Tejal Saraiya studied Fashion Design and Styling at the JD Institute of Fashion Design, Mumbai (1995), and Printingand Dyeing at the Weavers’ Service Centre, Ahmedabad (1997). But more importantly, she picked up ‘being conscious about style’ from her mother, Mrs. Lata Shah, whose knowledge of textiles – fabrics, colours, styling and cuts – is immense and whose fashion clothing enterprise, Zamaku Collection, Mumbai, is one of the reputed names in trendy fashion textiles in the wholesale market. Mrs. Shah began to be helped inher enterprise by her two daughters, Tejal and Nikita, when they grew up. Zamaku creates special collections for the exclusive and popular exhibitions it has been holding for a number of years indifferent cities of the country. These exhibitions are called ‘Prints & Weaves’ and much looked forward to by quality- and fashion-conscious women. Post marriage, when Tejal moved to Baroda, she discovered the wonderful world of traditional woodblock textile printing and added it to the Zamaku repertoire. Looking at Baroda’sown tradition of cotton and silk textile printing, Tejal decided to open a retailoutlet in the city in March 2010 and called it GOLD LEAF. It experienced instant success and since then Zamaku Collection has also begun producing a special, sophisticated line based on the seasons four times in a year for Gold Leaf. Though all its textile products are inspired by traditional Indian cultural heritage, GoldLeaf designs them in ways that create elegant garments and contemporary sarees for the modern Indianwoman in a global world. Gold Leaf works with fine cottons, khadi, linen, georgette, crepe silk, pure silk and tussar silk. Tejal has personally identified and sourced traditional weavers and textile craftspersons, including embroiderers from all over India who work with designs and colour combinations that Gold Leaf provides them. The printing, tailoring and finishing is done at Zamaku’s Mumbai workshop under strict supervision and quality control. As its name suggests,Gold Leaf designs – printed and woven motifs – are heavily influenced by natural flora, including flower buds and blooms, leaves of all shapes and sizes and sometimes even full trees! Such designs are complemented or contrasted with the most delightful colour palette to create a striking presentation, be it a standalone saree, a dupatta that adds an exciting allure, a simple kurta, or a glamorous Indo-western evening outfit.