Guided solely by her creative instincts, this designer embarked upon a journey of self discovery, of metamorphosis from being Girl Friday to creatively challenged friends into a full fledged designer who has carved a space for herself.
Today, her clients seek her Jayanagar boutique out from as far as Whitefield and Indiranagar, while others religiously visit her on their trips from the UK and USA, and get an entire new wardrobe designed by her before flying back.
Meet Shivani Talwar, a self-made designer. “I am amused when people come to me saying it’s so hard to find good tailors,” she told Metrolife. “But that’s the perception in people’s minds — a tailor is the only person who can stitch clothes to fit you.
Otherwise, there are lifestyle stores where you get good cothes but you have to compromise on price and usually, the fit. But we guarantee you clothes that fit you like second skin, without highlighting the flaws. My forte is clothes for plus-sized women.”
Her boutique is aptly titled ‘Just Your Size Designers’ and she makes it a point to measure up to it each time. “The idea to create started when I got frustrated getting readymade clothes that fit me without making me look fat.
I realised the problems plus-sized women face and decided to do something on my own. At first I designed clothes for myself, then for friends.
Word spread and I was designing wedding trousseaus for brides known to me and my friends. Soon I had people asking me to design for them for a price. Two years ago, I decided to plunge headlong into designing and opened my boutique,” she explained.
At the boutique, Shivani has master tailors who give shape to every thought she comes up with. “But I never force my designs on people. I sit with them and together we plan the designs. Usually people bring one set to ‘try it out’. But they soon come back with a bag full of dress materials, sarees which they don’t know what to do with and oddments, and ask me to ‘do something with them’,” she said.
Shivani is proud of the fact that most of her clients have never wanted to go to other designers after she did their dresses. “Designing is not a business for me, it is my passion. We believe in the mantra — look good, feel good without paying for the moon. Every woman must make her own style statement rather than become a fashion victim,” she smiled.
Shivani works with a range of fabrics including crepes, cottons, chiffons, georgettes, linen jute and satin, to create exclusive Indian and Indo-Western wear from tunics, kurtis, shirts, tops, skirts, pant sets, loungewear and maternity wear. Sizes range from M to XXXXL with prices starting at Rs 400.
Just Your Size Designers also specialises in bridal wear. Two-three months before the wedding date is what you need to give them and based on your budget, you can get a custom-made designer trousseau. And as part of the personalised attention, Shivani usually doles out vital tips on beauty, hair and skin care and pre-wedding diets!
Just Your Size Designers is at T-190, 16th Main, 36th Cross, 4th ‘T’ Block, Jayanagar (ph: 41502099).
