Haat is where the Heart is

At the same time, Singh acknowledges there’s a vast market for non-designer apparel. ‘‘The shops here in Dilli Haat cater to people looking for different clothes with a reasonable price tag. This place is truly a platform for artisans across the country,’’ he says.

The low prices, of course, are largely due to the absence of middlemen in the picture. But there are other factors as well. Pointing to a chikan kurta, Singh says, ‘‘For instance, this is not original Lucknawi kadhai. But since the untrained eye can’t tell the difference, this suits everyone.’’

While that realisation is still sinking in, Singh has moved on. Glancing at a group of foreigners strolling about in ethnic Indian dresses, the designer suddenly gets reflective. ‘‘India is happening these days. And Dilli Haat is like an encapsulation of India for foreigners. Everything about India is being celebrated, be it our culture, tradition or designs. The jamewar shawl and hand embroidery are very popular. Even sequin work, crystal work and brocade have a market,’’ he elaborates.

For all that, Singh says, work in fashion should not be taken lightly. ‘‘Kids passing out of fashion school think they’ve been taught everything. But theory and practice are two different things. It took me 10 years to find my feet. No way is the industry as glamourous as it looks from the outside,’’ he says.

But the positives in fashion outweigh the downside, Singh acknowledges. ‘‘Check out this Kashmiri work,’’ he says excitedly, bending over bolts of material at a stall. ‘‘That’s the best thing about Dilli Haat — one never knows what one finds here!’’