RAVING ABOUT REHANE: SHE'S GOT IT AND SHE FLAUNTS IT
Asmita Aggarwal (HT City)

She insisted on climbing a pyramid in her four-inch stilettos on a trip to Egypt with her husband. Admits Rehane Yavar Dhala, the drop-dead-gorgeous Chennai-based designer, “I design for the sex-dripping kinda woman, who wants to make a splash. My clothes are for women who would sleep in those killer heels. Those who want to look serious should try Rajesh Pratap.” That’s Rehane for you. The Paris-born designer’s journey into the fashion world began when she sent across a few of her sketches to her famous neighbour Valentino in ’90. “He told me I had it in me to make it big. I joined the European Institute of Design in Rome. Then I worked with seamstress Madame Inetti who taught me all about pattern-cutting and finishing,” she recalls.

Rehane is miffed about the fact that foreign buyers have been kept away from out-station designers at the LIFW. “We have so many fitting problems. There were no provisions to get our alterations done. FDCI should at least see the effort put in by us, carting our collection from Chennai to Delhi,” she says.

However, designing took a back seat for a while after Rehane got married in ’92. “I won the best designer award in ’96 in Mumbai for a Peshawari outfit. After that I launched my boutique in December ’98, in Chennai.” Ten years down the line, Rehane sees herself as a name to reckon with in the global market. “I came to LIFW thinking it will get me good domestic buyers but it got me business from Hong Kong. But they are all potential buyers and I hope the orders materialise,” she says.