Fashion
Inspired by her childhood in Rajasthan, polio survivor Priyanca Dhami's desire to create shoes that make women feel beautiful, led to the inception of her footwear label
When you are born in Rajasthan, it is only natural that you have a flair for colour and a love for style. 36-year-old former banker Priyanka Dhami, now based in London has started her eponymous shoe brand, Dhami London with Jaipur as the muse. “As a child I loved to roam the glorious ancient palaces of Rajasthan, not realising how their intricate architectural beauty and the vibrancy of the local people would shape my creativity and shoe design in years to come,” she paints a vivid picture. Dhami, a self-taught shoe designer contracted polio at a very young age which naturally impacted her relationship with footwear. "Shoes were a huge obstacle—I had to wear medical shoes to make sure I was comfortable, and this really drove me into creating elegant, statement footwear that makes every woman feel beautiful.”
Dhami London currently offers shoes in three heels heights: flats, a mid-size at 65mm and the highest heels are at 85mm. The brand is planning to introduce a 110mm tall heel soon. Right now sizes start at 36 and go up to a 42, but she is working on broadening her size range from next season. “The shoes at Dhami London were created to make sure all the women wearing them feel special and beautiful. My shoes are not about being polio friendly, but I can comfortably wear the Buta and Natalie flat ballerina shoes from my collection.”
Comfort is the key driver of Dhami's design ethos and colour is central to the design philosophy. “I was obsessed with the wonder of women’s shoes, their elegant forms, sensory materials, and vivid colours. I always remember my mother popping on her heels—empowered, vivacious, beautiful—and having contracted polio as a baby I thought I would never experience that feeling. I was wrong. My joy came from creating my own designs, a personal style that fuses eastern vibrancy with western elegance and creating beautiful footwear for others.”
With her heavy use of gold hardware, sparkling Swarovski motifs and a jewel inspired colour palette it is no wonder that her first retail points are all in the Middle East. “It is a region that really resonates with the aesthetics of my shoes” she says. Dhami London just started retailing at one of Abu Dhabi’s leading luxury concept department stores, Tryano, and Doha’s Salam stores. She is in talks with London’s Harrods—and says her ultimate ambition would be to see her shoes on the feet of Priyanka Chopra. “My aspire is to see Priyanka Chopra wear my designs as she has always taught everyone to never be afraid, break stereotypes and never say never. She has always taken every opportunity so positively and seeing someone like her wearing my designs, would really be a dream come true.”
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