Pema Khando is a fashion designer whose line of clothes is retailed at Mapcha – a concept store in Manju-Ka-Tilla, Delhi’s only Tibetan refugee colony. While grabbing a bite together at Ama Thakali (a Nepalese restaurant in the vicinity owned by her brother) the 43 year old filled me in with her life, influences and but ofcourse…
Category: womenwear
Handloom is neither cheap nor imperfect
“We work for that day when the word ‘handloom’ connotes neither cheap…nor imperfect…nor does it bring to mind visions of poor artisans with underfed children. We look forward to that day when ‘hand-loom’ is associated with pride and joy…and rightfully acknowledged as the very backbone of our culture and heritage.” – Karomi Crafts Kona Collection…
Throwback modernist jewellery
Jotting in my little black book for Ahmedabad next is – Kritha Makwana, for her abstract metal jewellery. It is quite unlike the ones we have featured earlier i.e. sculptural jewellery by Manifest Design and organically traditional by Dvibhumi. With hints from primitive bronze and iron age, it dawned on me how this ‘throwback modernist jewellery‘ would undoubtedly…
Guilt-free minimalist fashion
This week too I’m picking the textile city Ahmedabad, for shopping. Hetal Shrivastav‘s Craftmark certified clothing label Raasleela seems to have hit the mark. This under-the-radar 100% handstictched minimalist uses age-old hand sewing techniques to restore our love for vintage and versatility. One benefits from wearing cotton which is ideal for our scorching heat and muggy…
‘Iki’ an expression of simplicity, sophistication, spontaneity, and originality
Since our hills are saturated with holidayers I’ve decided to look at other cities during the rains e.g. Ahemdabad – the Design Capital of India, to reexplore its heady mix of traditional and contemporary arts which has evolved with time. Staring at the blinding sun reflecting on the green leaves outside my window, processing my thoughts,…
Fashioning gender neutral clothes
Wajahat Rather is a beautiful young man. He reminds me of Oscar Wilde’s description of his character Dorian gray in the book ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray.’ And so do his edgy yet simple aesthetics which take reference from Kashmiri roots of arts and crafts for fashioning gender neutral clothing. I was lucky to have…
Bijou for everyday wear
Had actually spotted Dorothee Sausset and her eponymous delicate jewellery label at the annual French Charity Fete at the French School in New Delhi, late last year. But waited till spring to flaunt her little blings on my pinched collar, fingers and wrists. The designer and a Kundalini yoga practitioner intents on linking our mind, body…
Romanticising maximalism of Indian design
His mentor, Tony Duqutte was an American design legend who created elegant interiors, high jewelry, costumes and sets for Hollywood and Broadway productions, European royalty and the well-heeled. Following suit, Hutton Wilkinson – the grandson of the late Bolivian president Don José Luis Tejada-Sorzano unarguably stepped into the goliath’s shoes. As a child with a quirky sense of humour…
2 active wear brands you most certainly should check out, when in London
Like any other active wear fan I keep a look out for more advanced active or yoga wear. Today being International Yoga Day I am jotting down two noteworthy new entrants in Britain. And this post is specially for the holidayers busy doing their last minute shopping in London. NVC Athelitica If you like to take…
Experiments made her better…
If you are fashion forward you sure would have noticed Rimzim Dadu, a young Indian designer in her early thirties. She started off with her own label right after finishing a Fashion Design course from Pearl Academy, Delhi, in 2006. Her sparsely, brightly lit pale yellow basement studio is nestled in the bustling industrial Sector-2,…