Introducing Pollyana Patel of Barker & Patel
I departed from modelling in catalogues and campaigns to complete my university degree, with honours, in Pure Mathematics. Shortly thereafter, I began a business career with Equitable Life Assurance Society, coordinating all IT support and training for 2,000 staff members. Recruited to the Halifax Bank Of Scotland in March 2001 to manage their Project Support Office, I soon discovered that my abilities and energy were also well- suited for the bank’s event management needs, where I focused my creativity and management skills to design and implement motivational events for 1,000+ staff. My experiences in event management and interpersonal motivation, combined with my background in modelling, inspired me to segue into the field of personal styling. I pursued a diploma from The Style Coaching Institute (U.K.) and am a Personal Stylist for professional individuals and groups seeking my guidance in wardrobe development, colour analysis, figure analysis, and, Psycho-cybernetics before moving to Bangalore with my husband and daughter 2 years ago.
On arriving in Bangalore, I volunteered for the Overseas Women’s Club (OWC) and served in the position of VP Activities & Events, assisting the club’s social objectives and charitable fundraising efforts to support 25 Bangalore-based charities.
I had an instant admiration and respect for Ritu and Rochana and felt truly honoured when asked to be the brand ambassador for Ritu & Rochana, as for me it epitomizes the essence of elegant, glamorous, chic, romantic, classy and comfortable apparel. Their creative vision is truly inspiring, their commitment to their designs is aspiring, their work ethics are admiring and their finish is just impeccable, in fact comparable to many of the International Designers.
Ritu and Rochana is an India based fashion label with a global view. It is the culmination of collaboration between two designers with diverse experiences and similar sensibilities- Ritu Pande and Rochana Dubey Mitra. Within 1 year of its launch in India, Ritu and Rochana is already retailing from Fuel in Mumbai, Bangalore and Pune, Chamomile in Mumbai, Aura in Nagpur, D’designers in Jakarta, Origins in Hyderabad and Ritu and Rochana Design Studio, Bangalore.
A play on textures, colors, patterns and silhouettes to create timeless beauty is the essence of true fashion. Ritu Pande has lived this mantra for over 10 years in changing hues of global trends. Her debut collection in Mumbai (1998 ) was the beginning of a journey which has seen her evolve as designer with a distinctly international sensibility. Honing her craft by working with eminent fashion designers in Malaysia as well as Indonesia, Ritu combined a Pan-Asian take on design with Indian artistry to create subtly glamorous and unabashedly feminine clothes for the modern woman.
In 2005 , she launched her label “Ave Verum by Ritu Pande” in Jakarta, Indonesia. Ms. Insana Habibie, the daughter in law of Indonesia’s President Jusuf Habibie hosted the label’s first fashion show. The clientele of Ave Verum is the crème de la crème of Indonesia- socialites, diplomats and prominent members of the Indian Diaspora.
A move to India in 2009 brought about collaboration between Ritu and Rochana Dubey Mitra. Their synergy created fresh magic and the launch of a new label ‘Ritu and Rochana’. Fluid draping, sophisticated detailing and textured accents mark their range of stunning cocktail dresses and evening wear. Ritu and Rochana make women look as well as feel beautiful by offering them versatile options- for a gala reception as well as a casual dinner party.
A passion for fashion has defined Rochana Dubey Mitra since a very early age. A true artist, she perceives fashion as an Art form, a methodology and a different canvas involving the process of design. She had her first show at the age of 19 covered by The Economic Times in June 93 and was amongst an elite group of talent from across the country, getting into National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi. One of the most promising students from the faculty of Fashion Design, she graduated to work with designers such as Anju Modi & introduced a new line of indo-western fusion wear for the design house.
A move to Mumbai led to her being roped in by one of the premier Design houses in India – Tarun Tahiliani’s Ensemble, where she was responsible for the prêt line. Driven by
entrepreneurial ambitions and a need for creative freedom, Rochana set up her own design studio in 2001 where she sold under her eponymous label making western and indo-western semi-formals for the contemporary Indian working woman. Two years later, a move to Bangalore resulted in a merging of creative energies by Rochana Dubey Mitra and Ritu Pande . The label Ritu and Rochana was born. Together they crafted a brand that valued itself for its commitment to the art of dress-making, to the functionality of design and most importantly to making a woman feel truly beautiful. The brand creates an exclusive line of western ensembles and prides itself as one of the few in Bangalore, creating truly elegant evening wear.
It is a combination of this immense respect and admiration for the Ritu & Rochana Brand along with my sheer passion for clothes, shopping and people and enthusiasm for the powerful effect of Style & Coaching on an individual’s external image, internal image and outlook on life has driven me to join the Ritu & Rochana brand as brand ambassador and PR consultant. Together our vision is to reach out to as many people as possible, taking each of them on the Ritu & Rochana Journey………….
Posted by : Pollyana Patel at 05:03 AM
Edith Barker & Pollyana Patel quickly became friends after meeting in Bangalore, India. Edith has a dual career in psychotherapy and fashion public relations; Pollyana is an image consultant, model, and the brand ambassador for Ritu & Rochana. They currently have two projects in development under Barker & Patel, and have agreed to join the FashionFad team to share their travels, experiences and musings.
