Made to Measure

A white picket fence opens up to a small patio which leads to her  store. The space is modestly done up in white, with a chandelier and slim tree barks adjacent to a shelf, lending the only visual elements. A mannequin, with a dry flower arrangement for a head, flanks the entrance. “I wanted my clothes to be the focus, infusing colour into the interiors,” says Raaj. Small shelves near the door house chunky jewellery and embellished velvet clutches, both of which have been outsourced.

Two racks display her designs — there are pastel-hued and jewel-toned sari gowns, dhoti gowns, lehenga saris, cowl pants with corsets and dhoti saris. The bodices are mostly sheer, “like work done on second skin”, and intricate, featuring heavy zardozi, pearl and beadwork.
“My design sensibilities have always leaned towards Indo-Western silhouettes. I love drapes and creating different styles with them,” she says.

Another aspect that sets her designs apart is their versatility, she asserts, pointing to the cutwork jackets, that can be teamed as effortlessly with jeans and T-shirts, as with saris. Newer designs include sheer capes with bustiers and a few pret pieces, like one-toned palazzo jumpsuits in raw silk and georgette, and tie-dye gowns. “Most of the pieces are heavily embellished and since people look for interesting mixes in their trousseau. I thought of adding lighter pieces that are ideal for pool parties and the like,” says Raaj. Having styled the lead pair of  Heropanti in the past, Raaj says that Bollywood plans are on hold for now and her  focus will be on her store  and her next collection.

shikha.kumar@expressindia.com