Swati’s Designsaim to dress the inner woman

Swati Kapoor

Photograph by Saira R

izwan

Photograph by Jack Husting, courtesy of Helium Magazine

wati Kapoor does-n’t mince wordswhen it comes toher fashion designsand her goals.

“Swati is aboutdressing your

inner goddess and steppinginto the limelight. That’s how Idress each woman,” Kapoorsays.

“Each woman is unique inher own way. I help her find herown style.”

There’s no question thatKapoor’s clientele love her forjust that.

“Swati has a great vision andreally knows what looks goodon a woman,” says RobinTomb, owner of the PoochHotel in Sunnyvale, whichoffers day care, overnights and“spaw” treatments such as aro-matherapy massages for dogs.

“Her clothes are absolutelybeautiful,” Tomb says.

“My mother and I went toher studio a few weeks back,and we spent nearly two hourstrying on numerous garments.

We both felt like princesses.Our only dilemma was whichgarments to purchase becausethey are all so fabulous.”

Veena Khelawan, a realestate agent with an activesocial life in Hayward, showsher pleasure in purchases.

Kapoor estimates Khelawanhas bought more than 500pieces of Swati since shelaunched the line six years ago.

Beth Johnson, global direc-tor of attorney recruiting forO’Melveny & Myers LLP, nowcarries Kapoor’s business cardswith her because she gets somany questions when shewears one of her designs.

“I’m not one to wear basicblack,” Johnson says. “I’m not aperson who minds attention andI like to stand out.

“Swati’s designs are unique,everything is one of a kind, so Idon’t have to worry aboutsomeone else showing up inthe same dress.

“Her clothes are beautifullycrafted. You can look at thesepieces and see the beads are

By MARY GOTTSCHALK

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Photograph by Jack Husting, courtesy of Helium MagazinePhotograph by Saira Rizwan

Photograph by Chris Johnson☛ Page 27

hand-stitched, the colors areincredible and the fabrics areamazing. I can always findsomething to wear.”

Like many other designers,Kapoor says her fascinationwith fashion started as a littlegirl playing with her dolls.

However, the route fromchildhood to fashion designerwas indirect.

Born in India, she considersherself “a global citizen,” hav-ing also lived in East Africaand the Middle East as well asthe United States.

She earned an undergradu-ate and a master’s in design andworked as the creative directorof a Latin American health carecompany until the dot-com bustleft her unemployed.

As the dot-com collapse waslooming, Bollywood films suchas Monsoon Wedding in 2001and Devdas in 2002 were rais-ing awareness of Indian designin the United States and inter-nationally.

Photograph by Billy Winters

Continued from page 25

Kapoor knew she wanted tobring Bollywood glamour to theUnited States, but she says she hadno interest “in buying and resellingfrom India.

“I wanted my own clothing line.”Family connections enable her to

outsource her designs to India, andshe often collaborates with RezaSharifi, one of the best knownBollywood film costume designers.Those collaborations carry a RezaSharifi for Swati label.

In addition, there are her bridalgowns, a line of organic cotton cloth-ing, shawls and bedding.

Kapoor also carries all necessaryaccessories, except for shoes.

“It’s one-stop shopping,”Johnson says. “I just have to findshoes and a pair of gold or silvershoes takes you pretty far.”

Kapoor works by appointmentout of her home studio in Milpitas.

“People think I sit here and sewgarments, but these kinds of thingscannot be made here. I do fittingsand alterations if needed, buteverything is made in India,”Kapoor says.

Her website attracts clients fromthroughout the United States.

“I have women I’ve never met,but I’ve dressed brides in NewYork and Chicago,” Kapoor says,adding that she prefers working inperson.

“Couture has to touch the bodyand magic happens,” she says.

Kapoor also offers an interest-ing guarantee: “If you don’t get acompliment on a Swati design,return the garment.”

Swati Couture Indian Fashions,www.swati.us, 510.610.5990.Photograph by Chris Johnson