Spunky Revival

For Indian designers and retailers Lal Dora still brings haunting images of the vibrant fashion hub being heartlessly demolished. Five years later, jet-setting entrepreneur Shabnam Singhal is all set to breathe new life into the derelict area with her upcoming fashion and luxury mall in the vicinity.

Gallery@MG, a brainchild of Singhal, is slated to open in September and has already roped in some über niche national and international brands. “It was initially difficult to convince clients that the area would eventually become a fashion and lifestyle destination,” Singhal says, matter-of-factly. But 15 years in the business has taught her enough to cock a snook at trivial trade snags.

Her company Sirius, a luxury real estate marketing management firm deals with leasing, interiors, project management and building retail concepts. A true fashionista and a connoisseur of all things fine, she assures that her latest venture will live up to the breathless expectations of the capital making the gallery an opulent lifestyle and fashion destination in the city.

The mall will house both national and international high-end luxury brands that include Casa Paradox, AZA, Ravi Bajaj, Reynu Tandon, Versace Home, IPE Cavalli, and White among others, making it one of the most sought after retail heavens.

It hasn’t always been as easy. “Scepticism and criticism have been a part of individual views and though they can’t be taken too seriously they cannot be ignored also. The Indian Fashion Industry has seen the success of MG road and barring a few sceptics all have been quite confident in its revival as a fashionable destination,” she reveals.

Also the fact that the field has always been considered a strong male bastion makes her journey more surreal. “Real estate companies have traditionally been headed by men for decades, but challenges are the stepping stones to success and can be turned into opportunities,” states Singhal.

Her experience comes in handy to help understand the changing dynamics of the markets. “From the distributor era to the present retailer era the customer is still the king. But there have been huge changes in infrastructure and consumer awareness over the years. Marketing, promotions and retail is now looked at more holistically and is transformed into an art,” she analyses. The company’s past record exemplifies the fact. From Bengaluru’s biggest commercial property project UB City to the retail treasure house at The Park Hotel, Hyderabad to the über lush Square One Mall in Delhi, Singhal is clearly pushing the correct buttons.