``Trousseau is a big focus for the Indian market as weddings are lavish, once in a lifetime affairs. Women have budgets for jewellery as well as clothes. In our store, everything is under one roof. For the first time, jewellery designer Paayel Seth has joined hands with Ashima and me, who have been designing clothes for a decade now. Our all-woman team will ensure that the buyers feel at home,'' says Singh.

The store will be housed in South Extension in the same building where Hopp used to be. Singh says Kaaya has two unique selling propositions. ``It is for the first time that pure gold and diamond jewellery and a wide range of both Indian and Western clothes will be sold from the same outlet. Secondly, we will provide a platform for 12 young designers. This means that again, for the firsttime, retailers will join hands with fashion designers,'' claims Singh.

Kaaya will be a specialised Indian store where everything a woman needs-real jewellery, cosmetics, bags, beauty accessories, shoes, Indian and Western clothes, lingerie, nightwear, fabrics and sarees -- will be on offer. ``It is going to be a one-stop shop for the bride to be. It will retail all the constituents of a trousseau -- the lehenga, cosmetics, lingerie, shoes, bags and linen, besides the sarees and the jewellery. On the cards is a computerised matchmaking service, where we will go beyond dressing the bride to actually helping her choose her partner,'' says Singh.

Big stores like Ebony have already been selling designer creations from their premises, but Singh says their arrangement with designers is mutually beneficial. ``The big stores were making the designers pay huge rents. We won't treat them as moneybags, but as managing partners. The Ashima and Leena label has an equal partnership with the House of Pearl, who run thePearl Fashion Academy. There are 12 young designers who will find a common platform at Kaaya. Their creations will be spread over all the sections,'' she says.

The design merchandise will offer creations by Jatin Kochchar, Vijay Arora, Aki Narula, Ramesh Nayar, Puja Nayyar, Poonam Bhagat, Anju Modi, Manav Gangwani, Abhishek Gupta and Sonal Mehta from Delhi and Leena Tipnis and Bela Parekh from Mumbai. ``We may join hands with some top rung jewellery designers in the near future,'' says Singh, without naming them.

Prices at Kaaya will be ``affordable'' and will have a range to suit every pocket, from a T-shirt to an elegant saree in zari says Singh.

Split into four levels, Kaaya's tastefully decorated interiors have been done by Sunita Kohli, the brain behind the design of the Oberoi group of hotels. So you have Mediterranean blue for the Western section and bangles on all the railings of the Indian section!

The basement will house diamond jewellery. The ground floor has cosmetics and accessories, withgold jewellery in the rear portion. The first floor showcases Indian clothing with ethnic churidars, sarees and nightwear. The second floor is dedicated exclusively to Western wear. With computer-aided design, the store will introduce computerised assistance in colour coordination of outfits.

``We also have a small cafe where women can come and relax and refresh themselves with a cold salad before browsing through the store. There is also a reading room with paperbacks and magazines, where men can kill time while the women shop,'' says Singh.

Being a one-window solution for all the needs of a bride, Kaaya will also offer specialised services like designing of wedding cards, preparation of a vedi for the pheras and organising honeymoon packages. A special counter for gift wrapping and flower decorations is already operational. ``When we talk of a shopper at Kaaya, we have the complete woman in mind. Being a bride is a transit period for her, after which she will carry on with her day-to-day life. We willhelp her manage her personality,'' promises Singh.