Way back in 2018, in the aftermath of the floods in Kochi, a group of stakeholders in the fashion industry got together for the sake of the weavers of Chendamangalam. It was Onam, most of the stock was soiled by flooding waters there was no avenue for sale. Almost eight years to the date, Kochi-based designer Shalini James, of the designer label Mantra, put out an impassioned plea on Facebook asking for help selling the saleable stock. Other designers from Kochi joined in the endeavour, pulling their weight, forming groups/collectives to help, while putting the Kerala handloom on the fashion…

Fashion is a part of our lives, we breathe it every day. Look around, and you’ll find garment stores everywhere: from small roadside stalls to giant malls, from local shops to global brands. Fashion never goes out of trend. But have you heard of the term fast fashion? Let’s find out what it means. What is fast fashion Fast fashion is often linked to sustainability and environmental concerns. It refers to clothing that is mass-produced quickly to keep up with the latest trends. The goal? To get new designs from the runway to your wardrobe in record time, at the…

Photograph from Amar Ramesh’s Dying Art series | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Who are you, what are you, where are you from? For designer Vivek Karunakaran, these questions go beyond identity. They are the foundation of Adayalam, meaning identity, his new cultural property. Set to debut at the Chettinad Heritage Festival this year, it is envisioned as a travelling showcase that threads together fashion, craft, art, music, and design. “The whole idea of Adayalam stems from this deep-rooted feeling that it is so important for us to identify talent, support it, and then collaborate to create something more meaningful,” he…

“I would say my journey so far has been exciting, adventurous, and full of learning. It had its highs and lows, but every time I was low, I rose again stronger,” says jewellery designer Farah Khan Ali. Over the past two decades, Farah has carved out her own space in the world of fine jewellery, redefining what it means to design with soul with her two brands — Farah Khan Fine Jewellery and Farah Khan Atelier.  Last week, we caught up with her in Chennai, where she showcased her contemporary collections — Miracle, Aayat, Amaira, Gemspire, and Sca-Ra — each…

A nine-foot tall, 15-foot wide hand-drawn kalamkari wall panel, dyed in natural colours, dresses up Mamata Reddy’s workspace in Hyderabad. The wall panel features a rare combination of Shiva and Hanuman. Large images of the two deities are flanked by 16 four-inch horizontal panels bearing smaller pictorial narration of stories of Shiva and Hanuman, interspersed with text. Mamata, founder of the three-decade old Kalam Creations that supports 45 artisan families in Tirupati, reveals that the wall panel is a labour of love of 14 months. This panel is proof that kalamkari artisans have kept the tradition of narrating stories on…

Michael Kors as he brought his love of nature to urban New York City, for a celebrity-heavy Spring/Summer 2026 show at New York Fashion Week Thursday. The iconic designer likes to make his guests comfortable in his clothes and at his shows, so he turned an empty warehouse space into a cozy room inspired by his beach house, lit by giant paper lanterns, with wood paneling and side tables filled with ceramic vases and succulent plants. A model walks the runway during the Michael Kors Spring/Summer 2026 fashion show as part of New York Fashion Week. | Photo Credit: AP…

A nose pin design of Mookuthi. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Certain ornaments carry more than just decorative value. For Chennai-based designer Sarath Selvanathan, the nose pin is one such piece. His brand, Mookuthi, which will showcase its jewellery at a pop-up in Visakhapatnam’s Aarna Boutique, has made the ornament the centrepiece of a contemporary design practice that is both intimate and rooted in memory. Selvanathan’s route to design was far from predictable. Trained as a mechanical engineer, he began his career in the automobile industry before turning to jewellery in 2013. “I found myself at one of those points…

As you wander the narrow lanes towards Ahilya Fort in Maheshwar, located around an hour and a half from Indore, countless shops beckon, their displays of “authentic” Maheshwari saris billowing outwards. Yet, beyond this spectacle lies a fascinating interplay between ancient tradition and the demands of a modern market. Maheshwar, known in ancient times as Mahishmati and even mentioned in the 2nd-Century BC Arthashastra, has been a hub for exquisite textiles for over two millennia. However, it was Ahilyabai Holkar, queen of Indore from 1765 to 1795, who shaped the Maheshwari sari as we know it today. Around 1767, after…

