Nikki Duggal runs Mixed Juice Design. She chats exclusively with boho-chic designer Anupama Dayal for MissMalini.

Anupama Dayal
Anupama Dayal

It’s a warm saturday afternoon in New Delhi and I am headed to the mall for the opening of Anupama Dayal’s new store in DLF Promenade, Saket. The store is small in size but has lots of personality, colour and spunk–much like its owner… as I soon discover.

Gisele Bündchen
Gisele Bündchen

We get chatting under a huge poster of Gisele Bündchen (dressed in Dayal’s clothes) as this Kolkata born designer takes me through her collection and tells me why she loves fashion so much.

Anupama Dayal
Anupama Dayal

What does fashion mean to you?

Anupama Dayal (AD): Its a buzz in my head that just doesn’t stop. Not just fashion but the whole nine yards. The designing, the handprinting, my customer, the women’s empowerment that comes with it, the high of being in different countries. It’s a lot of fun, and I am happy to be here.

You love colours; what is your pick of the season?

AD: I have some perennial favourites, lifelong favourite and flavours of the week. My lifelong favourites are green and several shades of white. Currently, I love turqoise as it’s the flavour of the week.

Tell me about your current collection. Is there anything new in terms of technique/materials?

AD:The print story for the ‘Ishq-e-Dilli Collection’ are inspired by Turkish and Mughal designs. We’ve developed a print called the Mumtaz Jaal and little bits of pop colour everywhere. These accessories are doing really very well. They are made of paper but are very strong, and the trims are done by the women’s empowerment programme that we run in the haveli where our studio is located.

Indrani Dasgupta for Anupama Dayal
Indrani Dasgupta for Anupama Dayal

Who is your favourite model?

AD: I love Indrani Dasgupta. I’ve been lucky enough to have worked with Indrani right from the time I started. She has a great understanding of the brand, has a huge Anupama wardrobe, and is a dear friend. Of course, I also really enjoy working with the rest of our models during the fashion weeks.

A
Anupama Dayal and friends

Any fashion brands that you are fond of?

AD: Abraham and Thakore, Sabyasachi, Dries Van Noten.

“I love what I do–it’s the air that I breathe. I studied business, but fashion is all I ever did and it is all I ever will do. The buck stops here.”

Moving away from fashion, what do you do for fun?

AD: Well, my work is fun for me, and I love participating in design fairs, designing crockery… I cook Bengali and coastal food. I have a very open mind for music I dont have any particular favourites as I do in art and fashion but I know what I like and don’t like.

Anupama Dayal
Anupama Dayal

Any favourite foods or restaurants?

AD: I love Japanese. In Delhi, I enjoy Tamura in Green Park Market. I miss Bengali food a lot; my favourite would be hilsa, which I also cook at home.

What’s next for Anupama Dayal?

AD: We work quite a bit with Anthropology in the US and are sending them a fairly large summer collection. We also have a new line of clothing coming out at Good Earth, and Pernia’s Pop-Up Shop has been fantastic for us.

She rounds off by saying:

“I love what I do–it’s the air that I breathe. I studied business, but fashion is all I ever did and it is all I ever will do. The buck stops here.”