Ozel bir Sey: Pret through Potlis

Necessity, they rightfully call the mother of invention. Shipra Nayyar found out exactly that when she couldn’t find that perfect invite for her marriage. Recounting her foray into designing and her bespoke line Ozel bir Sey, Shipra says: “The idea began with my own wedding invitation cards. I love personalising things and when it came to my own wedding invites I was very difficult to please! So I literally took the matter in my own hands and handmade over 100 invites with beautiful embroidered raw silk for my closest of relatives and friends. Our guests were overwhelmed to receive such an invitation and many of them still have their invites as a keepsake. Since then, we have been experimenting with Indian designs and motifs to create products that are unique and special.”

Derived from a Turkish phrase that stands for ‘something special’, the name, Ozel bir Sey, is apt for her line as it defines the philosophy behind what she does. An Instagram page that you should double tap especially if there is a wedding in your home, the line makes different products like potli bags, clutches, bespoke bridesmaid hampers, wedding give-aways and handmade jewellery.

The young designer’s creations are vibrant, colourful and eclectic capturing the gaiety of Indian weddings perfectly. Shipra adds, “Our ideas are inspired by the beautiful chaos of Indian weddings combined with the timeless elegance of the rituals involved. Our collections have something for everyone, whether it be a baaraat embroidered potli for a bride, or a pure silk potli to accompany her mother’s kanjeevarams.” Combining different varieties of handlooms from all over India with subtle traditional embroideries, Shipra ensures that her products are one of a kind.

For someone who needs to do something different each time she designs, is inspiration hard to come by? “Not at all,” laughs Shipra before adding, “Since I travel a lot, I find inspiration everywhere. One of the ideas is to make a collection of potlis that captures the uniqueness of some of my favourite cities whether it be the skyline of London or the canals of Amsterdam.”

With customization for her forte, (she even pulled off a potli design for a Game of Thrones fan with the Targaryen sigils on them!) Shipra says that the passion for creating beautiful things drives her. She explains, “If you love something, it is never work! You will always find time and energy to do what you love. Ozel also gives us a chance to train and employ people who are in need and it is fulfilling to give something back to the society and do our little share.”

With the wedding season on the anvil, for those looking to jazz up things a little bit this might be something worthy of checking out!

By Malik Thatipalli