Exclusive! Interview With LFW 2015 Designer, P.E.L.L.A

Hailing from the Queen of Hills, Darjeeling, this Bangalore based young, enthusiastic fashion designer Priyanka Ella Lorena Lama, P.E.L.L.A is one of those young fashionista's exhibiting her Spring/Summer collection at Lakme Fashion Week, 2015.

She did her schooling in Loreto Convent Darjeeling and graduated from NIFT, Bangalore. Her beliefs in life and philosophies about the core of fashion intertwines with the designs she creates.

With the teal streaked hair, sunshine smile and a twinkle in her eyes she talks to us about her journey so far. Let's read the interview taken by Boldsky correspondent Shradha Rai.

Live Updates Of LFW 2015

Tell us something about yourself.
- Uh...I'm PELLA, i.e., Priyanka Ella Lorena Lama, and that's actually my designer name and it's an acronym to my brand as well. I'm from Darjeeling but then I'm based in Bangalore because I did my college here in NIFT, Bangalore. I've made this my base because it's so similar to Darjeeling, the whole weather and everything.Plus I'm so familiar with the place I feel like it's a second home to me.

What's your philosophy on the art of fashion?
- So, my brand has this whole 'wabi-sabi' philosophy of life. It goes into the arena where it's more about simplicity, it's more about natural things, about how something is not complete, yet still complete. And since the 'wabi-sabi' way of living is such that you know, you are very authentic and gives a very wholesome view to it. If something is cracked, it's still beautiful. Being yourself is actually fashion. Looking at a larger perspective, people are so much influenced by the whole sartorial way of life. So who knows maybe by just being yourself, you might be the next inspiration for the runways.

How would you describe your theme of designs for LFW, 2015?
- This year for LFW, my theme is 'Utopia'. I call it Utopia because it is the Utopian existence of the mind, it's basically the mind emancipated through meditation. I was inspired by 'The Art of Living', Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. So, my designs deal with the 'seven chakras', the opening of the seven chakras and how it actually evolves into a wholesome mind. It's like you know, it is that point of state, your mind is perfectly blank but still it's so beautiful. My whole collection is purely unadulterated 'white' and all organic shades. As a designer I have very less stitching garment construction and less of closure. It's more about wraps and I make garments from a single block of fabric. I do less of cutting which means less wastage. Like my theme it goes around to become a wholesome design. At the heart of every design lies a circle, the basic element. And so, I would describe my whole collection as water, taking the shape of any vessel it is contained in. You wouldn't see what my garment is when in a hanger until somebody wears it taking the shape of the wearer.

Tell us about your journey till LFW.
-Everytime I went to Lakme, it was like I go watch someone's show or maybe help others but last time during Autumn/Winter, I got this very good vibe that people were actually asking me for passes if they could come for 'my show'. So you know, I got this whole good vibe, and I decided to apply and exhibit my collection.

Do you have a muse? And who is the most influential designer for you?
- I love Yohji Yamamoto's work, and that would be my ideal designer. The Indian designer would be Ruchika Sachdev. I love Abraham Thakore and Sabyasachi as well.

What according to you will be the top 2 trends for girls?
- One trend would be very short fringes, they are really good. And another would be, um...I really liked Carolina Herrera work this time. It's a three layered or three piece suit but its all connected. Like a jacket, tunic and a skirt which are all connected with the whole design. The print has connected everything together.

What are your 3 must haves in your bag everyday?
- A concealer, mascara and my i-pod.

Few words for the aspiring designers..
-Designing is always the 'beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder' kind of thing. You should not be worried about what goes where and if people might like it or not. It should be something like, you have to be satisfied with your own designs and you should like it and that should be the reason why it's beautiful. The thing is about perspective. People will say things so as to put you down but it's upto you, how you take that in a positive way and come out as the better half of it. And always be authentic, avoid plagiarism. You should know there is a fine line between a copy and inspiration.

My three I's I follow are 'Inspiration, Imagination and Innovation.'