Mohanjeet Grewal, the first Indian to take the fashion capital of the world by storm with her mini-sari! Before the modern mania for Indian designers.
At 93 years old, Mohanjeet Grewal continues to head her one remaining flagship store, named "Mohanjeet," located on Rue 21 St Sulpice, Paris.
But how did her story start?
She was a unique child. Whether it’s wearing different socks on each foot or multi-sized Sikh karas instead of glass bangles, she liked challenging fashion and cultural norms.
Born in Lahore, she migrated to Patiala during partition and later followed her heart to New York and Paris.
When she met the legendary editor of Indian Express Frank Moraes and expressed her interest to work, his response, "Don't be crazy! We don't even have toilets for women!" Thank God, we have come a long way from there.
She made life happen for her. Imagine redefining fashion on a global stage when no one thought you could—in the 1960s! She had courage to live her dream.
She opened her first boutique in Paris — La Malle de l’Inde — which translates to ‘The Indian Trunk’ with 3,000 francs borrowed from a friend. She took the beauty of traditional Indian textile craft to a global audience. Her boutique became the symbol of cultural fusion.
Her journey was not without its challenges. She faced family problems, criticism for nonconformity, and not being a marriageable 'Bibi Rani'.
No one believed that an Indian woman could make a place for herself in Parisian and global fashion. But she did. Her boutique, filled with her bold innovations like the mini-sari and gold-rimmed dhotis, captured the attention of style icons like Catherine Deneuve and Jane Fonda. Her chic bohemian style became a must-have.
By 1970s, she was running seven stores in Paris, and her designs were featured in top fashion magazines like Vogue, Elle, and Cosmopolitan.
She was among the first to introduce khadi and vibrant Rajasthani prints to Europe, showcasing the royalty and beauty of Indian fabric.
The exclusivity and timelessness of her brand are maintained only through word-of-mouth even in today’s age and time.
Today many young girls have a role model ready in Mohanjeet who had to create her own wings and teach herself to fly.
She proved that dreams are achievable with passion and perseverance, no matter how audacious.
This post is part of a series on India’s unsung women heroes.
Image Source: mohanjeetparis
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