With lush jewel tones, ornate detailing on elegant fabrics and rich motifs with contemporary silhouettes, Mumbai and Kolkata based fashion designer Jaya Misra’s clothes define the identity of free-spirited women. Her overwhelming global presence led her to showcase her designs in China, USA, Australia, Brooklyn, Boston, Philadelphia, London, Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai, as well as at the prestigious Vancouver and Belgrade Fashion Weeks.

Her work has earned several awards and accolades such as the Best Fashion Designer award from her institute NIFD, Best Upcoming Designer and Best National Designer awards at the 17th and 18th Lions Gold Awards respectively and felicitated by steel magnate LN Mittal for “Naari Shakti” in 2012. Recently, Misra bagged the Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Award 2018 for Social and Business Entrepreneur of the year.

She was the official designer for Femina Miss India pageant for 2012 and 2013. Her designs got featured in a fashion-themed film India Says, which got screened at the Miami Fashion Film Festival 2014 and London International Fashion Film Festival.

Besides a flagship store in Kolkata, Misra retails from various cities across India and abroad. She is also an entrepreneur who is associated with four other companies — a pharmaceutical organisation named UniLab India, aesthetic skin clinic Body Granth, nutrition and health café Food Granth and a 360-degree consultancy firm Brand Bucket. Excerpts:

Q.Have you always wanted to become a fashion designer?

Yes. I love to create trends and fashion of my own. When I was younger, I always preferred to design my own clothes and get them stitched from the tailor than buying readymade ones from branded stores.

Most importantly, being a fashion designer has developed in me a sense of achievement which I get when I see a lot of people wearing my label. It also makes me extremely proud when key industry players consider me a trailblazer. This is not only because I am being fashionable, but also for setting the standards and calling the shots.

Q. Where does your inspiration come from?

I have always observed and admired the femininity that surrounds me. They inspire each of my creations glorifying a dazzling femininity through the magnificence of noble materials and impeccable cuts.

Q. What’s your signature touch that distinguishes your work?

It is the outstanding handcrafted bridal wears which is the pre-eminent factor of the label. It is also considered the USP of the brand.

Q. You have received various awards and accolades. What, according to you, makes your work so much appreciated?

I never considered my work as a duty but as my passion. I feel, creative persons can’t be made but are born with the quality. When we work with love, automatically the dedication gets reflected on us. And we all know that hard work and dedication pays.

Q.Could you share some experiences of working with celebrity clients.

Amitabh Bachchan, Aditya Roy Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Mugdha Godse, Shilpa Shetty, Elli Avram, Evelyn Sharma, Huma Qureshi, Konkana Sen Sharma, Ayushmann Khurrana, Rituparna Sengupta, Vanya Mishra, Narmada Ahuja, Sayali Bhagat, Tulip Joshi and Reeth Mazumdar are few amongst the most prominent celebrities, who have enrobed my designs.

I have shared a good experience with each of them — Bachchan is a really humble person. When I worked with him, he was not only punctual but was always present before time.

Fernandez is a sweetheart and very lively girl. People like Avram, Sharma, Qureshi, Khurrana are all sweethearts with positive work ethics. Personalities from Tollywood like Rituparna Sengupta, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Dev, Jeet and Rachana Banerjee are all good friends of mine and are very dear to me.

Q. You have also started other initiatives besides fashion designing. What motivates you to do so many things simultaneously?

I am such a person for whom working is as necessary as breathing. I can’t seat without working even for a second. Being blessed with such energetic mind, I decided to extend my work and explore different industries. The aim to fly high and set a benchmark for every girl to fulfill their dreams is what motivates me the most.

Q. What are your future plans?

I believe in the saying — “The future is handmade”. Thus I don’t depend on fate. By being earnest and devoted to our work, we can mend the rough paths of life. And my ambition is to grow higher with the growth of my community.