JJ Valaya
Encyclopedia
JJ Valaya is a noted India
n fashion designer and couturier
from New Delhi, India. He founded the House of Valaya
, a a luxury fashion and lifestyle house in 1992, along with his brother TJ Singh. A founding member of Fashion Design Council of India FDCI and the first global brand ambassador of Crystal giant Swarovski, he has been designing for men and women, and has bridal and evening collections in addition to day-wear and ready-to-wear for over 20 years. As a fine art photographer, he released his first book, Decoded Paradox in 2011, in the same year as he also closed the day one of the Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) winter/festive 2011, debuting a fashion collection inspired by photography.
in India but spent most of his childhood traveling to different parts of the country due to his father's various postings in the Indian Army
. He studied commerce at college and planned to be a chartered accountant eventually. But his passion for beautiful things and fixation for the rich Indian art and culture took him to the National Institute of Fashion Technology
, New Delhi
(NIFT) where he graduated in fashion design in 1991.
, before starting his own label. With his elder brother TJ (Tribhavan Jit) Singh, JJ Valaya founded The House of Valaya
in 1992 with the launch of its couture label. Valaya’s creative vision together with his brother’s organizational abilities have been the key factors for the success of Valaya as a luxury brand. Around 2003, when he lauched his pret line, he was already retailing fashion and lifestyle products under three brands: JJ Valaya, Studio Valaya and Valaya Home-Life, in which his first couture label, JJ Valaya, comprising his trousseau line lauched in 1993. The brand today encompasses Couture, Ready-to-wear, Home and a CSR prerogative, The Free Spirit Foundation also known as FSF.
He remains one of the biggest names in the bridal trousseau market in India, and was one of the first Indian labels to invest in sampling, research and development at their "House of Valaya
" establishment at Manesar
on the outskirt of Delhi.
First Indian student to win The Prixd’ Incitation at the Young Designers International Competition held in Paris.
The event was organized by The Concours International des Jeunes Creatueurs de Mode. (1990)
Won the Elyxa Award at The NIFT Graduation Show, New Delhi. (1991)
Won the Thapar Dupont Medal at The NIFT Graduation Show, New Delhi for the most innovative use of fabric(1991)
Won first prize at the KLM-NIFT Alumni competition held at Mumbai, India. (1992)
First Indian designer to show along with an American designer (Todd Oldham) in New York at the Plaza Hotel, 5th Avenue in a unique fundraiser. (1998)
Founder Board Member of the Governing Council/ Board of Directors of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI). (1999)
First Brand Ambassador for the crystal component division of global crystal giant, SWAROVSKI in India.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n fashion designer and couturier
Couturier
A couturier is an establishment or person involved in the clothing fashion industry who makes original garments to order for private clients. A couturier may make what is known as haute couture. Such a person usually hires patternmakers and machinists for garment production, and is either employed...
from New Delhi, India. He founded the House of Valaya
House of Valaya
The House of Valaya is a luxury fashion and lifestyle house in India. It is involved in design, manufacturing and retail of apparels , home accessories and signature tapestries under a host of brand names. It was founded by brothers, JJ Valaya and TJ Singh in 1992.The House of Valaya is located at...
, a a luxury fashion and lifestyle house in 1992, along with his brother TJ Singh. A founding member of Fashion Design Council of India FDCI and the first global brand ambassador of Crystal giant Swarovski, he has been designing for men and women, and has bridal and evening collections in addition to day-wear and ready-to-wear for over 20 years. As a fine art photographer, he released his first book, Decoded Paradox in 2011, in the same year as he also closed the day one of the Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) winter/festive 2011, debuting a fashion collection inspired by photography.
Early life
He was born on October 08, 1967 in the state of RajasthanRajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
in India but spent most of his childhood traveling to different parts of the country due to his father's various postings in the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
. He studied commerce at college and planned to be a chartered accountant eventually. But his passion for beautiful things and fixation for the rich Indian art and culture took him to the National Institute of Fashion Technology
National Institute of Fashion Technology
National Institute of Fashion Technology is a prestigious fashion institute in India. It was set up in 1986 under the aegis of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India and is a premier institution in design, management and technology, developing professionals leadership positions in the...
, New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
(NIFT) where he graduated in fashion design in 1991.
Career
He trained under a pioneer in Indian fashion Rohit KhoslaRohit Khosla
Rohit Khosla, , was a pioneer of Indian fashion. He started his own label in 1987, along with his sister, designer, Rohini Khosla.-Early life:...
, before starting his own label. With his elder brother TJ (Tribhavan Jit) Singh, JJ Valaya founded The House of Valaya
House of Valaya
The House of Valaya is a luxury fashion and lifestyle house in India. It is involved in design, manufacturing and retail of apparels , home accessories and signature tapestries under a host of brand names. It was founded by brothers, JJ Valaya and TJ Singh in 1992.The House of Valaya is located at...
in 1992 with the launch of its couture label. Valaya’s creative vision together with his brother’s organizational abilities have been the key factors for the success of Valaya as a luxury brand. Around 2003, when he lauched his pret line, he was already retailing fashion and lifestyle products under three brands: JJ Valaya, Studio Valaya and Valaya Home-Life, in which his first couture label, JJ Valaya, comprising his trousseau line lauched in 1993. The brand today encompasses Couture, Ready-to-wear, Home and a CSR prerogative, The Free Spirit Foundation also known as FSF.
He remains one of the biggest names in the bridal trousseau market in India, and was one of the first Indian labels to invest in sampling, research and development at their "House of Valaya
House of Valaya
The House of Valaya is a luxury fashion and lifestyle house in India. It is involved in design, manufacturing and retail of apparels , home accessories and signature tapestries under a host of brand names. It was founded by brothers, JJ Valaya and TJ Singh in 1992.The House of Valaya is located at...
" establishment at Manesar
Manesar
Manesar/मानेसर is a fast growing industrial town in Gurgaon district of the State of Haryana in India, and is a part of the National Capital Region of Delhi. It has transformed from a sleepy village to one of the fastest growing townships in India. It is an upcoming area of NCR. Some of the...
on the outskirt of Delhi.
Awards & Recognitions
JJ Valaya's success in the fashion industry has been recognized by a number of awards including:First Indian student to win The Prixd’ Incitation at the Young Designers International Competition held in Paris.
The event was organized by The Concours International des Jeunes Creatueurs de Mode. (1990)
Won the Elyxa Award at The NIFT Graduation Show, New Delhi. (1991)
Won the Thapar Dupont Medal at The NIFT Graduation Show, New Delhi for the most innovative use of fabric(1991)
Won first prize at the KLM-NIFT Alumni competition held at Mumbai, India. (1992)
First Indian designer to show along with an American designer (Todd Oldham) in New York at the Plaza Hotel, 5th Avenue in a unique fundraiser. (1998)
Founder Board Member of the Governing Council/ Board of Directors of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI). (1999)
First Brand Ambassador for the crystal component division of global crystal giant, SWAROVSKI in India.