Mona Lamba

Mona Lamba is an Indian fashion designer famous for her work with another talented designer, Pali Sachdev. The duo is together known as Monapali. They established a boutique with the same name in 1987 in Kolkata. The sisters who were teachers and workers in a bank didn’t even plan their careers in fashion. They were sisters who would customize their outfits using their mother’s old clothes. Their relatives would ask them to custom make their clothes as well, due to which the idea of fashion designing as a career came to their mind. But when they realized their true calling, they decided to come together and give it a go. Since then, there was no looking back.

They have been in the industry for 25 years and have seen all trends and been a part of them all. They use Indian traditions and culture as their inspiration and passion. They were the first to try prints and fabrics, which nobody had done. They became famous only because they stayed true to their roots. They took up gauze, Madhubani prints, bock prints, Shibori, and fabric strips. They have done a lot of work for Italian Fashion House Max Mara but say that the European market has been dull. They also have a country-wide presence in India. Their designer clothes can be found in Ensemble 7, Elahi, Ffolio, The Design Lounge, Westside, and Kimaya. Their own outlets are found in Ahmadabad, Kolkata, and New Delhi. The Government of India has invited them to represent the country in the Festival of India held in China in 1994 and the Bridal Summit Asia Pacific in 1999. They have done many other fashion shows across India and abroad in China, Singapore, United States, London, and Canada. Monapali, Monapali Silk Route, MP, Mapp, and Monapali Pour Homme (men’s fashion line) are her labels.

In 2014, they did a show inspired by the political parties. It was titled Politics and Aam Aadmi. The clothes displayed at this show were not available for sale to people but could be used by the political parties. They did this show because they were inspired by political leaders like Jawahar Lal Nehru, who made a fashion statement by always wearing a rose in his pocket. They are fellow members of the Fashion Design Council of India. Their work is described as a work of art. Their clothing is aimed at striking a balance between Indian and International fashion.