What were you doing at 24? This Jaipur fashion designer we’ve come across is creating a buzz in the Indian and international fashion circuit at that age. Parnika Jain’s label House of Marlyn has been chosen to retail on ASOS.com, one of UK’s biggest fashion retailers – and this just after she graduated from fashion school!
Born in her grandparents’ home in Kolkata, Parnika was brought up in Jaipur where she continues to live with her real-estate developer dad and homemaker mom. “I always knew I wanted to be a designer,” she tells eShe. “After studying at NIFT Delhi, I started my own little workshop and started experimenting with fabrics and embroidery. Slowly, people started showing interest in my work and I started getting orders.”
Her brand, she says, is an amalgamation of rich Indian embroidery and appliqué work and international silhouettes and cuts. She especially draws inspiration from all things vintage and royal (put that down to her Jaipur heritage!), and admires yesteryear fashion icons like Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn. “The ‘House of Marlyn’ woman is a strong, independent woman who revels in her femininity and celebrates it with ethereal aesthetics,” she says. We speak to the strong, independent woman herself.
You are:
Meticulous, hardworking and an absolute go-getter. A dreamer with a never-say-die attitude, I want it all!
Top item on the morning’s to-do list?
The first thing I do every morning is rushing to my studio and keeping a check on pending orders. I also have a habit of pinning everything important to my bedside so that every morning I wake up reading my plan of action for the day.
EOD hobbies?
I love doodling and painting after work; it helps me unwind and relax. Some of my best ideas have come to me while sketching. Staying in the beautiful city of Jaipur I am drawn to the historical monuments and regal palaces around me; I love capturing the diversity of this city on film. Apart from that I enjoy reading books on fashion and art. I also like going out with my friends and loved ones; it gives me a break from my everyday hectic schedule.
Book at your bedside:
I am reading this book on the history of art and art movements through the ages. It’s very inspiring!
Yo mama always said:
Eat well and sleep well! It may sound very simple but you will be amazed at how everything falls into place if you get the basics right.
Daddy’s girl:
I think a father-daughter relationship is the best thing in the world. I consider every moment I get to meet him a special one. Since both of us lead very hectic lives, we cherish whatever time we get together.
Turning point:
The day I decided to start my own label, it completely changed my life. I have become a different person altogether.
When work and family pull you in opposite directions, what do you do?
I realize that the road to success is lined with sacrifices. That said, I try to maintain a healthy work-life balance. When all fails, go on a holiday!
eShe 
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