Siblings make double the impact on India's fashion industry

It’s always fun to be working with someone who is on the same wavelength as you. And if that particular someone happens to be your sibling, there’s only more room for growth. The fashion industry is not an exception to such a partnership. In fact, sibling designers here come with an added advantage. And to understand that better, we’ve divided them into the veterans and the newbies. View slide show

The veterans
Mona Lamba and Pali Sachdev began their career at the behest of their friends in 1980s and since then, there was no looking back for these sisters, who are based in Kolkata. Pali tells us, “Both of us were interested in art and design was one of the forms. In fact, design was a major factor that held us together; Mona is good with interiors and flowers arrangements. Both of us were interested in clothes, and there weren’t many designers when we started out.” Though there were differences, the fact that they were sisters helped in sorting things out more easily. “There were more advantages than disadvantages, thanks to a deeper understanding that we share. The bond is much stronger, so it’s not easy to tear us apart. In our case, one is emotional and the other is practical, which helps balance things out too,” offers Mona.

Brothers in arms
For brothers Nikhil and Shantanu, the idea of working together came up when they were studying design and MBA respectively. “We had worked for a couple of years in the US and then decided to pull in our expertise and launch and nurture a fashion brand in India. Nikhil was to be the one designing and I  would look into the commercial aspect, which made us a great team. Nikhil and I are friends first and brothers later. It’s a healthy relationship for which, I believe, a deep understanding is required. We are lucky that it culminated into something worthwhile; we stand by each other in our strengths and weaknesses,” says Shantanu Mehra of the Nikhil-Shantanu duo.

Twin power
Riddhi and Siddhi Mapxencar are the latest pair of siblings to have boarded the fashion bandwagon. Riddhi, who has worked with Narendra Kumar, says, “We have been good in painting and have always wanted to become designers and designer Rohit Bal was our greatest inspiration. The best part of our partnership is that we understand each other’s mood swings and shortcomings. There are times when one person has to work more, but we are attuned now,” says Riddhi, who says she trusts her twin, Siddhi, blindly. “Designers like Nikhil and Shantanu inspire us; they have been in the industry for so long and have done pretty well for themselves,” informs Siddhi.

Awesome twosome
Designer sisters Gauri and Nainika have created ripples in the fashion industry of late. So much so that they are hounded by Bollywood fashionistas. “It’s a dream come true to be working together, we have grown up together and always been in sync with each other, and we hardly have any differences. We wouldn’t want it any other way, we have a strong design sensibility especially with regard to Western wear and we make a great team. We have come a long way from starting shop at a garage and learning from our mistakes,” says Nainika.

International flavour
Sisters Pamela and Archana, of Indian origin, are based out of London, but have been making themselves known in the Indian fashion industry off late. “We were born in India, grew up in various parts of the world and finally found an anchor in London. Our family is into the textiles business and it was but natural for us to get into designing. Being sisters, it’s all the more easy and fun for us to work together for apart the understanding, we can also trust each other blindly,” says Archana.