A view of the TimeVallée boutique in Chennai | Photo Credit: Dhruv Mehta How do you make the experience of buying a luxury watch, an immersive and memorable one? Through its third boutique in India and first in Chennai in collaboration with Art of Time, Swiss luxury watch multi-brand retail outlet TimeVallée aims to do just that.  At Chamiers Road, spread over three levels, the boutique houses eight brands – Baume & Mercier, Bulgari, Cartier, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Panerai, Piaget, and Roger Dubuis.  “Purchasing a watch is a big commitment, and people often want to celebrate rewarding themselves as well…

India’s fascination for headgear does not only extend to the socio-religious ambit with taqiyah, EXPLAIN taqiyah turbans or traditional Bengali topor, but also to the politico-cultural zeitgeist. Remember the famous Gandhi topi that made a comeback with social activist Anna Hazare’s 2011 hunger strike for The Lokpal Bill? The accessory came to define the sartorial choices of many freedom fighters too, take Bhagat Singh and Subhas Chandra Bose, for instance. In the world of sports, also, baseball caps and cricket hats have been nothing short of a style statement. MUMBAI, 07/04/2011: Social activist Anna Hazare on the third day of…

Last Wednesday, while packing for a flight to Dubai, I tossed the Financial Times magazine into my bag as something to read on the plane. It turned out to be the FT Sunday magazine, Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani looking back at me from the cover. A day later, in the middle of a photoshoot, the news flashed that Armani had passed away, at 91. A chill rushed through my body. I had just read his cover story the night before. Somehow, it felt like even his timing in death was immaculate. On the cover one week, gone the next.…

The quaint green village of Athimalaipattu, 14 km from Arani in Tamil Nadu, wakes up before sunrise. By dawn, the roads are alive with colour: long rows of silk threads stretched carefully from end to end, beaten gently to bring out their shine. Children run around, carrying ropes, sticks, and scissors, helping their weaver-parents with this centuries-old step known as street warping, after which the threads find their way to the loom, ready to be woven into a silk saree. Learning from heritage artisans a must “Why is this process done before sunrise?” someone asked, perking up.  The question cut…

She’s known today for her steel-wire saris but Rimzim Dadu started her career with models stomping out in mini dresses and lace-up men’s shoes. That said, she created her own textiles from day one. And while her debut at couture week is only a few years old, everybody agrees that couture is what she has been doing all along. The contradictions that are Rimzim Dadu have made her one of India’s most interesting designers. As American novelist Susan Sontag wrote, ‘To name something as interesting implies challenging old orders of praise,’ and Dadu is a tiny, unassuming powerhouse whose work,…

Designer Giorgio Armani was synonymous with modern Italian style and elegance. He combined the flair of the designer with the acumen of a businessman, running a company that turned over some 2.3 billion euros ($2.7 billion) a year. File | Photo Credit: Reuters Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani has died, the company said on Thursday (September 4, 2025). “With infinite sorrow, the Armani Group announces the passing of its creator, founder, and tireless driving force: Giorgio Armani,” the fashion house said in a statement. Armani, who was 91, was synonymous with modern Italian style and elegance. He combined the flair…

Gaurang Shah is tired of hearing people say ‘purane zamaane main… (in the good old times…)’, a phrase often tinged with nostalgia and disdain, when they discuss handwoven textiles and crafts. “There is so much to celebrate in the contemporary context,” says the Hyderabad-based textile designer, who has been working with craftspeople for three decades. This idea of celebrating craftsmanship and thereby expanding a niche market led him to integrate a textile museum at his new store in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad. Named after his signature label, Gaurang, the three-storeyed structure features permanent and temporary exhibits. Designed by architect Sona Reddy,…

(L-R) Creations by Econic and a weave by Hosa Arambha, a revival project by the Yali Store in collaboration with The Registry of Sarees | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Next week, the 33rd edition of Vastrabharana — the annual exhibition of handcrafted textiles and jewellery — will commence in Bengaluru. Organised by The Crafts Council of Karnataka (CCK), the event will bring together weavers, designers, and artisans from across the country. This year, Vastrabharana is themed on Illusion and Fantasy, and is slated to be a tribute to the ‘power of imagination and storytelling in textile traditions… and invites participating…

