Jaipur Watch Company founder Gaurav Mehta on Brides of Jaipur watches
As we walk into Gaurav Mehta’s store in Jaipur, located within the Rambagh Palace, Jaipur, we expect a large, swanky setting befitting the founder-designer of Jaipur Watch Company (JWC) and his latest collection, Brides of Jaipur. But it is an…
Christian Louboutin launches Miss Z stilettos with synchronised Olympic swimmers
Last month, Maison Christian Louboutin made a splash with “Paris is Louboutining,” a synchronised swimming spectacle at the Piscine Molitor, which is incidentally where the bikini was born about 78 years ago. It was Paris Fashion Week SS25 and Louboutin,…
An exhibition in Hyderabad by Khamir showcases batik craft of Kutch with a touch of modernity
A craftsman displays a fabric with batik design in Hyderabad | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement A team of young, accomplished artisans is in Hyderabad to share stories of the unique batik handicraft of Kutch and showcase products created with innovative…
Upcycled denim and occasion wear highlight Lakme Fashion Week 2024
In tandem with Navaratri and Durga Puja, a different festivity unfolded in Delhi: the latest edition of Lakmé Fashion Week (LFW) in partnership with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI). Hosted between October 9 and 13 across The Grand…
How a Hyderabad firm helps design lifestyle products from water hyacinth fibres
Keshav and Bina Rao of Creative Bee show a prototype of a lifestyle accessory made with water hyacinth fibres | Photo Credit: Nagara Gopal In the compact office of Creative Bee studio in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, are samples of lifestyle…
Stories in silk: RmKv launches thematic handloom silk saris with natural dye
Natural-dyed silk sari with over 4,000 colours | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement As it completes 100 years in the business, RmKV Silks (since 1924), the legacy brand from Tirunelveli is in celebratory mode. To mark this milestone, the brand has…
Mishru’s latest drop fuses botanical elements with architectural inspirations
The Allium lehenga set with cape | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Hyderabad-based design house Mishru is best known for its surface textures and contemporary interpretations of Indian wear. Yet again, it proved its mastery of this craft with its recent…
Lakme Fashion Week 2024: Designer Aneeth Arora on Péro’s collaboration with Hello Kitty
Hello Kitty is not a cat, she was born in the suburbs in London and her hobbies include baking cookies and making new friends. Earlier this year, when entertainment company Sanrio reiterated that their beloved cartoon character with whiskers and…
Augmented reality and streetwear fashion join hands in Chennai
A virtual reality headset that showcases Biskit, Adyar’s collection while also allowing shoppers to take a look at their simulated 1,500 sq feet online store. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement On the two days she was in Chennai, Meenakshi Singh,…
This Deepavali, Barbie dons Anita Dongre
The Barbie Signature Diwali doll | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT There is a new Barbie in town and she is all set for Deepavali. A collaboration between Mattel (a multinational toy and entertainment company) and Indian designer Anita Dongre, this…
A travelling photography exhibition highlights weaving traditions of India
Ilkal sarees worn by women in North Karnataka | Photo Credit: Navaldeep Thareja “You are not a Bharwad if you wear a saree,” is how elderly Bharwad women chide young women from their community. Navaldeep Thareja, a textile engineer from…
This festive season, gifting is all about innovation, utility, and being thoughtful
In the run up to Navratri and all the golu-hopping set to commence, Karpagam K is busy at work, fashioning potlis or drawstring bags out of silk saris and shawls. “I wanted to make and gift something that was not just different,…
81-year-old South Korean falls short in a bid to become oldest Miss Universe contestant
South Korean Choi Soon-hwa, 81-year-old, poses after winning the best dress award for the 2024 Miss Universe Korea in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. | Photo Credit: AP An 81-year-old model fell short in her bid to become…
Chennai designer Neesha Amrish’s handmade stoles are now at the Van Gogh museum store in Amsterdam
Neesha Amrish with the stole that is now available at the Van Gogh Museum shop | Photo Credit: RAVINDRAN R The Van Gogh Museum shop in Amsterdam is awash with colours synonymous with the painter’s works. The shelves and nooks…
This apparel collab brings characters like Suppandi and Shikari Shambu to life
Ask any millennial about the time they spent on Tinkle comics. Just the mention of Shikari Shambu, Kalia the crow, Suppandi, and Tantri The Mantri evokes nostalgia, transporting us to our childhoodand the tradition continues with every generation. The Mumbai-based…
Nayaab brings 23 fashion brands that are reviving heritage textile techniques to Chennai
A collection by Divya Seth | Photo Credit: Special arrangement A paean to the heritage textile crafts of India, the 13th edition of Nayaab — a retrospective that will make its way to Chennai on October 3 — puts the…
Manish Malhotra becomes the first Indian designer to showcase his fashion line, World Collection, at Harrods, London
Manish Malhotra poses against the backdrop of Harrods in London | Photo Credit: Special arrangement India’s fashion industry has officially joined the 175th anniversary celebration of London’s luxury departmental store Harrods, with a special showcase of a fashion edit by…
Chennai’s Koyambedu market inspires Sanjay Garg of Raw Mango as he brings his festive collection Garland to Chennai
A sari from the Garland collection Sanjay Garg is no stranger to Koyambedu flower market. It is a place he frequents during his visits to Chennai. He loves flowers, jasmine being his favourite. Little wonder that his store in Chennai…
Miss Universe India 2024: Rhea Singha wins Title, to represent India at Miss Universe 2024
Rhea Singha after she was crowned as the Miss Universe India 2024, in Jaipur, Sunday night, Sept. 22, 2024. | Photo Credit: PTI Rhea Singha has been crowned Miss Universe India 2024, and she will now represent India at the…
Milan Fashion Week opens with light, ethereal yet grounded looks from Fendi, Ferretti and Marni
Just as the northern hemisphere starts the wardrobe transition from summer to fall, runway shows in the world’s fashion capitals seek to stir the imagination, and desire, for the next warm weather season. Milan designers have been ambiguous about seasons…
Shop for handlooms and handcrafted products at this pop-up in Chennai
Koodai totes | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Shop for a curated range of handlooms and handcrafted products at the second edition of Sondham. Sunita Prasad, founder and partner of the annual pop-up, brings traditional handloom saris, dupattas, and their signature…
Needles meet mirrors this festive season, with NEEDLEDUST X Abhinav Mishra edit of bags and footwear
Fehroza ’24 flaunts high-grade crystals, pearls and mukaish work, alongside signature mirror and gota detailing | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Just in time for the festive season, shoe brand NEEDLEDUST has renewed its association with designer Abhinav Mishra, expanding the…
With a boutique in Delhi, Franck Muller’s eyes are set on strategic expansion in India
New Delhi’s DLF Emporio Mall, synonymous with top-tier luxury brands, is now home to Swiss watchmaker Franck Muller’s first boutique in northern India, in partnership with Kapoor Watch Company. The brand’s inclination toward quirky aesthetics is visible in its 1,168…
Chennai| Thamalli, a newly launched bespoke jewellery brand features rare gemstones from around the world
Adithi Ganeshan | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement For 23-year-old Adithi Ganeshan, inspiration is rooted in heritage and tradition. “It could be a small annapakshi on a suryapalakai, athangudi tiles, or the carvings on the Burma teak pillars in Karaikudi. As…
Yuvraj Singh on luxury watches, and his upcoming biopic
Yuvraj Singh at the new store | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Former Indian international cricketer Yuvraj Singh is a busy man. From working on his cancer charity YouWeCan to mentoring young kids from his home state, Punjab, besides travelling the…
A community of Chinese women successfully run some of Chennai’s oldest beauty parlours
“Hair wash, massage and eyebrows,” instructs Mary Lee, speaking to her assistant. Immediately, products are plucked off shelves, the air conditioner is turned on and curtains are drawn. Work begins. “They are all my regulars,” she says, pointing inside. “Can’t…
The Lee X Suneet Varma collaboration, featuring Sara Ali Khan, blends comfort with couture
Suneet Varma | Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR Sara Ali Khan in an embroidered corset and skirt from the collection How do you take a ubiquitous fabric like denim — associated with rough use and daily wear — and make…
On MS Subbulakshmi’s 108th birth anniversary, actor Vidya Balan recreates her iconic style in a photo tribute
In 1951, MS Subbulakshmi made her way to Nalli Silks with a blue thread in hand, hoping to have a sari made of the same colour. The colour of the sari then specially woven for her, was so unique that…
Lay’s X Huemn just dropped. It brings to life the vibrant colours associated with these packets of chips
