(Image Credits: Instagram)
This method, first presented to him in 2018, seeks inspiration from the spectacular nuances and glimmering surfaces of the Sheesh Mahal of Amer Fort and incorporates them onto fabric via the technique of patra and intricate Kasab embroidery. Question 1: Chandi Tilla is now a well-known craft skill of the Punit Balana label. I first introduced it in 2018 with Gulabi Chauk, inspired by Jaipur’s rich visual heritage and the Sheesh Mahal at Amer Fort. Question 2: From your perspective, do crafts like Chandi Tilla help keep Jaipur’s historic craft heritage alive for the youth? Question 3: You describe yourself as someone who loves to party. That combination of grandeur, ease, and playfulness is very much a reflection of my personality. (Image Credits: Instagram) Question 4 : In your latest offering, we can see that embroidery of coins is placed in unusual and fun designs. Question 5: Indian weddings are extending to cover post-wedding parties, intimate dinners, techno parties, and rave-type celebrations. This has encouraged me to approach occasionwear with greater versatility, combining Indian craftsmanship with contemporary silhouettes. (Image Credits: Instagram) Question 6: Is the wedding lehenga finally losing its monopoly over Indian wedding fashion?
His latest collection, MOH, also offers the same philosophy and is a perfect selection for close-knit dinners and post-wedding events to dance parties, but here comes the real twist, as he believes that traditional lehengas no longer rule these events. (Image Credits: Instagram) He recently shared his thoughts in an exclusive interview with The Times of India and revealed his thoughts on the craft legacy of Jaipur, the Chandi Tilla evolution, and modern-day wedding dressing. Have you ever wondered what happens when the splendour of Jaipur’s Sheesh Mahal meets the vibrancy of a contemporary dance floor at a wedding? Indian designer Punit Balana has a remedy to the question in Chandi Tilla. When did you feel it had become part of the brand identity? Punit Balana: Chandi Tilla has been an important part of my design journey for almost a decade. The technique translates the architectural detailing and reflective surfaces of the Sheesh Mahal onto textiles through patra and delicate Kasab embroidery. Over the years, I continued to revisit and reinterpret it across collections. I think it became part of the Punit Balana identity when it developed a recognisable language of its own while remaining rooted in Jaipur’s heritage. Punit Balana: Absolutely. I believe traditional crafts stay relevant when they are allowed to evolve. With Chandi Tilla, I have tried to retain its connection to Jaipur’s architectural heritage while bringing it onto contemporary silhouettes and giving it a more modern expression. When a craft feels fresh and wearable, it can continue to be appreciated and passed on. What part of your personality is reflected in the collection? Punit Balana: I have always enjoyed celebration, dressing up, and the energy that comes with it, and that naturally finds its way into my collections. I like creating clothes that feel glamorous but still allow you to move and enjoy yourself. With MOH, there is a sense of light, reflection, and ornamentation, balanced with modern silhouettes. What was your approach to reinventing a process of creating embroidery that has already become a trademark of the brand? Punit Balana: Once a craft becomes associated with a brand, I think the challenge is to keep finding new ways of looking at it. With MOH, I wanted to take the familiarity of our embellishment language and make it feel fresh through placement, scale, and its interaction with the silhouette. The idea was to retain the richness of the craft while giving it a more contemporary and playful expression. I want the craft to remain recognisable, but for every collection to offer a new perspective. What has this new wedding culture meant for your design experience? Punit Balana: It has made occasionwear much more diverse and exciting. Punit Balana: I don’t think the lehenga is losing its place, but the Indian wedding wardrobe has certainly become more diverse. Women are exploring saris, drapes, anarkalis, contemporary separates, and other silhouettes depending on the occasion and their personal style. For me, it is less about replacing the lehenga and more about giving women greater freedom of choice. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test Get the latest Lifestyle News and more. Download the TOI app.
Almost ten years have gone by since then, and Balana continuously reinterprets the method while discovering how it is transforming the world of celebration attire. For me, it is about creating a bridge between heritage and the way a younger generation wants to dress today. Weddings today have so many different celebrations, each with its own mood and personality, which allows me to explore a wider range of silhouettes, styling, and embellishment. Today’s customer also wants clothes that allow her to participate in the celebration, to move, dance, and feel comfortable while still looking elevated. Today’s wedding wardrobe is about individuality, versatility, and ease, while continuing to celebrate Indian craftsmanship and tradition.
