J J Valaya, also known as the Czar of Indian fashion industry is the founder member of FDCI and an alumnus of NIFT,

Delhi. Hailing from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, J J Valaya was born into a family of army personnel and attended several schools across different cities in India. The highly artistic designer remained the best artist and calligraphist for five years in a stretch while in school. After graduating in commerce from Chandigarh College, Valaya joined the prestigious National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi. However he has also worked as a Chartered Accountant prior to beginning his designing career. J J Valayas journey as a designer is filled with amusing events and achievements right from winning the Prix D' Incitation at the Young Designers International Competition organized by the Concours International Des Jeunes Createurs De Mode in Paris. His success stride continued with winning the The Elyxa Award and the Thapar Dupont Medal for the Most Innovative Use of Fabric at the NIFT Graduation Show in New Delhi. Valaya also won the first prize at the NIFT Alumni Competition jointly organized by KLM and NIFT in Mumbai. He launched his couture label named JJ Valaya in the year 1992 with his brother and business partner, T J Singh. Valaya holds the pride of being the first Indian designer to hold a solo fashion show ever. His label soon stocked in the most high-class stores worldwide including Ensemble & Vama in Mumbai, Ogaan in New Delhi and Kolkata, Signature, Linea & Heritage in New Delhi, Ffolio in Bangalore and Chennai, and Fasateen in Dubai, among others. Later his collections were showcased at fashion fiestas in London, Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok, Hong KIn the year 1996, Valaya opened another store in New Delhi called JJ Valaya 'Life', the largest single designer store in India. Later he held shows in Manchester and Hong Kong and his label was established in Manchester by CII. Valayas designs were featured in a fashion show along with American Designer Todd Oldham at the Plaza Hotel on 5th Avenue in New York.ong and all m1999 was another eventful year when J J Valaya launched his well known Valaya Diffusion Label- 'Studio Valaya' through elite stores based in New Delhi and Mumbai and later in Bangalore. It was the year when Fashion Design Council of India was founded and since then Valaya serves as the founder member of the Governing Council Directors of FDCI. J J Valayas Couture Spring Summer 2000 Show became the first ever show that saw the participation of French models from Ford and hairdressers from LOreal that ultimately became an extensive media affair. J J Valaya earned international fame with his Spring Summer Collection show at the Haute Couture Week in Paris and his shows in Erfurt, Germany. He became the brand ambassador of Swarovski Crystal Components in India. He expanded his stores by opening three Studio Valaya stores in Delhi and Mumbai and another J J Valaya store in Mumbai. His collection marked the opening of 'Weddings Glamour and Beauty Expo' in Johannesburg, South Africa. J J Valaya is acclaimed for his trousseaux collection that imbibes luxury, opulence and traditions. His collections are believed to be inspired from the mythological epics and events from culturally diverse places like Africa, India, China, Egypt and Middle East. Valaya always aspires to create heirlooms and not just garments thus focusing a lot on texture, colors and finish. J J Valayas timeless couture collection includes saris, womens outfits, embroidered evening jackets and wraps, mens kurtas, suits, sherwanis, shirts and waistcoats. ajor Indian cities. One of India's most dynamic fashion designers, J.J. Valaya, has returned to

fashion scene after a year's gap with a severely edgy, yet resplendent collection aimed at global market. Valaya's latest creations were displayed at a show called Ethnosphere at the Le Meridian Hotel late Tuesday night. Valaya's new creations are far removed from his characteristic ethnic style. The outfits in Ethnosphere included short skirts in faux leather, the chunky beaded accessories, the knits and the tartans. The clothes were in a variety of colors - mauves, sea greens, rich brown, burgundy, blacks and grays.

The collection was described as containing "the magic of the rainforests, the colors of whispering crickets and smell of jute-sacks laden with spices." Valaya's new style stretches from leather bustier with saris to reversible long coats to that lime green sari with a swathe of golden haze embroidery. The turbaned designer seems to have derived inspirations from Mongolia (evident in the hair of the models worn in flat, ironed ribbony bits) to the old British Raj, from mystic fakirs to the Mughal and Roman empires.