Inside Payal Singhal’s spacious new outpost in Khar, Mumbai
By It’s impossible not to recognise a Payal Singhal ensemble when you come across one. The designer’s signature embroideries, in a distinct palette of colours, have found a loyal patron in the wardrobes of A-listers and everyday fashion enthusiasts alike. Two decades after opening her first store at Altamount Road in 1999, her eponymous label is now clocking in another milestone with the introduction of a couture outpost in Khar. However, the launch was not without its own adventures—on the very day that the store was slated to open, the shutters had to be lowered as the country was placed under a precautionary lockdown in light of the COVID-19 health crisis.
“We had to cancel the launch event we had planned and put everything on hold indefinitely,” reminisces the designer. Their problems were further compounded as the store was shut for an extended period of time. “The newly renovated space developed some mould as it was shut for so many months, and we had to work on getting it sorted slowly. I’m happy to say that we survived that phase and are now ready to open in time for the upcoming festive season,” she says.
Spread across 600 square feet, the contemporary space is underscored by vintage touches—mirroring the designer’s own old-meets-new aesthetic. Expect cement finishes juxtaposed with feminine pale gold fittings. She adds, “We decided to complement the collections with rustic flooring, brushed gold wire chairs and soft pink velvet upholstery.” Upon stepping within, all eyes are commanded by the iconic Jannat wallpaper from one of the designer’s previous collaborations. Style watchers will also have no trouble pinpointing Singhal’s signature prints splashed on cushions and other trinkets.