Who or what inspires you the most and why?
The designers who I work with in India, whose knowledge of textiles is exceptional.
How would you describe your clothing company Maharani?
For people who want to wear beautiful clothes in which they feel confident.
What made you want to create a high-end Indian-influenced clothing line and why did you choose to be based on Fulham Road?
India has the greatest silks, cottons and colours in the world. Each state of India offers something wonderful. I wanted to bring to London just some of the riches there are to be found. South Kensington is a great area and we are lucky to be next to Amanda Wakeley and Theo Fennell.
Who are your style icons?
Alexander McQueen and Sarah Burton – the brightest stars in the firmament of designers.
Do you collect anything?
All sorts of quilts and lustre ware.
What is in your fridge at the moment?
White wine, mozzarella, salad, pasta and crème caramel.
What fashion item could you not live without and why?
A LBD and a Maharani silk-embroidered jacket.
What has been your proudest moment?
Having a biography of WB Yeats dedicated to me.
What is your most cherished item of jewellery?
My grandmother’s pearl necklace.
What celebrity would you most like to style and why?
Helen Mirren – a great actress and so stylish.
Who would you most like to be stuck on a desert island with?
Mario Testino, who would have many interesting stories to tell and photographs to take.
What do you consider your necessities in life?
Coffee, wine and escaping to Lincolnshire.
What was the last cultural event you attended?
Rusalka [Dvořák’s bohemian take on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid] at Glyndebourne.
What are your aspirations for this year?
To make sure my customers are well dressed and that my family are happy.