In 2022, Balenciaga collaborated with Lay’s to create bags that looked like packets of chips. These debuted on the hallowed runway of the Paris Fashion Week. This year, the snack brand has teamed up with homegrown label Huemn. And the…
Screen share: Films and shows that sparkle with fashion
Still from ‘Emily in Paris’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement So obviously Emily in Parisis not a deep and meaningful dive into cultural differences and otherness. It is frivolous fun with fabulous fashion. The venerable Patricia Field, who clothed Carrie…
A collection with an Italian heart and an Indian soul: Rahul Mishra X Tod’s
Tod’s aproached designer Rahul Mishra (right) for a collaboration in 2017 | Photo Credit: Special arrangement The story of the first-of-its-kind collaboration between award-winning Indian couturier Rahul Mishra and Italy’s multimillion-dollar fashion house Tod’s goes back to 2017 when their…
Five watches that made waves at Geneva Watch Days 2024
In its fifth edition, Geneva Watch Days (GWD) has come a long way from August 2020 when it was launched by its six founding members — watch brands Breitling, Bvlgari, De Bethune, Girard-Perregaux, H Moser & Cie, and MB&F. An…
Designer Rahul Mishra opens first flagship store in Hyderabad
Inside Rahul MIshra’s store in Hyderabad Designer Rahul Mishra’s first store in Hyderabad is a reflection of his artistic vision. In a hat tip to the city, the 5000 square feet store has a metal ceiling featuring ripples of water…
My Designation has brought out a specially curated box of Kerala-themed items for Onam
When clothing brand My Designation launched their Onakkodi box, they did not anticipate the response. Though their merchandise — t-shirts, shirts, bottom wear, hoodies and jackets — that derive heavily from Kerala pop culture, is very popular, the response to…
Kochi designers use memories, motifs and gold for their Onam collections
A Rouka sari | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Kerala quirky Rouka by Sreejith’s collection of Kerala handloom saris for Onam are a bit whimsy, quirky and bring in a whole lot of nostalgia. The collection, says designer Sreejith Jeevan, as…
Five watches that made waves at Geneva Watch Days 2024
In its fifth edition, Geneva Watch Days (GWD) has come a long way from August 2020 when it was launched by its six founding members — watch brands Breitling, Bvlgari, De Bethune, Girard-Perregaux, H Moser & Cie, and MB&F. An…
Check out Anu Merton new collection at Amethyst, Chennai
A necklace from Anu Merton | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Nearly five months since its first pop-up in Chennai, jewellery brand Anu Merton, which shares its moniker with the designer who founded it in 2020, is back at Amethyst. This…
Designers Abraham and Thakore bring their black and white design philosophy to Hyderabad
Designer duo Abraham and Thakore need no introduction; known as masters of minimalism, the OG designers David Abraham and Rakesh Thakore were in Hyderabad to launch their first flagship store at Banjara Hills. In 1992, as classmates and friends, they…
Ongoing exhibition in Delhi highlights India’s heirloom weaves
Tamil Nadu’s temple saris | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The sari (also spelt as saree) has a chequered history. While some say its origin dates to the 1st Century; others trace it to the Indus Valley civilisation that flourished between…
Dabu-printed apparel, natural stone jewellery at upcoming city pop-up
Devika Arora will be bringing her collection of statement rings, neckpieces, and bracelets | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement If you are planning to kickstart your shopping spree for the upcoming festive season, this event comes just in time. Starting August…
Slow fashion for a fast world
The exhibition will showcase sustainable products | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement India HandMade Collective (IHMC) is having a Natural-Dye Handmade Exhibition in Bengaluru this weekend. The three-day event will also feature workshops and provide a platform for visitors to interact…
Embroiderer Annie Titus Mammen crafts an independent line of embellished pashmina stoles
Annie Titus Mammen prefers to maintain a low profile. To the extent that the fashion designer from Chennai launched her first-ever Insta page tambour.1985 just about three months ago. She has never had an outlet of her own to sell…
A unit of Kanjeevaram looms in Hyderabad, established by textile designer Gaurang Shah, looks to revive heritage designs
A weaver at work at a Kanjeevaram weaving unit established by textile designer Gaurang Shah in Hyderabad | Photo Credit: Sangeetha Devi Dundoo The steady, rhythmic rattle of the looms is audible as we enter a house in Injapuram, on…
In Srikakulam, how jamdani weaving provides employment for a group of women
The jamdani process in the looms in Srikakulam is intricate and meticulous | Photo Credit: Sangeetha Devi Dundoo Jyothi and Suma rarely take their eyes off the loom, even to talk; they patiently count the threads and go about the…
Advaya, the label that designed Deepika Padukone’s wedding saris, brings its bandhgalas and Kanjeevarams to Chennai
In 2018, when Deepika Padukone wore two saris from label Advaya for her wedding, it put the Bengaluru-based brand under the spotlight. But the brand’s success story started way before that when it was launched in 2010. “Advaya means unique…
Atlantis The Royal hotel in Dubai celebrates its first anniversary
Atlantis The Royal hotel, Dubai | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement No one does larger than life like Dubai. It is in the West Asian desert city’s very DNA. Naturally, this more-is-more aesthetic is mirrored in some of the city’s most…
Here’s a first look at Anamika Khanna H&M collection
Pieces from the Anamika Khanna H&M collection | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement For Anamika Khanna, when it comes to style, boundaries are blurred. Clothes and accessories should not be restricted to certain occasions and places, she believes. “A kurta can be…
Mumbai| The Wedding Collective promises the A to Z of the wedding planning experience, under one roof
Models wear designs by Ekaya Banaras and Dareaab by Sonia K Mahajan | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Come wedding season in the latter half of the year, and you suddenly find your weekends packed. There are multiple events to attend,…
Why Indian politicians prefer not to talk fashion
Ever since she stopped dyeing her hair more than a year back, waiting for the messy grey to grow into subdued salt, Nirmala Sitharaman has been particularly attentive to her sari selection. For years, she wore handlooms from her home…
At CellSense, bioluminescent algae are used in luxury jewellery and fashion
According to a 2019 UN report, it takes close to 7,500 litres of water to create one pair of jeans. As per a 2023 report by environmental news website earth.org4, each year approximately 92 million tonnes of clothes end up…
Why Amit Aggarwal is one of the most exciting designers at India Couture Week 2024
Eleven years ago, when Amit Aggarwal delivered his first bridal order, it was black and fashioned from polymer chips. On Sunday, his collection at India Couture Week 2024 continued to defy expectations, as his models walked the runway in futuristic…
Amit Aggarwal to Injiri – behind Indian fashion’s zero waste goals
It takes a village, and then some, to craft Tilla’s Kabira and Rosa jackets. The one-of-a-kind pieces feature thread and metallic embroidery, reversible designs, and multiple colourways. The patchworked base is a highlight, stitched by women from Pindharada village near…
Chennai hosts Crafts Council of India’s textiles and accessories show on August 9 and 10
Sarees by Tarini | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Every corner of the country has a unique weave and a story to tell — about the artisans, their unique craftsmanship and a history of the fabric passed down generations. Stepping into…
Omega crafts special-edition watches for Paris Olympics 2024
The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M special edition | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement We recently got exclusive face time with the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M special edition for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Omega has been the official timekeeper of Olympics since…
An inside look at the creative process of Olympic uniforms
If the Olympics is one of the world’s biggest sporting events, its opening ceremony is its crowning glory. The 2024 Paris edition is taking things up more than a few notches. The first Games to have the curtain raiser outside…
Shop DIY art kits and furniture at By Hand from the Heart
A creation by Ba No Batwo, Aurangbad | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement With a mix of established ‘repeat players’ and fresh labels, popular makers’ market By Hand from the Heart returns to the city with its second edition for the…
An inside look at the creative process of Olympic uniforms
If the Olympics is one of the world’s biggest sporting events, its opening ceremony is its crowning glory. The 2024 Paris edition is taking things up more than a few notches. The first Games to have the curtain raiser outside…
Chennai | Meet the Madras Watch Collectors Group who swap precious timepieces and stories
At a watch-making workshop by Madras Watch Collectors Group | Photo Credit: Jayakumar Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) began its first watch-making unit in Bengaluru in 1961 when Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru decided that India required a watch of its own….
