'Shalini Passi Has A Strong Romantic Sensibility'

Isha Jajodia is drawn to lace. She finds it delicate yet structured, soft yet powerful. "There is something so timeless and poetic about it," says the designer, entrepreneur, NIFT graduate and founder of fashion brand Rose Room.

Isha's love affair with lace began quite early. As a young girl, she was enamoured by its intricacy and the way it held beauty in its detail.

Her 'deep fascination' for the luxury textile that was extremely popular in the sixteenth century stayed on for years, and as she grew older and began to explore design more closely, Isha noticed a gap in the Indian market. According to the designer, "There was not much being done with lace that felt both modern and rooted in Indian craftsmanship." That is really when Isha's design journey actually began, as she slowly, but surely started to bridge those sensibilities.

For her, lace feels like the perfect choice to reinterpret with artisanal techniques, and Isha continues to be inspired by its endless possibilities.

Isha's fashion philosophy is pretty simple: to create timeless pieces for women. Her ultimate goal is for each of her outfits to bring out the best in each person who wears it.

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Isha's love for lace has passed on to Shalini Passi and whenever the fashion designer gets a chance to dress up the Delhi-based socialite, lace has always been a popular choice.

When Shalini made her debut at Cannes Film Festival 2025, Isha chose outfits in lace for her.

The first look, above, a handcrafted ivory lace gown, was designed to embody a quiet sort of elegance. It was fluid, ethereal, but structured in all the right ways.

For the second look, Isha created a custom two-piece ensemble in a similar fabric, featuring a sculpted lace top paired with a soft, sheer skirt. The gown had a sense of presence, while the two-piece felt effortlessly elevated for a daytime engagement.

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"Dressing Shalini for Cannes was such a beautiful journey," says Isha. "We began by understanding what she was truly looking for, something feminine yet powerful.

"Shalini has this strong yet romantic sensibility, and we really wanted the outfits to reflect that. Lace, to us, felt like the perfect medium. It is delicate, timeless, and deeply expressive, just like Shalini herself."

Both Shalini's Cannes' pieces were entirely hand-finished with careful attention to detail.

"Working with Shalini, who brought her own clarity of vision, made the entire process incredibly seamless and inspiring," adds Isha.

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Back in October 2024, Isha dressed Shalini in a scarlet red tulle cape and draped skirt. The outfit was meant to "evoke strength with softness".

Elaborating about the look, Isha mentions that the cape featured delicate tonal embroidery and fluid layers of tulle that added drama without weight. The draped skirt offered structure with its graceful movement.

"It was a bold yet romantic look, perfectly in tune with Shalini’s presence."

For Isha, lace is an incredibly rewarding fabric to work with. But it definitely comes with its own set of challenges.

"Because of its delicacy, it requires a great deal of precision during construction and finishing. Even the slightest mishandling can distort the pattern or compromise its structure, so the process demands both patience and technical finesse."

That said, lace is surprisingly suited for the Indian climate as it is lightweight, breathable, and lends itself beautifully to layering.

"While lace may not traditionally be seen as an everyday fabric, I work to reimagine it in ways that feel more wearable, whether through thoughtful lining, structured silhouettes, or modern styling. The goal is to make lace feel less precious and more lived-in, without losing its inherent elegance."

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A post shared by ROSEROOM by Isha Jajodia (@roseroom__official)

Isha's designs have been worn by a bevy of celebs from Delhi and Mumbai including Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, Jacqueline Fernandez, Kanika Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Mira Kapoor, among others.

But which city does she prefer, Delhi or Mumbai?

"Both cities have very distinct fashion energies," says Isha. "Delhi tends to lean more towards occasion wear, with a strong appreciation for craftsmanship, heritage, and couture. There’s a deeper focus on traditional silhouettes, handwork, and statement dressing, especially for weddings and formal events.

"Mumbai, on the other hand, feels more relaxed and experimental. It’s influenced by cinema, street style, and a fast-paced lifestyle, so fashion there is often more minimal, functional, and trend-driven.

"Both cities bring something unique to the table, and as a designer, it's exciting to create for audiences that value such different expressions of style."