Business
Fascinated by fashion
She has named her brand Je. "In French, ‘je’ stands for ‘me’ or ‘I.’ Je stands for confidence, individuality and the freedom to express oneself. While we can’t control the good, the bad and the ugly, some things that we can control are the style, the attitude and the individuality we portray!” says 23-year-old fashion designer Jennifer Mehta who studied fashion designing from the Bombay centre of Mod’Art International (a prestigious fashion institute) which has its headquarters in Paris.
Mehta not only creates clothes, but models them for her own brand as well. "Every Je original is bold and has certain design elements which are specific to the brand. It reflects the individuality aspect of every person. We are always on top of all the current trends but at the same time we create pieces that are original and which would suit each individual’s body type.” Her Winter 2012 Collection exhibited at the Shubham Art Gallery on Waterfield Road at Bandra in Bombay in December showcased the elegance of evening wear with sophisticated bijou gowns, Korean lace dresses in white and black, shimmer georgette draped gowns with tulip sleeves, etc. Bold zebra print maxis and short dresses with a stylish cut displayed her signature style.
"My USP (unique selling proposition) in today’s competitive fashion world would be the fact that my clothes are custom made to suit each and every person’s color, taste and body requirements. Until the client is completely satisfied, with repeated fittings and changes if required, do we say we have completed our order,” she explains. Most of the fabrics used are from Hongkong and Busan (in South Korea), hence the prices vary for each piece. "At the moment we retail online through our Facebook page and our website www.jecouturier.com We also take personal appointments through email (jennifer@jecouturier.com) or on the phone (9820841989). Tia Framroze, second runner-up at the Rustom Baug May Queen contest in 2011, wore a Je evening gown. "I have great admiration and respect for my community and I’m proud to be a part of it,” Jennifer avers.
When she was younger, it was never easy to find anything in her size as she was a little underweight, Mehta relates. "Either the clothes never fit me or the ones I liked were not my size. So I decided to make clothes that suited my body type and weight. One thing led to another and here I am today! I realized that it’s all about accepting yourself and loving the person you are and hence that is what inspires me – helping every woman just accept herself and her body and feel confident and beautiful in the way she carries herself.”
"My family has been very encouraging right from the very beginning. I would not have reached anywhere without their love and support. They are my world,” says Jennifer about her parents Neville and Tina and younger sister Sanaiya who is studying for her BMS (Bachelor of Management Studies) degree in H. R. College. Jennifer is also an alumnus of H. R. College, having done her BMS, following it up with a Masters in Commerce while studying fashion. She also worked for a year-and-a-half in Bombay with FITCH, a UK-based retail design and brand development company. "I was with the client servicing team and it was an interesting learning experience for me. It had a very healthy work environment that gave us the freedom to make our own strategies and help us grow as individuals,” she declares. Among the designers she admires most is Coco Chanel. "Her take on fashion, the way she revolutionized it and made clothes more wearable, more comfortable and at the same time look fabulous – there are no words to explain what an impact she has created in the world of fashion.”
Her academic background in business and her childhood fascination with fashion have motivated her to launch her own brand at a very young age in what is a highly crowded and competitive market. "I am looking for a store to shift into but until then fittings take place at the client’s house. My plans are to open my very own store in Bombay and eventually bring Je to the international arena,” she adds.
The journey so far, she says, has been "an adventure, thrilling and most of all challenging, which definitely helps me grow! It is a great feeling to be doing something you love and having people love what you’re doing! I wouldn’t trade it for anything!”
Mehta not only creates clothes, but models them for her own brand as well. "Every Je original is bold and has certain design elements which are specific to the brand. It reflects the individuality aspect of every person. We are always on top of all the current trends but at the same time we create pieces that are original and which would suit each individual’s body type.” Her Winter 2012 Collection exhibited at the Shubham Art Gallery on Waterfield Road at Bandra in Bombay in December showcased the elegance of evening wear with sophisticated bijou gowns, Korean lace dresses in white and black, shimmer georgette draped gowns with tulip sleeves, etc. Bold zebra print maxis and short dresses with a stylish cut displayed her signature style.
"My USP (unique selling proposition) in today’s competitive fashion world would be the fact that my clothes are custom made to suit each and every person’s color, taste and body requirements. Until the client is completely satisfied, with repeated fittings and changes if required, do we say we have completed our order,” she explains. Most of the fabrics used are from Hongkong and Busan (in South Korea), hence the prices vary for each piece. "At the moment we retail online through our Facebook page and our website www.jecouturier.com We also take personal appointments through email (jennifer@jecouturier.com) or on the phone (9820841989). Tia Framroze, second runner-up at the Rustom Baug May Queen contest in 2011, wore a Je evening gown. "I have great admiration and respect for my community and I’m proud to be a part of it,” Jennifer avers. When she was younger, it was never easy to find anything in her size as she was a little underweight, Mehta relates. "Either the clothes never fit me or the ones I liked were not my size. So I decided to make clothes that suited my body type and weight. One thing led to another and here I am today! I realized that it’s all about accepting yourself and loving the person you are and hence that is what inspires me – helping every woman just accept herself and her body and feel confident and beautiful in the way she carries herself.”
"My family has been very encouraging right from the very beginning. I would not have reached anywhere without their love and support. They are my world,” says Jennifer about her parents Neville and Tina and younger sister Sanaiya who is studying for her BMS (Bachelor of Management Studies) degree in H. R. College. Jennifer is also an alumnus of H. R. College, having done her BMS, following it up with a Masters in Commerce while studying fashion. She also worked for a year-and-a-half in Bombay with FITCH, a UK-based retail design and brand development company. "I was with the client servicing team and it was an interesting learning experience for me. It had a very healthy work environment that gave us the freedom to make our own strategies and help us grow as individuals,” she declares. Among the designers she admires most is Coco Chanel. "Her take on fashion, the way she revolutionized it and made clothes more wearable, more comfortable and at the same time look fabulous – there are no words to explain what an impact she has created in the world of fashion.”
Her academic background in business and her childhood fascination with fashion have motivated her to launch her own brand at a very young age in what is a highly crowded and competitive market. "I am looking for a store to shift into but until then fittings take place at the client’s house. My plans are to open my very own store in Bombay and eventually bring Je to the international arena,” she adds.
The journey so far, she says, has been "an adventure, thrilling and most of all challenging, which definitely helps me grow! It is a great feeling to be doing something you love and having people love what you’re doing! I wouldn’t trade it for anything!”
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