‘My sister is a very lucky girl’

In a couple of weeks, the city’s brand conscious will have yet another indulgence to add to their list. Moschino, the super-hip Italian brand, is setting up shop at the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower. “Just like Mumbai, the brand doesn’t follow a norm. Its motto is – ‘do things that you feel are right’,” says Charu Sachdev, who is responsible for this coup of sorts.

The 26-year-old is a busy gal these days. Besides ensuring that the brand’s debut in India goes smoothly, she also has the wedding of her sister (model Priya Sachdev to restaurateur Vikram Chatwal) to prepare for early next year. “We haven’t decided anything with regard to the wedding yet. I haven’t even picked out my outfit neither has Priya. We are all ‘last minute’ people,” she laughs.

For those not familiar with this Delhi-based entrepreneur, she’s a scion of the India Export House family, who came back to India four years ago armed with a degree from the London School of Economics and a Masters in Law from University College, London. In the last couple of years however, she’s gained recognition for successfully bringing down several sought-after international labels to India.

One such thriving venture is the Tommy Hilfiger label of which she is the sole franchisee in Delhi, with two stores already up and booming. “Indians have a great sense of style and are not fashion victims, hence the market here has become important to the West,” she explains.

Definitely more than just a pretty face, when it comes to work, Charu knows exactly what she’s talking about. She’s clear that while fashion designers in India are brilliant, they lack a good corporate structure to help them grow As far as the fashion scenes in Delhi and Mumbai are concerned, she opines, “Delhi is ostentatious (and loud!) and Mumbai is relaxed, yet chic. A combination of both would make a perfect fashion city!” 

Unfortunately, while she doesn’t need family connections or amorous link-ups to define her, she’s mostly made it to the society pages on account of both. Like her alleged romantic liaison with musician Amaan Ali Bangash. “Such false speculation just makes things uncomfortable. But I’ve stopped getting worked up over such things,” she reveals. Her family, however, is something she is extremely possessive about.

“Any guy wanting to be with me would have to be family-oriented, just like my dad and brothers,” she sounds out. Of future brother-in-law Chatwal she says, “He is one of the nicest guys I know. My sister is very lucky to find him.”