When Poonawalla is your surname you invariably have pet horses at home. Delna was no different. While parents Zavaray and Cyrus have left more than an indelible mark on the Indian racing circuit, the next generation has now stepped in. After four years in the fashion fraternity, it is Delna's love for the race horses that comes through her work as a fashion designer.

Perched on a corner seat of her private café, Delna gets nostalgic about the days spent at the race course with the Poonawalla clan. She reminisces about the Sundays when relaxation took a backseat and turning up for the races in the best attire was of primary importance. “All my Sundays, even today, are spent here with friends and family,” says Delna, as she marches through the stands, pointing to the family name on the benches. The paddocks, the stands and the expansive race course beyond, are what fuel her creativity and her designs. “I am inspired by the horses who are so majestic and the people who come to watch the races. In fact, I have designed clothes for signature horses (a horse shared by many) and their jockeys.”

Delna's creations swirl stylishly around her twin personality — one that is subtle and elegant and the other that is edgy and fun. “The capsule collection is designed especially for the races. I encourage my friends and models to sport racing attire and hats, so that they gain popularity,” she says. For the last two years, Delna has been showcasing the latest racing styles at the Poonawalla Breeders Multi-million Race with fashion shows. It has now become an event to look forward to, with fine dressing, accessories, millinery and hats, which she has made popular on the racing circuit.

Delna has brought back the aesthetics of dressing at the races. Horses, fashion and races, in that order, are an inseparable part of her life. “Animals as magnificent as horses should be surrounded by equally well-turned out spectators. The races are a perfect marriage of fashion and style to the power, passion and magic displayed by these beautiful equines. It really is the king of sports—a toast to life— where one sees a gamut of emotions, moods and colours, so much like fashion itself,” she says.