Uniforms are getting weaved as Olympics arrives to capital of fashion
Sure, they call it the City of Light. But Paris is also the City of Fashion, one of the most influential fashion capitals of the world for decades, no, centuries (remember Louis XIV?) So it’s no surprise that fashion designers…
Watch | Inside ‘The Awakening of the Myth: Gala Dalí‘ exhibition
At Púbol castle, where Gala Dalí spent the later part of her life, a new fashion exhibition sheds light on her bold personality and unconventional life. Brought together by Bicester Collection’s La Roca Village and the Fundació Gala-Salvador Dalí, 24…
Gala Dalí in the company of ‘difficult’ women
In Púbol, north of Barcelona, a castle sits atop a hill. With vines sinuously wrapped around its brick walls and surreal architecture, it belongs to Gala Dalí, the wife of surrealist painter Salvador Dalí. It was bought as a gift…
This brand is turning tyre waste to cocktail dresses
Rubber Pebbel Skirt made with repurposed discarded tyre tubes. Embellished with koin textile created at studio (left) and the beam dress Made from pashmina wool and silk satin , running along the lines is the rubber married to the fabric…
Handloom sari walk to be held in Visakhapatnam on August 4
Women participating in the Handloom Sari Walk on the beach road in Visakhapatnam. | Photo Credit: V RAJU Visakhapatnam is set to host a vibrant celebration with a three-kilometre sari walk along Beach Road, ahead of National Handloom Day (August…
Varanasi to Versailles: A look at how designer duo Swati and Sunaina experiment with Benares brocades and French romanticism
Designers Sunaina (in green), Swati (centre, off white) with models who sport saris from their ‘Varanasi to Versailles’ collection | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement/Vineet Kapashi The mention of woven Benares saris might bring up memories of heirloom saris with traditional…
Actress Sagarika Ghatge Khan blends royal heritage into her fashion brand Akutee, offering bespoke garments in rich fabrics.
Sagarika Ghatge in Bengaluru, along with one of her hand painted saris | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Actor Sagarika Ghatge Khan, who hails from the erstwhile royal house of Kolhapur and is a descendent of Maharaja Tukojirao Holkar III, weaves…
From Radhika Merchant to Katrina Kaif, meet the designer who makes floral jewellery for weddings
Radhika Merchant in a phool dupatta by Floral Art | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Hours before Radhika Merchant’s haldi ceremony, a group of five karigars sat huddled around a mound of fresh flowers at Srishti Calcuttawala’s Floral Art Studio in Vile…
Sobhita Dhulipala adds glitz to Qbik Hyderabad launch
Sobhita Dhulipala at Qbik’s first flagship store in Hyderabad | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Qbik, the Delhi-headquartered fashion label founded in 2011 by Vrinda Sachdev and Gurinder Singh, recently opened its flagship store in Hyderabad. The 3200 square feet store…
With its fashion-forward offerings, Savana by Urbanic focusses on Gen Z
At Savana, they are serious about trends. From dramatic bows and Coquette core to K-Pop and Bridgerton, if it is trending it is on Savana’s app, in the form of garments and accessories. Launched last month by the UK-based fashion…
Dyson Airstrait review: The straightener, now launched in India, promises no heat damage. Does it deliver?
A model uses the Dyson Airstrait | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The launch of Dyson’s Airstrait in India feels like a chatty shindig. Everyone is getting to know each other over the whirr of this heat-less straightener, while glasses of…
Watch: Women artisans in Lucknow keep Chikankari embroidery alive
Watch: Women artisans in Lucknow keep Chikankari embroidery alive
The Bicester Collection’s Unlock Her Future Prize aims to empower women entrepreneurs
Thamires Pontes’ tenable seaweed textile fibre | Photo Credit: Ryan Galvao Thamires Pontes has configured how to turn seaweed into a tenable textile fibre. The alternative to petrochemicals in clothing is the Brazil-based textile designer’s attempt at negating fashion’s waste…
Pride Month | Fashion takes the centrestage for LGBTQIA+ community at Chennai’s Pride parade
Aishu Ajith from Thiruvananthapuram who took inspiration from Aishwarya Rai | Photo Credit: Thamodharan B Although everyone from the city tends to defend Chennai’s eternal summer, we have no choice but to admit some truths. It is harder for make…
Archana Rao on ‘Kalki 2898 AD’: The minute Amitabh Bachchan tried on the Ashwatthama costume, it looked brilliant
Imagine the possibility of designing the look of a character that is supposedly the oldest man alive. When director Nag Ashwin first narrated the story of Kalki 2898 AD, nearly four years ago to Hyderabad-based fashion designer Archana Rao, she…
Bengaluru’s KR Market, Gandhinagar, and Ejipura get six mobile food banks
Six mobile food banks have been set up in the slums of Ejipura, an orphanage and old age home in KR Market, Gandhinagar, and at the HSIS Gosha Maternity Hospital | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Since March this year, access…
Decoding Diljit Dosanjh’s global desi style with designer Raghavendra Rathore
Diljit Dosanjh ropes in couturier Raghavendra Rathore to design his outfits for Dil-luminati North America tour When Punjabi musician-actor Diljit Dosanjh made his debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, he engineered a look rooted in tradition, but one which…
Why quiet luxury is the latest travel trend
In March this year, Lubaina Sheerazi did a polar plunge. Organised by Antarctica21, the fly-cruise expedition to Antarctica had experts leading a small group of travellers on the great white continent. “From transiting the Lemaire Channel, also known as the…
Dhruv Kapoor’s SS25 Co-Ed show at Milan Fashion Week: Bunny therapy meets gender-fluid fashion
While it is tough to get a word in edgewise when Sabato De Sarno’s micro shorts at Gucci and Alessandro Michele’s debut Valentino collection are in competition, Milan Fashon Week Spring 2025 had a few, albeit quiet, winners this season….
