do costumes for lunches, soirées, work wear and for housewives. A toddler walking on four needs suitable clothes so does the wardrobe during pregnancy. When you cook you are supposed to know how to make a chapatti and pasta, as expected of a housewife. The same apples to fashion designing," she says.
"As a store policy, we accept fabric from the client though we have a collection here as well, in order to be more accessible. At times some overseas client brings back an interesting lace and we begin from that stage. I am a stickler when it comes to appointments so that clients spend quality time without being surrounded by others and I get to know them better and watch their natural posture to design clothes accordingly ," she says.
You can reach Puja Sahney at her studio Navika (Tel: 27815449), 301, Rock Pride Residency, Sikh Road (Near Diamond Point), Secunderabad.
SYEDA FARIDA
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