Page 37 - Travel + Leisure India & South Asia (January 2020)

this page Top, mini
trench and pants,
Neeta’s own; boots,
Aquatalia; rings,
Misho Designs.
opposite Trench, shirt
and flared pants,
Neeta’s own; belt,
Christian Louboutin;
shoes, Jimmy Choo;
rings, Misho Designs.

NEETA LULLA

The distinguished designer and costumer’s journey meant breaking stereotypes and rewriting the rules.

F or champions of their craft, finding and recognising intensive, to say the least, and there’s also
the added responsibility of having to inform
their calling comes in one of two ways: the passion
was always present, and was seen in every venture audiences about a specific culture.
they embarked upon; or, it was a fortunate accident. Neeta, for her part, has grown to
Neeta Lulla falls in the latter category. Her creations have integrate exhaustive research in every aspect
graced runways, regaled as costumes on the screen, and of her work. But she’s always done it her
been worn at elegant soirées of world leaders. She’s also own way. She was famous for bringing her
famous for adding the touch of authenticity to period daughter Nishka—a designer in her own
dramas, Panipat being the most recent. “I was told that I right—to her studio as a young mother, and FAVOURITE WORK
had to follow something, and I took up tailoring because she does the same with her grand-daughter. HOLIDAY
“I went to LA for the
I thought, ‘What’s better than new clothes?’” From there, Neeta knows better than most that people prosthetic works for
the rush of having to tell stories through fabric took over, try to put you in a certain box, and her Thalaivi, and that was
fantastic. I was in the
MAKEUP & HAIR ROSWITA AKOLKAR norm. Instead, I focussed on doing my own thing, should have their own milestones, their essence of that trip.”
and there was no turning back.
life has been all about breaking out, about
heart of Hollywood, and
having her own journey.
“From a very early age, I stopped following any
both business and
leisure became the core
And she believes that every individual
creating a style statement of my own. I use that same
formula today, and it’s something that keeps me going.”
own journey. Her other forte, bridalwear,
CITIES THAT
INSPIRE
represents this. She first aims to capture
But when you enter the world of costuming, balancing a
“Standing in the Piazza
statement piece with historical accuracy takes a special
the personality of the wearer. “It’s most
del Duomo in Milan,
important for me to create an outfit that
kind of process, and the lessons Neeta has learnt during
soaking in the street
fashion in Santa Monica
the bride can use later in life,” she says,
this journey have cemented her place as one of India’s
Bay, observing the
go-to costumers for period films. What started out
and believes an outfit must have longevity.
architecture of
Because the journey never really ends.
as a hobby grew into an almost patented process. It’s
Florence.”