French politicians navigate evolving fashion rules
For male French politicians, fashion writers say, a simple uniform has become dominant: a navy blue suit — fitted and generally a little too slim — with a white shirt and thin tie. This is particularly popular among centrists and…
Narendra Kumar Ahmed launches Tamiska, a new womenswear label
Narendra Kumar Ahmed’s bio on Instagram reads ‘Story Tailor’. Whether it is a new label he launches or a fashion show he is part of, the celebrated couturier always has a story which takes centre stage. More than two decades…
This Chennai artist’s luxury, handmade, and sustainable jewellery line goes global
At Bhagya Sivaraman’s home studio, she sits surrounded by art — her black line drawings on white paper cover the walls. Near her desk, is a large stand from which hang rows of earrings, each a different size, shape, and…
Why the fate of the Chikankari artisans hangs by a thread?
A Geographical Indication (GI) tag 15 years ago have placed chikankari embroidery in and around Lucknow today. Earlier this year, Naseem Bano, a Lucknow-based practitioner of Anokhi Chikankari, where the embroidery is invisible on the reverse side of the fabric,…
Check out edgy jewellery pieces from these contemporary Indian labels
Amama is know for its big statement jewellery Loud, edgy, dramatic — jewellery today resembles art in a gallery. Driven by a demand for bolder pieces, a crop of young designers are creating jewellery that deliberately moves away from traditional…
Arish John Andrews designs and makes bespoke ornaments from natural materials such as seeds, clay, bamboo
Ruby red seeds of the Coral Wood tree (manjadikkuru) collected from the damp earth transform into standout neckpieces. A pair of hoops resemble the delicate petals of the ixora while another mimics the hot pink flowers of the Frangipani that…
Embroidery of Dreams: Designer Deepika Khatri’s journey to Cannes
“A designer always writes a story through their creations, drawing from a lifetime of experiences,” says Deepika Khatri, a freelance fashion designer whose designs were showcased on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival. “It’s not a one-day dream…
The Himalayan Knot | How Royal Enfield and its bikers are documenting the Northeast’s culture
It is a warm day in the Chirang district of Bongaigaon, a two-hour drive from Guwahati, Assam. We are at the handloom section at the ANT (Action North East) campus. Since last year, Royal Enfield has been collaborating with the…
Can H&M inspire sustainable fashion with better fabrics and higher prices?
From stables to the power corridors of fashion, Ann-Sofie Johansson, H&M’s head of Womenswear Design, has had quite a journey. Growing up in Sweden, she says she was always in the stables, taking care of horses and going on rides….
Weavers design the Sonthanga collection with locally sourced organic cotton
M Giri Babu, a farmer-activist looks at the designs on kora | Photo Credit: Special arrangement The Sonthanga (meaning ‘On its Own’ in Telugu) collection takes centre stage with 67 self-designs on Kora, the raw, unbleached off-white fabric which turned…
Uorfi Javed interview: Men follow me, women stalk me
Uorfi Javed is a mischief maker. And she is not apologetic about it. This is her new role in the current edition of MTV Splitsvilla X5: ExSqueeze Me Please, a dating reality show. Unlike last season, she is not pretending…
Actor Kani Kusruti’s watermelon clutch at Cannes was designed in Kochi
Kani Kusruti with the All We Imagine As Light team at the 77th Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals Carrying the watermelon clutch on the red carpet at Cannes was All We Imagine As Light actor Kani Kusruti’s way…
Actress Sagarika Ghatge Khan blends royal heritage into her fashion brand Akutee, offering bespoke garments in rich fabrics.
Sagarika Ghatge in Bengaluru, along with one of her hand painted saris | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Actor Sagarika Ghatge Khan, who hails from the erstwhile royal house of Kolhapur and is a descendent of Maharaja Tukojirao Holkar III, weaves…
How Hyderabad-based clothing label Kritikala provides livelihoods to women artisans, using ikat, kalamkari and Mangalagiri cotton
The Kritikala store at Shaikpet, Hyderabad, is the face of a collective of enterprising women who design garments and products using ikat, kalamkari and Mangalagiri cotton sourced from craft clusters in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Displayed on the racks and…
Cannes 2024: Nancy Tyagi makes her maiden appearance at festival with self-stitched 20kg gown
Fashion influencer Nancy Tyagi at the red carpet of the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2024. | Photo Credit: nancytyagi_/Instagram Fashion influencer Nancy Tyagi made her red carpet debut in a pink ruffled gown with an elaborate train…
Abraham & Thakore open a new store in Delhi
Designers David Abraham, Rakesh Thakore and Kevin Nigli have a new address for their handcrafted apparel and home brand Abraham & Thakore in New Delhi’s affluent neighbourhood, Defence Colony | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Designers David Abraham, Rakesh Thakore and…
Breitling’s CEO on the brand’s new watch technology
Recently, Georges Kern, the CEO of one of the most-revered watch brands in the world, Breitling, was in India. A few of us were privy to an engaging interaction — one that acquainted us with many things about the brand…
Alia Bhatt stuns at the Gucci Cruise show 2025
Alia Bhatt attends the Gucci Cruise 2025 Fashion Show at Tate Modern on May 13, 2024 in London, England | Photo Credit: GETTY IMAGES Actor Alia Bhatt attended the Gucci Cruise show 2025 at the Tate Modern art gallery in…
Richa Chadha-Ali Fazal’s fashion brand Ehaab champions Chikankari embroidery
The first drop comprises pure tissue, chanderi chikan kurtis for women and chikankari kurta sets for men | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement When actor Richa Chadha got married to Ali Fazal in October 2022, she chose to wear a custom…
Met Gala 2024: Indians who shone on the red carpet
Alia Bhatt, Isha Ambani, Natasha Poonawalla at the Met Gala 2024 A bevy of celebrities descended upon the red carpet of the 2024 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Several prominent Indians marked their attendance…
Met Gala 2024: Sabyasachi Mukherjee becomes the first Indian fashion designer to walk the carpet
Sabyasachi Mukherjee’s look from the Met Gala 2024, at the Metropolitan Museum Art in New York | Photo Credit: sabyasachiofficial/Instagram Well-known designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee became the first Indian fashion designer to walk the Met Gala carpet. Sabyasachi shared his look…
Met Gala 2024: Kylie Jenner steals the spotlight in ethereal gown
Kylie Jenner attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating ‘Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion’ at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City | Photo Credit: DIA DIPASUPIL Amidst a constellation of stars and glitterati of the…
Met Gala 2024: Shakira makes fashion event debut in voluminous red gown
Shakira attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute benefit gala celebrating the opening of the ‘Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion’ exhibition on Monday, May 6, 2024, in New York | Photo Credit: Evan Agostini Columbian singer Shakira debuted at the…
Inside the Met Gala 2024: Emma Chamberlain, Zendaya, Alia Bhatt, a fairytale forest and woodland creatures
Sauntering through the hallways of the Metropolitan Museum of Art on the way to cocktails, James Corden spread his arms out comically, like he owned the place. “Let me know if you want me to talk you through any of…
Lee Cooper launches world’s first jeans from discarded cigarette butts
The world’s first jeans made of discarded cigarette butts as part of the Lee Cooper Eco Collection | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement In the time you take to read this sentence more than 12,000 cigarette butts would have been trashed…