Seated on the grasslands in remote hamlets, usually under the shade of a large tree, the Toda women of the Nilgiris engage in their art — a distinctive, Geotagged black and red embroidery — singing full-throated songs that talk of damp grass, warm sunlight, and mountain air. Deeply inspired by Nature, this intricate pukhoor (motif) embroidery meticulously follows the warp and weft of the base cloth, creating a stunning visual effect. Artisans count threads purely by touch, gently stretching the fabric as they stitch — a testament to their extraordinary skill and intuition. Ramya Reddy, author of the book Soul…

Rejani Vivek | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Rejani Vivek pulls out an embroidered Rani pink blouse from underneath a colourful assortment of tailored blouses at her boutique in Panampilly Nagar. “This can elevate even the simplest of saris,” she says, pointing to the filigree on the blouse. Her Padmanidhi Blouse Boutique is a passion project, says Rejani. “Every piece here has a bit of my soul in it,” she says. “Even the wallpaper!”  The squarish room, with walls dressed in a vintage floral wallpaper, has rows of tailored blouses and a friendly vibe to it.  A fashion designer, Rejani always…

(Clockwise from left) Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor, co-owner of ARKS, poses with neon green and orange shades of Lay’s chips and sneakers; blue sneakers inspired by Lay’s Magic Masala and red shoes showcasing Lay’s Spanish Tomato Tango | Photo Credit: Special arrangement In the pop-culture directory of design-inspired collaborations between food and fashion, chips hold a special place. Replete with several references, from Pringles to Ruffles, this zone seems have flourished with the sneaker cult — let’s jog our memory to The Ruffles Ridge Tops, Pringles X Crocs and the recent END. and Adidas’s The BW Army Chip Shop. The…

Every stitch in Punit Balana’s creations is a proud paean to Rajasthan. The garments are shaped by memories, art, colours, music, culture and localities from the State that he calls home. Be it Bagru, Sanganer, or the buzzing chowks of Jaipur, all of them find representation in Punit’s collections. “Jaipur is where everything began. I grew up surrounded by block prints, crafts, embroidery, textile… Craft was a part of my everyday life. The city is layered: one day you are looking at the geometry of Amer Fort, the next day, the colours of Johri Bazar. I don’t think I looked…

Rain has been cascading in plumes, only to pause just before the launch of designer Rahul Mishra’s largest maison in the country, in Mumbai, at Kala Ghoda district. On his way from Mumbai Airport to the new atelier, Rahul says that he had been looking for the perfect space for his flagship outlet before he chanced upon the City Ice, a nearly-80-year-old building, in Kala Ghoda. The sprawling 7,500 square-foot property, which served as an ice-storage facility in the 70s, will now house some of the most exquisite collections by Rahul who became the first Indian designer to be invited…

A pearl necklace at Aurus | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Just in time for the year’s festive season, Aurus and Moi, the sister jewellery houses founded by Puja and Kunal Shah, will host The Collectibles in the city this weekend.  At the event, a limited-edition collection inspired by Gujarat’s beadwork traditions, ‘integrating glass beads with gold, silver, diamonds, and gemstones’, will be unveiled. This showcase follows the duo’s recently curated exhibit hosted in London where they presented ‘Kutch Collectibles’ alongside a panel discussion on the beadwork traditions of Kutch and Kathiawar in western India.  Zehn Torque Necklace | Photo Credit:…

When a minimalist brand launches in maximum city, you expect the contrast to jar.  After all, there is nothing minimalist about India. Luxury here typically envelopes you in sparkle, opulence, and chaotic colour. Yet, COS, known for its unapologetically practical aesthetic, manages to fit right in with its soon-to-be-launched Autumn/Winter collection, which is flamboyant with texture and extravagant with detail.   Karin Gustafsson | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement We are in Mumbai for COS’ India launch, and the city is framed by brooding skies and lashing rain. An apt setting for the clothes, with their inky colours and liquid drapes.…

