Global by design

When Malini Murjani decided she wanted to study fashion,she’d initially considered ready-to-wear fashion. “I’d never imagined that I would end up making accessories,” she reveals,“But now that I think about it,accessories are so important to any woman’s wardrobe. Almost every woman I know,even if she’s wearing jeans and a tee-shirt,makes sure to spruce up her appearance with a chic bag.” Murjani’s accidental foray into making bags proved fortuitous,since,clearly,she has a talent for it. Her eponymous label,with its lovingly detailed and luxurious bags,has graced the arms of many a fashionable woman,from top chef Padma Lakshmi to actress Sofia Vergara to Anna Wintour’s latest muse,Blake Lively.

The New York-based designer’s work has featured in several international fashion magazines,but it wasn’t easy getting onto those coveted pages. “There was a lot of trial and error along the way,till I finally found my strengths,” she says. Being the daughter of Mohan Murjani,chairman of lifestyle brand Murjani Group,helped only a little. “I grew up in an environment where there was an appreciation for fashion and style. Apart from that,being my father’s daughter helped some way in terms of introductions,but those only get you so far. After that,it’s your own hard work that counts,” she avers.

In India to host trunk shows,Murjani talks about how her designs have Indian roots,without being overwhelmingly Asian. “I design bags which I myself would like to carry with any outfit and for any occasion,so for that reason,they have to comfortably straddle Western and Indian aesthetics. The shapes are basic and practical,but each bag will have a small Asian twist,whether it is the hardware or some design detail,” she explains.