Nishka Lulla follows in mom Neeta Lulla’s footsteps to launch her fashion label ‘Nisshk’. It comes as no surprise that ever since she was knee-high, Nishka Lulla dreamt of becoming nothing but a fashion designer. For, with a mother like ace designer Neeta Lulla, who has designed for mega-ventures like “Devdas”, “Taal”, “Jodhaa Akbar” and has draped beauties like Aishwarya Rai, Perizaad Zorabian and Celina Jaitley among others, to inspire her 24x7, how could Nishka even dream of anything else?
“Well, at one point, I did think of taking up medicine but that one got hidden amid layers of tulles, silks and chiffon constantly surrounding me!” laughs the perky 24-year-old who recently debuted with her label ‘Nisshk’ at a high-end Mumbai boutique, ‘Fuel’.
Striving for success
However, it was not a cakewalk for Nishka. “My mom doesn’t believe in giving me any special treatment. While she has been very supportive of my passion, steering me in the right direction in terms of education and work experience; I had to slog to prove my worth before launching Nisshk,” says the debutante who, after completing a three-year course in fashion designing from SNDT, interned with mum for two years over films like “Kisna” and several individual clients. “I couldn’t have asked for a better teacher; she’s hand-on, patient, and an excellent teacher who believes in leading by example by working as hard as her interns and who also knows how to nurture one’s creativity by respecting their opinions and allowing them space to create what they want to, albeit with quality intact.”
About ‘Nisshk’, Nishka elaborates, “It is a Western-line of cardigans, skirts, dresses in georgette, knit, cotton and lace with lot of frills for a feminine-chic look. I have also used shibori for an Indian touch. It’s a collection that will appeal to youngsters, especially teenagers, and is something I’ll want to wear.”
Nishka’s design philosophy veers towards Western creations; she likes to stylise and put together an entire look, which is why ‘Nisshk’ designs come immaculately accessorised as well! “I think a look is incomplete without the correct accessories and so supplemented my designs with the right accessories,” says Nishka whose designs are priced quite reasonably between Rs.2000 and Rs.9000, “to ensure that anyone can walk in and pick them off the shelf.”
Recognition
The youngster — who won the “Creative Excellence Award” for the “Barbie all Doll’d Up!” show at the Lakme India Fashion Week 2009, where she competed with many leading designers including Neeta Lulla — got to see her winning creation on the gorgeous Katrina Kaif. Apart from that, Nishka’s youthful, vibrant designs are also a hot favourite with stars like Amisha Patel, Genelia D’Souza and Sameera Reddy.
With plans to take ‘Nisshk’ across the country already in the pipeline, the designer, who is currently busy designing for a Rajashri Productions mega-venture, has now set her sights firmly on taking ‘Nisshk’ around the globe; as also opening her own boutique.
