Women's Red Silk Tunic with Golden Zari Embroidery, "Holiday Crimson"

"I was born in a village in Punjab. My mother passed away when I was very little and I was brought up by my maternal grandparents. They took care of me like their own daughter and I must say I was blessed. My grandfather was in the construction business and he would travel to different places wherever he had building projects. My grandmother and I traveled with him, and spent time all over the country from south to east to north. Staying in many places and learning about different cultures and traditions really helped me to grow as a person.

"I went to boarding school to complete my high school. By then, my grandmother wanted to settle down in one place so we did.

"I then was able to complete an associate degree in mass communication at the Fashion School of Technology in New York. Because it was a fashion college, designing was a compulsory subject and I developed an interest in design. I received a Masters in education and then taught in many schools there.

"In the late 1980s, I returned to India, as my grandmother was not feeling well and I wanted to spend time with her. She was like my own mother and I loved her so much. Unfortunately I lost her just a couple of years later. This really devastated me and my world crumbled, as I was very attached to her. It took me many years to get over the loss but, as they say, life goes on and I also had to move ahead.

"I teamed up with a friend of mine and started designing home furnishings. It was fun and we did well but I wanted to start designing apparel and accessories.

"I believe in very simple but elegant design. I don't believe in going over the top with my styles. I use a lot of thread work, pin tucks, etc. I do not follow fashion moguls and my designs depend on my mood. I get inspiration from everything around me.

"I am so glad to be associated with Novica and hope this association is a lasting one."