Aloka Fashion Studio

I have known Aloka and have referred her to others, I first contacted Aloka on the 4th of December 2023 for my personal requirement. Maybe for context, its significant to say that this was my second shot at marriage. Back then, I was a single mother with 2 daughters. I was in a very toxic marriage and it took me a lot to get out of one. I had now after gathering a lot of courage, met a man and was both stressed and excited about my second chance. Since this was an inter faith wedding, I had no support but for my friends. It was still important for me to back myself and gift myself a good day. I really liked Aloka's non-traditional outfits and by virtue of the unconventional wedding we were having, Aditya (my man) wanted me to wear a jumpsuit for my reception. The mention as a fashion designer and the abovementioned liking to her work made me trust Aloka for my wedding. On the 19th of December, we first met and discussed the preliminary requirements and the timelines. My wedding was on the 4th of February 2024 and this required a faster paced approach despite a month in between. On the 29th when I went shopping, Aloka was not being very responsive and when she was she ended up refusing whatever I chose. So I asked her to go shopping with me to which she agreed and we met on the 3rd of Jan 2024. She was half hour late. The material, neither color nor print, zeroed in did not seem bridal and I voiced the concern out loud. She appeased my apprehensions by saying she will give me a good neck work. Obviously since I was talking to a fashion designer, I let my gut settle down. She said she will come to take measurements but did not. On the 11th I sent her pics for Eva's (my first born) material, during which she was again unresponsive and finally on the 13th was when measurements were given. I forgot to ask for pockets while doing so and so messaged her soon as I got home asking her for the same. Aloka agreed but the pockets never made it to the final outfit. I had asked her about the cost on 22nd and on 23rd she replied with the details saying she was busy with some show. I had asked her to share the pictures of how my jumpsuit was shaping up and requested if it would be ready by 25th as it was ten days before the wedding. She agreed to have my trial on the 25th. I did not hear from her till the 25th and on the day of, she asked to meet on the 29th. At this point I was worried that we were cutting it close and she said the embroidery wasn't done. So I asked her for a photograph yet again since it was only the embroidery pending as per her admission. She said that its best that I see it in person. She said Eva's dress would be ready by 26th but on 26th again pushed this to Monday. Monday I told her I can only be free to pick it up by 7 pm and asked her not to delay it further. 29th, finally arrived. That Eva's dress looked terrible and nothing like a flower girl's is an understatement. Pics attached. I had wanted my girl's outfits to be better than mine, if not as good. Mine, apart from my fears of not looking bridal had another host of issues: it was tight near the crotch, didnt have said pocket, minimal embroidery that seemed obscured by the print. My fiance was in a state of shock when I sent him the pictures and asked that the dress would look more bridal but was worried as we only had less than 5 days for the wedding and no time on our hands to be going behind this major glitch. To this Aloka responded that she couldn't be factoring in other people's opinions. She said she would remove the cups and loosen the crotch. On 30th she dunzo'd the dress and asked for the payment upfront and beforehand. It was a busy day due to work and last min wedding runs that I could only try the dress by 10pm. The outfit was tight and I couldn't even sit down as the pants were so tight that they were riding up my back . It felt like only the cups were removed and the waist was tighter. The zip was tight and the dress wasn't coming off. At this point, I had to ask my 10 year old for help and we both had to yank n pull for the dress to come off while doing this carefully as not to rip anything. 4 days before the wedding, this little circus show obviously got me fuming and I sent a voice note saying the dress was "fucking tight." I had called her she wasnt answering n though it wasn't her working hours both of us were in a struggle as to how to get it off me. That's when I sent the voice note while attempting the pull off. To this she responded that, there was no reason for language. I was appalled that being the person who was outside my high intense scenario, she did not see where I was coming from. The dress had costed me 12k (8k for stitching and 4k for material) and Eva's a total of 4.5k (3k for stitching 1.5for fabric). She insisted that she would only make changes if I come in personally and I had no time for this. All suggestions were shot down. Eva's dress had pending fabric and she still refused to do anything with it. The need to take responsibility and lack of accountability or apology was quite unnerving to say the least. The next day she reiterated that no alterations would be made unless I came in person and that I had to fix prior appointments for doing so. I was working during these days and here I had to cater to my designers dos and don'ts instead of vice versa. I want to say yet again that I have seen Aloka’s work that is good. But my reason for putting this out is that she left a bride high and dry 4 days before her wedding and I sincerely hope that no other person would have this experience.

A designer with an eye for unconventional style and color palettes. She has an end-to-end approach - she was there all along, right from shopping for the right material to designing and stitching the outfit. Despite her very busy schedule, she got my green and blue lehenga with a gold dupatta customized and made well in time.Source