Jade to add a showroom and bespoke studio

Launched in 2008 by Karishma Swali and Monica Shah, Jade,

a boutique on Mumbai’s Pedder Road is known for its bridal wear range. The duo has now plans to expand Jade’s presence by including a bespoke studio and a prêt-à-porter showroom to cater to the ever-increasing demand for their bridal wear.

The expansion plans include adding two new locations, a new range of accessories and a complete revamp of their original offerings. So the focus would also shift to dressing up women attending weddings apart from the brides themselves. While the month of April saw the launch of Innana, their new label for Western occasion and cocktail wear, at a boutique in Kemps Corner, next on cards if a 5,000 square foot bespoke wedding studio at Lower Parel’s Peninsula Business Park, scheduled for August. The existing Pedder Road outlet will stock a wider range of Indian ready-to-wear collections and a new selection of separates.

Swali, a graduate of the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Mumbai, and Shah, an interior design alumnus of Rachana Sansad, Mumbai, with a fashion design certificate from the Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, London, UK, started off designing for the family business. Founded in 1984, the Shahs’ Chanakya International has four factories and an office in Bologna, Italy, which supplies embroidery, accessories and garments to some of Europe’s top high-fashion houses.

Jade was founded as a label for Indian and Western wear, and the flagship boutique offers two different collections. The designers soon realised the potential of bridal wear business. Since then three distinct lines are launched at their annual bridal preview every August, each created for specific rituals and parties: Vermilion for pheras featuring bright reds, oranges and pinks; Kalash with metallic styles for pre-wedding functions like mehndi and sangeet; Jewel for gem-encrusted lehngas for receptions.

In the next few months, the duo would also introduce a new range of separates, including a wider range of sari blouses, corsets, jackets, kurtas and dhoti pants and shoes and bags made in Italy.