Designing dreams

For more than a decade now, not just the swish set but NRIs have dutifully lined up at her store for designer ensembles.

For more than a decade now, not just the swish set but NRIs have dutifully lined up at her store for designer ensembles. Given the fact that fashion is all about seasons and collections, Babi Grewal always has her hands full, all through the year.

8220;I start my day as early as six in the morning for that8217;s when I wake up my elder son and get him ready for school,8221; says Grewal who, after getting the elder son on his school bus, heads back home to get her younger son ready. 8220;Morning8217;s are always a rushed affair,8221; she says, driving her son to school before heading to her workplace 8212; her store 8216;Babi8217;s8217;, tucked away in the Sector-8 market. 8220;The shutters are up by 10:30 am after the covers are removed from the racks and the place is cleaned up, I am ready to face the day,8221; says the fashion designer who always sets her appointments a day in advance.

8220;The wedding season is in full swing now and since I have a bridal studio on the first floor, these are busy days,8221; Grewal says as she runs through her diary. 8220;From 11:30 to about 1:30 pm, I will be sitting down with clients, working out looks, embroideries, embellishments8230;since it8217;s a personalised profession, it is also very taxing. Then there are walk-in customers to deal with too,8221; says Grewal who also stocks up on jewellery and accessories like handbags at her store.

8220;My lunch break is always at the store. Usually, there8217;s a lull between 2 and 3 pm,8221; you hear her say even as she lists out instructions to her staff which includes an errand boy, a masterji at the store and also an assistant.

But lunch doesn8217;t see her put up her feet and take a breather. 8220;That8217;s when I conceptualise and take down orders for the day,8221; the designer says as she runs us through the next couple of hours spent on coordinating fabrics, gotas, sequins, cuts and silhouettes on paper.

8220;Usually masterji sits with me as I go about giving instructions,8221; says Grewal who has another workshop in Sector 45 supervised by yet another tailor on her rolls. Post five in the evening, ladies troop in again as the designer goes about showcasing ensembles and listing out ideas. Sometimes such 8220;sessions8221; run into hours over many cups of coffee. 8220;I make sure my last appointment ends around 7 or 7:30 pm,8221; she says.

She sits with masterji once again to finalise and chalk out the next course of action. 8220;Once I am done, I roll down the shutters around 8:30pm,8221; before she heads back home in Mohali to check up on the boys and their homework. 8220;Once I have tucked them into bed around 9 pm, I take a breather,8221; wraps up Babi who, apart from daily chores, also travels extensively, picking up fabrics and embellishments before the start of each season.

Story continues below this ad

Didn8217;t someone say life comes to a full circle!