Hermès opens its new store at Mumbai’s BKC
The new retail space has been designed by Paris-based architecture and interior design firm, RDAI | Photo Credit: Six Ways To Sunday Under the watchful gaze of a tiger, woven into a signature Hermès silk scarf, Eric Festy, regional director…
Motherland’s new drop is a nostalgic take on Test cricket
Motherland’s cricket collection, which is inspired by the cricket fashion of the 1970s, embraces nostalgia with whites, off-whites and deep navy blues | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Cricket fever continues to soar with the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) and…
Fashion designer Mac Duggal arrives in India
Fashion designer Mac Duggal | Photo Credit: Special arrangement The fashion industry in India is on the brink of a paradigm shift, with many global brands foraying into the country’s booming retail sector. Since January, the country has witnessed the…
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Check out Anita Dongre’s new range of clothing made with biodegradable yarn and vegan accessories
Azure brings to life the colour spectrum of the ocean and the skies | Photo Credit: Special arrangement The metaphorical iterations of the colour blue may have attributed to its aesthetic value. No wonder, it has been the muse of…
Kalaripayattu to Raja Ravi Varma… this Kochi clothing brand makes wearable art inspired by facets of Kerala
With every print she creates, architect-turned-designer Anjali Ashok tells a story. “I am not just selling a piece of clothing. Each print is a story that resonates on a personal level with the wearer,” she says, discussing her clothing brand,…
Conscious shopper? Head over to Bengaluru’s Paper Boat Collective
Love Me Twice’s second store was opened at Bengaluru recently | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement “You feel good when you shop,” says Mridula Pai, the founder of the thrift label Love Me Twice, the first branch of which opened in Kolkata…
Chennai-based fashion label Alonge uses ‘intelligent cotton’ for its line of knitwear
“It’s pronounced ‘along’. Because clothes are always with you,” says Chennai-based Nithya Prakas of her just- launched label Alonge. “We added the ‘e’ so it is easier to find us on the the search engine,” she laughs. After completing a…
Take a look at these seven watches that stole the show at Watches and Wonders 2024
Horology enthusiasts were looking forward to this year’s edition of Watches and Wonders in Geneva. The fair was bigger in scale, with 54 participating maisons, their retailers, partners, and media. The week-long event, open to invitees only for four days,…
Bulgari’s super-slim supremacy: launches thinnest watch in the world
Octo Finissimo Ultra COSC in titanium ($529,000) and platinum ($546,000), limited to 20 pieces. | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Earlier this week, Bulgari unveiled the thinnest watch on the planet. Attendees at Watches and Wonders Geneva (till April 15), who…
King of leopard print, Italy’s Roberto Cavalli dies at 83
Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli, centre, acknowledges the applause of the audience after presenting the Roberto Cavalli men’s Spring-Summer 2015 collection, part of the Milan Fashion Week, in Milan, Italy, June 24, 2014. Italy’s world-famous fashion designer Roberto Cavalli –…
Delhi-based designer Ashita Singhal, winner of Nexa presents the Spotlight, upcycles scrap to create luxury fabric
Designer Ashita Singhal poses with her weavers at the Lakmé Fashion Week X FDCI 2024 at Jio World Convention centre in Mumbai Ashita Singhal’s clothes look avant garde, but did you know they are made of waste? “At Paiwand Studio,…
Irrespective of who is contesting in polls in Tamil Nadu, biryani always wins
Peak season: In a week, many biryani kitchens will function non-stop leading up to the April 19 Lok Sabha election. M. Abbu Bhai’s kitchen at Tondiarpet has three pitch-black cauldrons of oil roaring to life as the firewood picks up…
Chennai’s Biskit Studio launches a new collection at its VR and AR-enabled virtual store
Snapshots of the newly launched VR and AR-enabled digital store It is Saturday night and a party is underway at Chennai’s Biskit studio. Millennials groove to house music as they peruse a wide range of abstract, futuristic fashion. Here, the…
Verandah is India’s first brand to bag the Butterfly Mark certification
Outfits from Verandah’s Anjuna collection | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement In a major win for Indian luxury fashion, popular resort wear and swimwear brand Verandah has joined the ranks of luxury brands Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, and Tom Ford Beauty…
Lakme Fashion Week 2024: Urvashi Kaur celebrates 15 years in fashion at Jio World Convention centre in Mumbai
Designer Urvashi Kaur with celebrities and models during her show at Lakme Fashion Week 2024 at Jio World Convention centre in Mumbai, India on March 14. | Photo Credit: Perfect Shadows, FDCI x Lakme Fashion Week and RISE Worldwide In…
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Felt from textile waste courtesy Harisu Batte X The Good Felt collab
A bag from The Good Felt X Jaggery Bags collab | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Late last month, as industry experts presented their offerings at Bharat Tex — one of the world’s largest textile events — two organisations from Bengaluru…
Hanut Singh and the daggers with a cult following
Hanut Singh, 51, is just back from a trip to Fatehpur Sikri and Agra. “I can’t even begin to tell you how moved I was,” says the jewellery designer. “Even though I’ve been there many times, it feeds my soul….
Hyderabad designer Archana Rao’s ‘Sun and Moon’ with a hint of floral at Lakme Fashion Week
Archana Rao (centre) with models showcasing her creations at Lakme Fashion Week 2024 | Photo Credit: FDCI x Lakme Fashion Week At designer Archana Rao’s studio in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, a marigold yellow gown with floral surface details and a…
Collage x Beg Borrow Steal brings luxury vintage jewellery, textiles and art to Chennai
Purses, jewellery and accessories that will be displayed at Collage | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Collage, Chennai’s multi-dimensional fashion and luxury store, is stepping into its 20th year with a retrospective that romances nostalgia. In collaboration with Mumbai’s high-end boutique…
Emerging trends, silhouettes and designers from Lakme Fashion Week 2024
As Mumbai’s fashion commentators, couturiers and creators came together last week at Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI, we saw stalwarts like Anamika Khanna revive tribal motifs, Rajesh Pratap Singh partner with an Argentinian polo brand, and JJ Valaya use royal…
Moonray’s new, eco-friendly spring-summer collection features three-dimensional craftwork
garments from Moonray’s spring-summer collection Equilibrium | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Inspired by Nature, Moonray’s spring-summer collection, Equilibrium, envelops traditional crafts and dyeing techniques within the fold of sustainable fashion and modern design sensibilities. While plant-based dyes and eco-friendly fabrics are the cynosure of…
Ekaya Banaras-Anu Merton collab features 18 saris
The latest capsule collection, IRO, comprises 18 saris in silk and organza | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Just in time for summer, luxurious silks in vivid hues of electric purple, ultramarine blue, and rani pink are part of Ekaya Banaras’…
Archana Kochhar’s Miss World marvel: A fashionable fusion journey celebrating India’s rich tapestry
Archana Kochhar at the 71st Miss World pageant at Jio Convention Center, Mumbai on March 9 | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement In a display of sartorial finesse, fashion designer Archana Kochhar unveiled her latest collection for the 71st Miss World pageant,…
Watch | Fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani on his new book ‘Journey to India Modern’
