Meet Priya Jangda | Creative Director of Quillattire

We had the good fortune of connecting with Priya Jangda and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Priya, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have designed for many fashion houses in my career, I have over 10 years of experience designing for the likes of Burberry, Topshop, Asos, Umbro, Ted Baker & more. As amazing as the experiences were and the learning from each company I became tired of designing for a specific customer that was not true to me, I grew up as a tomboy, and I was not influenced by society but just to be comfortable and be myself. I looked up to artists like Rihanna and Asap Rocky. I tried styling music videos for a bit, where I did work for artists such as Skepta and Chipmunk but still had this burning desire to start my own brand that was true to me. I just did not know how I would do it, I did not come from a family that taught us how to do business it was just go to university and get a good job. I knew something had to change so I took a rash decision and quit my full-time job, which by the way was amazing as I was flying around the world for research in Tokyo, New York, Milan, and supplier meetings in Shanghai, HongKong and more but I quit as something was missing for me, I needed more of a challenge. I joined The Princes Trust which is a charity run by the King of England now that helps underprivileged youth to learn about how to set up a business. My brand ‘Quillattire’ was born from here, I had saved money for this, and I knew I wanted to create something in line with streetwear, and contemporary fashion and for it be good fashion that was sustainable and did not harm our planet. I was super excited for this, I never knew the journey would just as up and down as it has been but its all learning and i am still exciting as theres so much to come!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Growing up a first-generation south Asian female in a male dominant family was hard. Priya Jangda the owner of world re-known sustainable streetwear brand ‘Quillattire’ and with 10 years of designer experience designing for Burberry, Next, Ted Baker, Jack Wills, Topshop & more, fought her family to allow her to do a fashion design degree. Back then my parents did not know what a fashion career would do for me, they were from India, being in London was new territory! I felt it so unfair that my muse Rihanna could be successful so I fought, and I fought my case hard! Not sure if you know how it feels growing up in a controlled environment, where girls have to sit at home kind of lifestyle – it striped away any freedom you have a taste for and just made life so boring! I finally got my way and worked my way into the world’s top fashion universities ‘London College of Fashion’. This was the breath of fresh air I needed. It opened so many doors for this simple tomboy south Asian from Southall.

Southall was a strange place to grow up, so having to commute into London daily was exhilarating being away from all the culture and strange people, especially the weird men.

The trains, the new people, the way people would dress, the different cultures, the freedom felt like I was flying and I wanted more. I later went on to become a stylist for Chipmunk. Skepta and more and then design for world renown brands such as Burberry, Next, Ted Baker, Jack Wills, Topshop & more. Life got even more thrilling, I got to travel the world without family or friends it was solo travelling to the most exotic places all paid for – Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Sri Lanka, New York, Florence, Italy and more. I felt like two people, one side was an insecure Southall girl trying to figure out all this emotion in her head and the other side a newly set free Indian woman exploring the world – it was such an amazing feeling.

I did experience racism in my career quite early on, but it made it me stronger and more determined to succeed. I later quit corporate and set out to pave the way with my contemporary sustainable streetwear brand ‘Quillattire’, a brand that was colourful, evoked freedom and happiness, made the wearer feel confident and cool. It was my way of expressing myself without talking or showing face. The Southall girl still exists in me and I don’t think will ever go, unfortunately, it’s the side of me which is always questions myself and what people will think if I do this or that. I suppose that’s a trait of the Asian culture but in time I know that side will heal.

The brand is called ‘Quillattire’ a sustainable streetwear brand that has just won Best Sustainable Brand in London, featured ID Mag, Gaffer Mag, Vogue, BBC Asian Radio, The Princes Trust, Guest speaker in universities in London and LA, London College of Fashion Student Mentor, and so much more in the pipeline. I just moved from London to LA in September as I visited in April and fell in love with the energy, the vibe, the people and the weather! After putting my energy into pushing this brand forward, I managed to stock on the world famous Melrose Avenue, Oxford Street, St Johns Wood – what an actual dream come true. If I spoke to that confused tomboy from back in the day she would never dream that this would ever happen to her. My parents are in awe, which makes me so happy!

I will also be doing guest talk at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in LA about my story and how important sustainable fashion is and channeling this energy to the youth.

It just shows if you keep going through the parts of life that feel un-inspiring, grim, and like nothing will change, you need to be the change and create something that you will be proud of in years to come. I want ‘Quillattire’ to be known as a contemporary fashion brand that evokes change, change in our society, for our planet and paving the way to inspire the youth to follow their dreams.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Grab an iced coffee and hit up the Runyon Canyon hike, some shopping and a vegan chopped cheese at Extra Market on Fairfax.

Either a sunset at Griffith Observatory with some picnic snacks, or alternatively a picnic at one of the open air theatres to catch a classic movie.

Take a drive up the coast stopping off at Malibu Pier for a brunch, a stroll along the beach then driving up the coast to Santa Barbara for some wine tasting and then a dinner.

Sundays are for Melrose trading post, trying to find the hidden gems that other people overlook.

If you’re lucky enough, swinging by Hollywood TCL Chinese Theatre when there’s a premiere for some celeb spotting checking out their outfits.

Slurp on a ramen in Little Tokyo then peruse the art at Moca museum, hopefully there’s an exhibit on with free drinks! A great place to meet people and mingle with like minded individuals.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to shout out The Princes Trust back in London who have supported me with my journey of turning from a designer into a business woman with their business support and constant motivation through their mentors. Also massive love to my husband who always supports me through the ups and downs of running a business, and from time to time turns into my assistant along side his full time job – and he never complains.

Website: www.quillattire.ccom

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quillattire/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priya-jangda-7b998828/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quillattire/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu6P4q5JQXDLov1cO-7OywA

Image Credits
Photographers: Mr Jeff Katz, Kid Circus, Philip Vonder Heydt, Tawnee Keala Models: Rolf, Humza Syed, Yung.Mike, Curtis Waters, Edie Townsend