Face Off with Seema Roye

Many would know Ravi Roye for his connections and position, but who8217;s Seema Roye?
Silly, she8217;s the one we are face to face with. Sorry, we didn8217;t know somebody who8217;s prospering in interviews these days needs formal introduction too! In cold print, the facts run thus: Seema Roye is a fashion designer with her own bridal trousseau line Seema R, a boutique called Ecstacy at Breach Candy, opposite Croissants, and a workshop at Kewal Industrial Estate, Lower Parel. And how can we forget the in-thing, which is a web address. You can reach her at seemaroye.com.

A hoary tradition set by Mike Kirplani remember those hoardings that professed his formal shirt line in the early Eighties?, and followed by the likes of Rohit Bal, RaviBajaj, Ritu Beri and Kumar, Roye seems to be the new kid on the block!
quot;I have been around for some time now.quot; After 13 years of being a homemaker, Roye decided to make a career out of her hobby which was designing clothes for her friends and relatives. A course in fashion designing to polish her skills and another label hit the market. Her first workshop was at Nepean Sea Road with four tailors and two embroiderers, where she used to create 30 ensembles a month. Seven years down the line, she is a survivor. quot;And that too in an industry where is difficult to survive.quot;

We agree. But then the Indian market is roaring with fashion designers. Which category does Roye fall in?
quot;There are no categories here. It8217;s a field where winning is always an honour and losing is never a disgrace.quot;

Don8217;t tell us there8217;s no difference between pocketing a triumph and limping along!
Well, to know the difference, you need to know the difference between eau de perfume and eau de toilette.

So,what8217;s her claim to fame?
Remember, when Miss India-World 8217;98, Yukta Mookhi, unwaveringly walked the ramp, all eyes froze on to her Gown of the Millennium8217;?. quot;A unique blend of ethnic influences and metallic togetherness, the gown was inspired by the Aryan knowledge of Panch Dhatu or the mighty combination of five metals, each contributing its innate spirit to signify the five outstanding qualities of the woman of the new millennium.quot; Gold for beauty, silver for purity, brass for independence, iron for strength and copper for simplicity _ or so says the press release.

But what was the inspiration?
Her eldest daughter8217;s who8217;s 18, FYI name is Yookti. quot;Yukti. Yukta. The name inspired me, obviously. But more than the stimulus, it was Yukta8217;s height of 5.11quot; that was a challenge. To fit her frame, the design had to be horizontal, and the gold threadwork on her bodysuit made out of stockings wasn8217;t easy either. And it took me just three days to create it.quot;

But is the masterpiece makingheadlines for being exclusive or because the person who wore it won the crown?
quot;No one8217;s talking about Gul Panag8217;s evening gown. Isn8217;t it credit enough?quot;

n Any other feather in Roye8217;s cap or is this a case of stuck record?
We can8217;t help it if people are talking about her last year8217;s fall-winter collection Threads of Fantasy8217; now when on anvil is her Summer-Spring show in Mumbai and her trousseau spectacle in Toronto it8217;s wedding season from April to August in Canada.

What else?
quot;I have held shows in the UK and the States and had the honour of dressing up Melissa Ritu Bhagat who won Miss India Worldwide 8217;98 as a Canadian contestant in Singapore.quot; Also, to her credit are clients like Poonam Dhillon, Kiran Joneja and Neena Gupta.

Hiding their ever-expanding statistics?
That8217;s what most Indian women require. And it8217;s an art in itself.

And who designs for the family?
quot;I design for myself and my daughters. And casuals for my husband, though he loves LouisPhilippe for evening wear.quot;

We wonder why then people call her a badly dressed designer.8217;quot;Maybe because I always wear black, grey and beige, which are my favourite colours.quot;And what is this so-called badly-dressed8217; designer most likely to say?
quot;I would love to be associated with Harrod8217;s.quot;