Watch | Fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani on his new book ‘Journey to India Modern’ The conversation between Rosella Stephen, Editor, The Hindu Sunday Magazine and Literary Review, and one of India’s foremost fashion designers, Tarun Tahiliani, began with a mention…
Preview: Hyderabad-based Gaurang Shah’s showcase for Lakme Fashion Week is a burst of ‘Gulal’
A preview of Gaurang Shah’s Lakme Fashion Week 2024 springs-summer collection Gulal, in Hyderabad | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement A burst of pink hues contrasts the pale white walls on the first floor of textile designer Gaurang Shah’s flagship store…
Shakuntala Kulkarni’s armoured Dior runway
On February 27, at Paris Fashion Week, Dior went back to the 60s. But instead of leaning into its ‘swinging’ tag, creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri had her models wend their way around life-size, cage-like cane forms. Crafted by Mumbai-based…
Indian single malt Longitude 77 from Pernod Ricard India, launched globally in Dubai
Executives from the House of Pernod Ricard India, along with whisky connoisseur Zoran B and host Kubra Sait, at the global launch of Longitude 77. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The Palazzo Versace in Dubai is an opulent mirage. At…
Ikat’s Indian journey | Inside the Patta-Bandha exhibition at New Delhi’s National Crafts Museum
As a collector of ikat saris, I have a defining memory of the weave. An exquisite cotton ikat sari woven by Pitabas Meher, whose father Mohan Meher received the National Award for the design. In shades of deep red and indigo, it was inspired…
Heading to Rio de Janeiro? Here’s a list of bars you must visit
You can drink high in Rio and you can drink low, and I did both, and in-between too. The promenade along Copacabana, as well as Ipanema and Leblon, has cocktail carts well-spaced out, so by the time you have finished…
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The just launched Estée Lauder X Sabyasachi collaboration features 10 matte lipsticks in gilded cases
For the Estée Lauder X Sabyasachi collaboration, the couturier curated the shades by drawing on individual threads from his aesthetic At first, it looks like a piece of jewellery. A gilded case with 24K gold-plated accents and the Bengal tiger embossed…
Anuja Chauhan on The Fast and the Dead: ‘I love the energy and intimacy of bazaars’
ACP Bhawani Singh is back in Anuja Chauhan’s latest whodunit-romance, The Fast and the Dead (Harper Collins). There was serendipity in his return, the 53-year-old author says. “When I wrote Club You To Death, I was working with an idea of this pudgy,…
Anuja Chauhan on The Fast and the Dead: ‘I love the energy and intimacy of bazaars’
ACP Bhawani Singh is back in Anuja Chauhan’s latest whodunit-romance, The Fast and the Dead (Harper Collins). There was serendipity in his return, the 53-year-old author says. “When I wrote Club You To Death, I was working with an idea of this pudgy,…
The Garfield X Papa Don’t Preach collection celebrates the iconic cartoon’s 45th anniversary
Shubhika Sharma has five cats — two in her office and three at home. And they served as inspiration for her just launched collaboration with Garfield. To commemorate the iconic, lazy, orange cat’s 45th anniversary, Viacom 18 Consumer Products tied…
Anti-influencers are challenging unrealistic beauty standards on social media
Bottomless scrolling on Instagram or TikTok for perfection also perpetuates unrealistic beauty standards | Photo Credit: Getty Images Social media has always taught people to erase all flaws. It is a landscape where beauty reigns supreme, and perfection seems just…
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How students and faculty of NIFT Hyderabad executed the wall art project, Moment and Movements
Students of the Department of Fashion and Lifestyle Accessories, NIFT, Hyderabad, who executed the wall art project | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The bold, wavy patterns in red, blue, yellow and black on the walls of the recently-inaugurated sports complex…
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How India’s mixologists are curating history-inspired cocktail menus
Once upon a time, in the 17th century, the governor of Malabar wrote a botanical treatise. Hortus Malabaricus (Garden of Malabar) is a series of 12 tomes that highlighted the flora in the Malabar Coast and its medicinal properties; it…
How India’s mixologists are curating history-inspired cocktail menus
Once upon a time, in the 17th century, the governor of Malabar wrote a botanical treatise. Hortus Malabaricus (Garden of Malabar) is a series of 12 tomes that highlighted the flora in the Malabar Coast and its medicinal properties; it…
Designer Viraj Khanna crafts an ari, zardosi embroidered jacket for Puma
The bomber jacket designed for Puma | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Sportswear brand Puma gets an Indian makeover with varied embroidered textile cut-outs, courtesy a collaboration with artist-designer Viraj Khanna, son of noted Indian designer Anamika Khanna and brand AK-OK….
Heading to Rio de Janeiro? Here’s a list of bars you must visit
You can drink high in Rio and you can drink low, and I did both, and in-between too. The promenade along Copacabana, as well as Ipanema and Leblon, has cocktail carts well-spaced out, so by the time you have finished…
Global influencer Diipa Büller Khosla on what it takes to be popular in a world of algorithms
Diipa Büller Khosla is busy deciding where to lunch. She loves a good South Indian meal. And, filter coffee. Savya Rasa, Manjal, Junior Kuppanna… she lists out her options. The Mumbai/Amsterdam-based influencer — with an Instagram following of 2.1 million — has…
Designer Ashish Soni predicts gender-neutral fashion in the future
Ashish Soni | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Designer Ashish Soni says as a designer, he is all for inclusivity and sustainable talk if designers and consumers actually walk the talk. As a curator-in-chief of Blenders Pride Glassware Fashion NXT he…
Designer JJ Valaya talks about his bridge-to-luxury line JJV Kapurthala
JJ Valaya with show stopper Mrunal Thakur and Jim Sarabh | Photo Credit: Special arrangements At the exclusive preview of Blenders Pride Glassware Fashion NXT in Hyderabad, the audience got to glimpse the new face of fashion with designer JJ…
A round-up of trending smartwatches across price points
Like smartphones, smartwatches too have caught the attention of Indian users. A smartwatch serves two basic purposes: it keeps track of activitiesand acts as a fashion accessory too. Having said that, a majority of smartwatch users want to keep a…
Nayaab Edit brings brands like Pero, Nila Jaipur and Morii Design to Chennai
Nila Jaipur will exhibit at Nayaab Edit | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Wall art/tapestries by Morii Design | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement A retrospective that engages with not just the warp and weft that spells India’s rich legacy of textile…
Trendsetting leather exhibition: Highlights from the Leather Fashion Show 2024
Model walking on the ramp at Asia’s largest leather fashion show ‘India International Leather Fair (IILF)‘ in Chennai at the ITC Grand Chola | Photo Credit: Akhila Easwaran The cameras flashed in sync at the supermodel who walked the ramp…
Watch | Tarun Tahiliani on his book ‘Journey to India Modern’ | The Hindu Lit Fest 2024
The conversation between Rosella Stephen and one of India’s foremost fashion designers, Tarun Tahiliani, began with a mention of his book, Tarun Tahiliani: Journey to India Modern, a culmination of 25 years of the designer’s career. Photo Credit: VELANKANNI RAJ….
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Nandita Mahtani celebrates 20 years in fashion with a new resort cocktail wear collection
Nandita Mahtani presents ‘Reflect’ with Karan Johar as showstopper I Celebrating 20 years in fashion (3) Armed with 20 years of experience in the fashion industry, designer Nandita Mahtani is packing a punch with her brand’s new collection called Reflect….