The Armoire returns to Chennai with the milestone 10th edition of its much-loved pop-up, The Festive Edit. This one-day shopping experience brings together over 50 designers from across India, featuring a mix of Indian, Indo-western, and contemporary western wear — perfectly timed for the upcoming festive and wedding season. Stitch Stories, OFrida, Isha Sawhney, Studio Radical and Sajeda Lehry are participating for the first time. Shoppers can expect a thoughtfully curated selection from labels such as Drawn, Tasuvure, Elemente, and Chhavvi Aggarwal, alongside returning favourites including NEH, Mohammed Mazhar, Tasha, Prisho, Pleats by Aruni, and Anaash. All collections are priced under…

Growing up in Jaipur, surrounded by the slow rhythms of a culturally rich city, artist Radhika Surana did not realise how deeply its textures and traditions were imprinting themselves on her. “The indigo blue which was all over the city, the culture of embroidery which I had at home, the relaxed slow life of a small city; this background shaped my technical vocabulary,” she says. Transformations VII: Watercolour on 300 GSM paper and hand embroidery on cloth | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Over time, Radhika understood that this influence was not just about skills or motifs, but about seeing making…

India and its vibrant aesthetic are everywhere right now. From the V&A’s nod to Indian royalty in its Cartier show, to design fairs such as PAD (Pavilion of Art and Design), TEFAF (The European Fine Art Foundation) and Frieze, where Indian art, jewellery and design have a stronghold. In department stores — Harrods, Selfridges, Bergdorf Goodman — brands such as Sabyasachi High Jewellery, Kartik Research and Lovebirds sit alongside global names. And on runways, India’s presence is no longer peripheral, it’s pivotal. It’s no secret that the world wants a slice of the Indian pie. With a luxury market currently…

There is a certain mystery that shrouds the universe of Sabyasachi, a brand often spoken about in revered tones. Its clothes, the epitome of aspiration for Indian brides across the globe. Its jewellery, wooing the who’s who of the world at retail meccas like Harrods and Bergdorf Goodman. Its stores, transportive and evocative of a kind of maximalist Indian charm that no other brand has been able to replicate (even as many have tried). Jewellery from the range | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement So, it is no surprise that designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee has guarded the world that makes up his…

At his first-ever bridal couture show, held at Mumbai’s Jio World Convention Centre last night, Gaurav Gupta wanted us to believe in love. And why not? It is the most marketable emotion during India’s festive-to-weddding season, which kicks off in just a few weeks and then barrels through to next summer. The designer even skipped Paris Couture Week this year to focus entirely on this solo outing. The collection, titled Quantum Entanglement, is an ode to the enduring power of love. “It’s about two souls intertwined across time and space, constantly drawn to each other,” Gaurav said over the phone…

Born and raised in Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh, Radhesh Agrahari’s initiative, Golden Feathers, was born out of a classroom project. In 2011, while Radhesh was a student at the Indian Institute of Crafts and Design in Jaipur, he had to create something new out of waste for a project. “I was away for three days in Agra, and when I returned, my classmates had chosen items like plastic sanitary waste and thermocol, and so I had to look for a different material.” Butchery waste, mainly feathers, is turned into fibre that can be made into stoles, shawls, mufflers and more…

A chintz panel at the studio | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement In a quiet studio in Adyar, a small but dedicated team is piecing together what history has almost let slip away — India’s once-thriving Coromandel textile traditions. At Aksh Weaves and Crafts, textile reconstruction is not a nostalgic exercise, but a painstaking act of archival research, material experimentation, and artistic revival. The work is slow, often invisible, and entirely self-funded — but to the team behind Aksh, it is essential. A Nayaka Kalamkari panel | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement For founder-researcher Sriya Mishra, textile revival is not about boutique…

“A special sari for a special day,” says Hyderabad-based Gajam Narmada, gently unfolding a handloom ikat silk sari in a striking cream, offset by a red border. Narmada, who runs Narmada Handlooms in Kothapet , has chosen this piece to wear on August 7, when she will receive the prestigious Sant Kabir National Handloom Award from President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi. Recognised in the category for marketing handloom products, she also becomes the first woman from Telangana to be honoured with this distinction. Venture at home Sharing ideas with a weaver | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The Gajam family…

