Journalism of Courage
Walking in to Grutachi,a designer store in Kothrud,a visitor is struck by how bright and trendy all the clothes are. While the customers are free to take a look around and pick up dresses from the ready-to-wear range,the store attendant informs that the designer,13-year-old Prachi Badve,is available only by appointment.
A Class IX student at Abhinav Vidyalaya English High School,Badve is one of Asias youngest designers. With her newly-opened designer store,studies and board examinations next year,she has enough on her plate at the moment.
Her collection throws up an array of designs in Indian and western wear,even though Badve prefers to design western outfits. H er western line includes skirts,tops and short and long dresses. The Indian section of the store mostly has churidars and salwar kameez. Custom-made clothes and accessories are also available are different materials. I hope to design bags and accessories in future, she adds.
Badve sources most of her material from select shops in M G Road,Camp and also some shops in Mumbai. While she does the designing herself,the store has a master-tailor who brings the sketches to life. Customers looking for couture can even make an appointment with Badve to outline their preferences.
However,her parents who are happy with the progress she has made say that their priority right now is her studies. After her schooling,she plans to take up a fashion designing course and also on the agenda is opening her next store in Mumbai. But her dream is to design for Bollywood stars such as Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra. Many people in the industry think I am too young to handle the pressure. If I get an opportunity,Id love to design clothes for movies, she says.