Born in Madurai and crafted in Grasse, LilaNur Parfums is India’s scented love letter to the world
India’s olfactory palette, owing to its diverse flora, has championed the art of distilling scents, fondly known as attars. It is these fragrant oils that caught the fancy of Good Earth’s founder Anita Lal, who launched LilaNur Parfums, an Indian…
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As part of the Jaipur royal family’s social enterprise, The PDKF Store is reimagining block prints for a modern audience. Gauravi Kumari, at its helm, tells us how
Gauravi Kumari and Claire Deroo with the artisans of PDKF | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Gauravi Kumari from the erstwhile royal family of Jaipur was 14 when her mother, the now Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Diya Kumari, launched her…
‘India in Fashion’ at NMACC helps define the country’s varied sources of global influence: Rooshad Shroff
Mumbai-based architect and designer Rooshad Shroff, who was the associate designer of India in Fashion discusses lighting challenges, documentation and exhibition design. Edited excerpts: Rooshad Shroff The exhibition has been imagined as curatorial chapters. Was there any segment that was…
Emmys 2024 red carpet fashion | All the best looks at the awards
Jessica Chastain attends the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California | Photo Credit: AUDE GUERRUCCI Television’s top stars sparkled on the Emmys red carpet Monday, embracing the trends that have emerged in a hectic week of awards shows…
Walkthrough of NMACC’s ‘India in Fashion’ exhibition
Watch | Walkthrough of NMACC’s ‘India in Fashion’ exhibition An exhibit at ‘India in Fashion’ | Photo Credit: Mitsun Soni The ‘India in Fashion’ exhibition at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre showcases over 150 exhibits, all fully or partially…
Alia Bhatt dazzles in black at Gucci Cruise 2024 in Seoul
Alia Bhatt at the Gucci Cruise 2024 | Photo Credit: Vogue India/Instagram Alia Bhatt, who became the first Indian to be named the global brand ambassador for Gucci last week, made her appearance at the Gucci Cruise 2024, in Seoul….
Cannes 2023: Sara Ali Khan makes red carpet debut, says she’s always been proud of her ‘Indianness’
Actor Sara Ali Khan made her debut appearance on the international red carpet at the Cannes International Film Festival 2023 on Tuesday. Representing Indian culture on an international platform, the actor went for a desi way with an off-white lehenga…
Cannes 2023: Helen Mirren’s blue hair, Michael Douglas receives an honorary Palme d’Or, and more
Helen Mirren poses for photographers upon arrival at the opening ceremony and the premiere of the film ‘Jeanne du Barry’ at the 76th international film festival, Cannes | Photo Credit: Scott Garfitt The Cannes Film Festival opened its 76th edition…
Chintz Muslin and the Forgotten Queen, an exhibition of textiles of a bygone era, in Kochi
Did you know that Dhaka is not the only place that produces muslin? Or that in Santipur, West Bengal, there is a way to starching yarn that turns the threads “as stiff as a bone”? These are some of the…
Why quiet luxury in India is not quiet
Gwyneth Paltrow, Deepika Padukone with Ranveer Singh, and Alia Bhatt | Photo Credit: AP, Getty Images Sarojini Naidu famously quipped that it cost a lot of money to keep Mahatma Gandhi in poverty, so she would no doubt view with…
Hermès Beauty comes to India with Rouge Hermès, featuring 24 shades of lipsticks
A snapshot of the lipsticks | Photo Credit: Joshua Navalkar The setting is the Mumbai Hermès store. Though it is a weekday afternoon, energy levels are high and the space is bright with colour. An artist paints renditions of attending guests’…
Trouble wearing a sari? These ready-to-wear saris might help
Pre-pleated saris at the Madras Ironing Company | Photo Credit: SRINATH M It takes my mother less than 10 minutes to drape a sari to perfection, be it crisp cottons, flowing silks, or pristine pattus. I, on the other hand,…
Handlooms and lace to protest fashion, FDDI Hyderabad students show their mettle
Student designers of FDDI Hyderabad showcase a handloom collection in collaboration with weavers of Karwan | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Graduation shows at fashion schools are an indication of the unbridled creative instincts of budding designers. Sans filters that come…
Get your samosa and kachori fix at Sudha Chats in Bengaluru’s Langford Town
J Satyanarayan (extreme right) at Sudha Chats | Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN If you take a walk on Berlie Street after 4 p.m., the aroma of freshly fried samosas, kachoris, and pakoras envelopes the area. Sudha Chats, a hole-in-the-wall joint is…
Kokūn’s latest Spring collection is zero-waste and naturally-dyed
Sustainability, naturally-dyed and locally grown are terms now commonplace in the fashion industry. But brands that grow their own plants to create dyes are few and far between. Which is what designer Mridu Mehta Tiwari hopes to change with Kokūn…
Why hooded gowns are becoming a fashion favourite on the red carpet
Cardi B in custom electric-blue Gaurav Gupta sculptural hooded dress for the Grammy Awards 2023 | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Fashion loves juxtaposition. So it is hardly a surprise that the hooded dress, nestled amid the paradox of an element…
How cleaning out your closet can help the earth
Mridula Pai and Karuna Ezara Parikh | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement “We want to give shoppers a first-hand experience of second-hand shopping,” says Mridula Pai, who is organising Bangalore Closet Cleanse, a thrift market that will be held at Lahe…
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Mayyur Girotra makes history as first South Asian designer to open New York Pride
Couturier Mayyur Girotra is the first-ever South Asian designer chosen to inaugurate New York Pride. On June 2, coinciding with the commencement of Pride month, Mayyur will unveil his highly anticipated luxury pret line, AIKYA, in an exclusive showcase. The…
Watch out for these fashion trends in 2024
Smartwatch | Photo Credit: Akshaya Ganesh@Chennai Someone once said, “Style is nothing but a reflection of the collective vanity of the times.” I think it was uttered yesterday, and the bearer of this epiphany was none other than me. Either…
The flea market funda – The Hindu
Buyers at the Pili Taxi flea market by Bijaya Dutta | Photo Credit: Special arrangement The weather in Hyderabad is too hot to plan a brunch. Mall hopping is passe. Climate change has meant no one is talking about mango…
World Environment Day: Meet the sustainability champions of Bengaluru inspiring a greener future
In the bustling city of Bengaluru, where urban growth and development often take centre stage, a silent revolution is underway. A growing number of individuals have emerged as passionate advocates for sustainability, dedicating their time, energy, and resources to create…
How did sari revivalist Vinay Narkar recreate the Motichoor sari, once woven in the Deccan?
