JJ Valaya

Place of Birth: Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Label: JJ Valaya, Valaya Home, Studio Valaya, Valaya Quantum

JJ Valaya is some times referred to as the 'Monarch of Indian Fashion'. His splendid collection of hand embroideries and exquisite bridal trousseau are a rage in the fashion world globally. His effort to create timeless attires, with dollops of contemporary classicism clinging onto it, has a fresh look and looks distinct from all the other designer wears. JJ Valaya is also regarded as the trend setter of the fashion fraternity. Though his roots are dipped to the past, he infuses with it the spanking new styles. His label that was established almost three decades earlier still has strong grip of the market and excels in wedding attires and evening wears, for both men and women.

Early Life
Ruled by the planet Saturn, according to his date of birth, JJ Valaya comes from the Desert of India - Jodhpur in Rajasthan. Born in an army family, he was brought up in various cities of India, along with his two elder brothers. His creative skills are apparent from the fact that he remained the best artist and calligraphist in school for five years at a stretch. He did his graduation in the commerce stream from Chandigarh College

After graduation, Valaya worked as a chartered accountant. However, this did not continue for a long time, as after 18 months he put his wings to fly and followed his desire of becoming a fashion designer. In 1989, he got admission in NIFT, Delhi. He graduated two years later, after winning various awards that included The Prix de Incitation in Paris, The Thapar-Dupont Medal, The Elyxa award and the KLM-NIFT Trophy.

Career and Success
JJ Valaya was the first designer to host a solo fashion show in India. He was also the first Indian designer to showcase his collection along with prominent International Designer Todd Oldham. Hand in hand with brother, TJ Singh's entrepreneurial abilities, he launched his brand "JJ Valaya" in 1991. His brand consisted of couture line of attire, which gained great accolades from the fashion fraternity. This was followed by "Valaya Home" in 1996 and a prêt label "Studio Valaya" in 1999.

In September 2006, House of Valaya entered into a licensing agreement with Genesis Color Private Ltd to design and manufacture its diffusion label "Valaya Quantum". Valaya's novelty and his brother's entrepreneurial capabilities have made the House of Valaya a pioneer in the Indian fashion Industry. He is a founder member on the Board of Governors of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) and the Official Brand Ambassador for Swarovski, India.

Brand and Clientele
House of Valaya is one of India's most respected fashion houses. It not only caters to fashion lovers, but also provides a whole lot of luxury products, such as furniture, tapestries, stunning fabrics and home furnishings, haute couture and footwear, apart from cuisine. JJ Valaya has several successful solo fashion shows in his kitty, including the ones in New York, London, Paris, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong and Johannesburg as well as in most major Indian cities. He also made an entry into Bollywood, with the film Yaadien. Valaya also has a long list of clients, but would not name them giving them total privacy.