Shah was in the city to launch her new collection of accessories at Mai, a designer boutique at Defence Colony. Having returned to India after a couple of years in New York, she is upbeat about the fashion scene here. “People are more clued in now and know what they want. Earlier they were not ready to take shoes and accessories as seriously as clothes, but that is changing,” says the 33-year-old, who started her career nine years ago, after a course at the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, and an internship with fashion diva Donna Karen.

One of the hallmarks of her brand is that it does customised shoes for clients. “That’s what makes my brand niche. Even if it is one pair, we cater to the customer because we believe individuality is style,” she says. So even though she has worked on ballerina shoes and platforms in neutral shades and pearl finishes, she is open to doing stilettos if they do catch your fancy. Her designs are avant-garde, with funky fur trimmings, antique tapestry and semi-precious stones as embellishments. Shah’s other specialty is that she works with mock leather. “I am a member of PETA and I am opposed to anything that has to do with cruelty towards animal,” she states.