Vinay Narkar with weaver Ambubai Dhotre. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT For sari revivalist Vinay Narkar, the six-yard and nine-yard unstitched drapes are not merely a piece of cloth but a repository of India’s tradition of native weaves and patterns…
Zerocircle in Pune is creating bio-soluble packaging from seaweed
Tea bags crafted with Zero Circle’s seaweed packaging | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Neha Jain’s professional journey has been quite a ride. From being a student of journalism, she went on to dabble with a career in Google and then…
Costume designer for Malayalam films Sameera Saneesh launches her designer label online
One of Sameera’s designs | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement One of costume designer Sameera Saneesh’s workspaces, on Chittoor Road, is abuzz with activity. Garments are being steam ironed and readied for a photoshoot by her assistants as the designer readies…
India set to host the 71st edition of Miss World pageant
Miss World 2022 Karolina Bielawska (c), Femina Miss India World 2022 Sini Shetty (r), Miss World Organisation Chairperson Julia Morley (2nd from left) and Jamil Saidi (2nd from right) during the announcement of the 71st Miss World pageant, in New…
Sanjay Garg on ‘The Offbeat Sari’ and why India needs its own exhibition
Recently, while attending an event in Mallorca, Spain, I spotted a foreigner wearing a tulsi bead necklace. When I commented on how ‘Indian’ it looks, he immediately apologised to me and said that he didn’t mean to appropriate it. I…
The third edition of AYCS to showcase homegrown fashion, music and art
A fashion show put together at AYCS | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement When he successfully executed the first edition of All You Can Street (AYCS) at the age of 19 in 2021, Abhishek Gandhi wanted to make homegrown brands the…
Eye on Indian museum shops
Clockwise from top left: MAP, Kamini Sawhney, Mehrangarh Fort, Sharan Apparao, Priya Paul, and Tarang Arora Why are museum shops in India not as thoughtfully curated as those you find abroad? We have both craftspeople and design experts who have been…
Exit through the museum gift shop, suggests Anita Ratnam
Watch | Anita Ratnam’s visual tour of 40 years of collecting wearable art My children and friends know that I must make that mandatory stop at the museum shop if I am travelling abroad. There is a deep local engagement…
Sabyasachi Mukherjee says breaking into the jewellery industry was a challenge but that it helps to be obstinate, following his high jewellery presentation in Delhi
When Sabyasachi Mukherjee sets the stage, nobody dares step out of line. Not the 250-odd guests attending his high jewellery showcase at The Oberoi, Delhi, in ‘strictly black’, not the sommelier instructed to pour superb Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and not celebrity wedding…
Bottled cocktails and coffee liquor: what’s trending this holiday season in India
As you plan Christmas themed brunches or a New Year soiree, look towards India’s vibrant crafts spirits to stock your bar for a change. For those of you cutting back on your annual tequila shots, there are a host of…
The fashion trends set to take over in 2024
Fashion has long been considered peak cultural currency. Whether you were enamoured by the feminine charms of balletcore or cosplayed Sofia Richie’s old-money aesthetic, 2023 was rife with zeitgeist-shifting fashion trends. While some such as quiet luxury and Barbiecore made…
Muslin, Motifs and Mystery: Paola Manfredi traces the origins of chikankari
Paola Manfredi | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Chikankari’s origins remain mysterious, even though the embroidery is synonymous with the city of Lucknow. The delicate (mostly white) embroidery (on mostly white fabric) draws up images of elite Awadh, where garments adorned…
Men’s fashion 2023 | There’s nothing dull about menswear
This year’s greatest fashion moment took place at the ancient Pont Neuf bridge — which arcs gently over the Seine in Paris. It was a cool night in the City of Light, and 13-time Grammy award winner Pharrell Williams stepped…
Hyderabad designer Shravan Kummar to showcase handlooms from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh at the forthcoming NATA and TANA summits
Kavya Venkatramana, Nisshka Jaisooria, Meera Khandelwal, Vishal Siwach, Shloka Madhu, Bal Krishna and Ratna Rao sport handloom collections by designer Shravan Kummar | Photo Credit: RAGI/Special Arrangement Pochampally ikats, Ponduru khadi and weaves from Mangalagiri, Venkatagiri, Gadwal and Narayanpet have…
Gender-neutral fashion: The next big thing in India
“A dosa doesn’t ask if a man or woman is going to eat it. Food is gender-neutral. It’s the same with clothes. Fashion is also gender-neutral,” says Pranav Misra, who started Huemn, a ready-to-wear label along with Shyma Shetty in…
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Sustainable shopping in Bengaluru: The surging popularity of secondhand goods
Abinaya Kalyanasundaram, a freelance journalist, recently moved to Bengaluru. She had a limited budget to set up her 2BHK apartment. Fridge, furniture, bed, kitchen appliances… there were quite a few things she needed to buy. And getting everything brand new,…
Mumbai is now home to stores by Crepdog Crew and SoleSearch
When neon green basketball shoes were delivered to style bloggers, Instagram influencers, and celebrities, they inspired intrigue. It soon became apparent that these were invites for the opening of Crepdog Crew’s first store in Mumbai. CDC, as the New Delhi-based…
With ruffles, prints, and quirky silhouettes, swimsuits are going from beach to bar
When the pandemic took a little breather in the last quarter of 2020, it propelled Maldives and Goa to superstar status. People were jet-setting (some in private charter jets) to these beachy destinations or road-tripping around Goa. Social media overflowed…
Sustainable handbag label Behno comes to India with Katrina Kaif as an investor
Katrina Kaif, ambassador and investor with Behno For every tie, knot and technique used in its bags, Behno has a story. The international handbag label headquartered in New York — with manufacturing units across India — had its homecoming recently, as…
Pride month 2023 | Chennai’s rainbow march celebrates the queer community and bold fashion
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 25 June 2023: Pride March: Members and supporters of LGBTQIA+ celebrating pride month at Langs Garden road, Egmore in Chennai on Sunday. Photo: Akhila Easwaran/ The Hindu | Photo Credit: Akhila Easwaran On Sunday afternoon, curious onlookers…
Picture shot by Telangana girl makes it to Vogue Italia magazine
On July 5, Telangana IT Minister K. T. Rama Rao shared the image and complemented Mamatha and her teachers at the institution. The image of a traditionally dressed grandmother on her way to a wedding lunch clicked by a student…
‘Bhanu Athaiya made India cool 60 years ago’
In a corner of The Aguad, Goa, stands a black velvet female mannequin, on which is draped a metallic bikini-armour — a helmet with bison horns on its head, a curtain of chain mail covering the crotch. Behind it is…
Bottled cocktails and coffee liquor: what’s trending this holiday season in India
As you plan Christmas themed brunches or a New Year soiree, look towards India’s vibrant crafts spirits to stock your bar for a change. For those of you cutting back on your annual tequila shots, there are a host of…
Fashion Designer Sonam Dubal brings his latest collection to Chennai
In the lush, foliage-adorned oasis of Amethyst, a café-cum-boutique nestled in the heart of Chennai, a fashion symphony unfolded. Fashion designer Sonam Dubal seamlessly juggled the roles of designer and style curator, assisting a client in selecting a contemporary blouse…
India’s lab-grown diamonds: how they are faring
“This one is a conversation starter,” says Vinaya Gupta. Pushing her wavy burgundy hair back, she reveals a delicate pair of earrings. A cluster of small, brilliant-cut diamonds is set in a pattern that looks like a mini constellation. “They…
Jane Birkin, British-French celebrity and style icon, dies at 76
Jane Birkin poses for photographers at the photo call for the film ‘Jane By Charlotte’ at the 74th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, July 8, 2021. | Photo Credit: AP Jane Birkin, the British-born singer and actress who…
Explained | What is the lawsuit against Chinese fast-fashion company Shein?
The story so far: Three U.S.-based designers and artists on July 11 filed a lawsuit against Chinese fast-fashion retailer Shein, alleging that the company indulges in copyright infringement that “constitutes racketeering”. The case against Shein was filed in a California…
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CCI’s Textile Show in Chennai will celebrate handloom silks and cottons of India
Stories and anecdotes scatter themselves in the folds of textiles, saris, made-ups, and fabrics at the Craft Council of India’s textile show. . Bela Khaleeli, joint treasurer of CCI, Chennai, says that the theme for this year’s edition being “Revive,…
Google celebrates life of artist Altina Schinasi
Apart from the famous ‘cat eye’ frame, Ms. Schinasi had patented many inventions throughout her career and produced documentaries too, Google pointed. | Photo Credit: Google Google on August 4, 2023, celebrated the life of Altina Schinasi, an american artist,…
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team spirit not Bollywood at Tarun Tahiliani couture show
Less is more, but nothing is still nothing. Stylist Louw Kotze repurposes a Donatella Versace quote to describe Tarun Tahiliani, 60, a ‘maximalist’ who is “well researched and knows his own signature”. Tarun’s show at India Couture Week, which concluded…