PEAKLIFE

International fashion designer Pria Kataaria Puri believes being the best version of yourself brings out the best in others around you.

Her label PKP is the toast of the fashion circuit in India and abroad. Her glamorous persona breathes sheer panache. Her penchant for globe-trotting takes her to virtually undiscovered locations across the world. Fashion designer Pria Kataaria Puri has carved her virtual fiefdom (India, Middle East, US…) over the past 25 years, designing free size clothing for women, as she believes that every woman has the right to feel beautiful.

“I have been through different sizes in clothes myself, ranging from XS to XXL, at different points in my life,” says Pria with signature candor as we chat. “I understand how important it is for every woman to look good. My creativity makes me shape an exquisite outfit from scratch, and this then becomes a source of joy and happiness to another woman. The fact that I am able to bring value to others through my work makes me happy and powers my passion,” she says.

What inspires Pria deeply is the strength of a woman. “From Indira Gandhi who ran the country with an iron hand and stood tall, to my grandmother who was widowed at a young age in Kashmir and ran a hotel single-handedly to bring up her children – it has been a validation of female power for me all the way. Madonna, being ahead of her times and supporting LGBT, Maharani Gayatri Devi with her poise and panache…have been incomparable,” says Pria, who wishes to zap away the ‘snob’ tag from fashion, a rampant presence in cosmopolitan cities like Mumbai, Milan, New York, London… “This is the era of mindful thinking. I believe fashion is all encompassing, it is for everyone, and should not be restricted to the private domain of a select few.”

Coming of a progressive family, she was raised to be a career woman. “That was my biggest challenge. I always wanted to be more than a daughter, wife, mother. I carved my own identity, created my own brand to bring value to myself and to the women who wear my clothes. I have always been fuelled by my ambition, even at a time when it was considered an anomaly for a woman of a well-to-do family to work. My friends also looked down upon me, questioning my time investment and explaining that was a tremendous challenge. But I did it, with the support and love of my parents and husband. It was tough, travelling alone way back then, raising brows, leaving kids for long spells owing to business meetings…but it has been worth it. My hard work and persistence have paid off.”

There were tough times when she was building her brand. “On a few occasions, I did contemplate downsizing my work, but then told myself that the families of my 100 odd employees depended on me for livelihood. I feel the key to happiness is knowing what you want. Once you have that clear in your head, everything falls into place. I believe in investing time into what is the priority at that particular point in your life. For me, educating myself through travel is important. I make time for vacations with family and friends. I slog for 7 months in a year, putting in 14-16 hours in a day. I give my work by 100 percent when I am in its throes. When I am with loved ones, I am present 100 percent. That is the secret behind my happiness and my art of balancing,” she smiles radiantly.

(As told to Shilpi Madan)