She sought the advice of her artisans who transformed sketches into embroidery on khakhas. Working closely with her pattern master and tailor, she laboured over fit in a bid to create silhouettes that were at once rooted in tradition yet modern enough for the Indian woman. Slowly, her enterprise grew from one to six karigars and a tailor. 

Then, there is the undeniable impact of her grandfather, Gyanji. His love for finery influenced Dhaddha who adorned her garments with gemstones, elevating tops and shirts. But the gemstones aren’t simply adornment but a source of cosmic energy. Each stone carries its own strength and power and Dhaddha handpicks them after careful consideration. 

A deep connect to the physical and metaphysical world characterises her work. Savannah, Hemji’s first collection, revolved around the four elements of nature—air, water, earth and sun. While the second collection, Senso (Japanese for war), had the undertones of bravery and selflessness. 

Priyal Dhaddha’ approach to design has always been rebellious and experimental, but rooted in the idea of the heirloom, of generational wisdom passed down from elders to her. Her approach is also traditional and lost in time. She believes in a process that is slow and conscious, tied to the sentimental nature of keepsakes.

Now on her third collection, Dhaddha remains steadfast in evolving her own style, learning each day and divorcing fashion from fad. “You can’t force creativity…I’d rather enjoy the process, the journey of creating masterpieces and focus on something that lasts and can be passed down to generations. And that takes time,” she says.