Five years ago, Nivedita Ganeshram launched Madras Finds as a platform to celebrate Chennai’s homegrown artists, chefs, and makers. To commemorate Madras Day 2025, the digital strategist is hosting Vizha, a two-day pop-up this weekend. “Vizha was born from a deeply personal place,” says Nivedita. A product by The Puzzlist | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement “Growing up in Chennai, I was constantly surrounded by the richness of South Indian culture. That early influence shaped a strong appreciation for the beauty, craft, and rhythm of the region,” she says, “I always felt that Chennai deserved more spaces where like-minded people could…

A shopkeeper shows Kolhapuri sandals to a customer at shop in Mumbai. File. | Photo Credit: AP Days after the Prada controversy about Kolhapuri chappals, and after a business body from Maharashtra engaged in discussion with Prada, Maharashtra-based LIDCOM and Karnataka-based LIDKAR have reaffirmed their ownership of the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Kolhapuri chappals. “No individual or organization other than us is authorized to engage in any discussion, negotiation, or representation with Prada or similar international entities,” a press release issued jointly on Friday (August 1, 2025) by LIDCOM Managing Director Prerna Deshbhratar and LIDKAR Managing Director K.M. Vasundhara…

The body is first taught obedience through fabric. The swaddle before speech, the school uniform before dissent, shame before skin. Clothing is behavioural before — and because — it is cultural. In Volume IV: Truths, Half-Truths, Half-Lies, Lies, Kolkata-based artist and fashion designer Kallol Datta invites us to look at clothing as a long and loaded manual of social instruction. Drawing from Lessons for Women, a 2,000-year-old guidebook written by Chinese historian Ban Zhao for her daughters, Datta unpacks how garments have told people, especially women, how to sit, stand, move, behave, belong, and be excluded. Kallol Datta | Photo Credit: Rusha…

Weftscapes blends materials like metal wires, electric cables, chiffon scraps, and bullion threads into the fabric | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Six years ago, an art exhibition spotlighting India’s jamdani weave debuted at Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa. Helmed by textile artist Bappaditya Biswas, the exhibition titled New Horizons: Weftscapes, reimagined the weave with a supplementary weft, and blended materials like metal wires, electric cables, chiffon scraps, and bullion threads into the fabric.   Bappaditya Biswas | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement After doing the rounds internationally, and most recently at the Bengal Biennale, the show now comes to Bengaluru this month.…

At the age of 13, Varshne B knew she wanted to be a fashion designer. After graduating from NIFT Chennai in 2020, Varshne went on to work with brands like Biskit and Capsul. “I became increasingly aware of the amount of waste the industry generates. I also noticed the gap between consciously-crafted products and innovative, forward-thinking design. I wanted to create a brand that bridged that gap,” says the 26-year-old, who founded Crcle in 2024. “The brand’s name is testament to the ideology of closing the loop with our community,” says the Chennai-based designer, who is among India’s three finalists…

Models showcase handwoven, hand-spun clothes | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Chennai-based social enterprise Tula India is making its way to Hyderabad with a new venture, The Conscious Living Store (TCLS). Opening on August 1 in Kukatpally, the 350 sq. ft. store brings together organic groceries and handmade clothing, all in line with Tula’s philosophy of sustainability — from farm to fabric, and with absolutely no plastic packaging. The three-day launch will include workshops and sessions with experts on conscious living. From the handwoven, hand-spun collection | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Run by engineer-turned-ecopreneurs Jahnavi and Rakesh Regella, the newly-wed couple…

Outfits from Farak’s Spring Summer 25 drop | Photo Credit: Kewal Chholak For 26-year-old Rishabh Kumar, venturing into the world of fashion was not part of his life plan. A national-level athlete (football, long jump, cricket, and triple jump), Rishabh returned to India in 2016 after his schooling in Dubai, and had to drop out of college due to financial issues at home. “I had a lot of free time, and was drawn towards fashion, particularly streetwear,” says Jaipur-based Rishabh. “I started visiting artisans and took three years to develop Farak, a brand that I officially launched in 2022 with…

Textile designer Sanjay Garg and jewellery designer Hanut Singh will present Incandescent 2.0, a meeting point of art, textiles and jewellery, in collaboration with the India Art Fair. Sanjay’s flagship store Raw Mango will host an all-day exhibition curated by Belgian designer and stylist, Isla Maria Van Damme. The first edition of Incandescent was held in Delhi in 2023, showcasing Hanut’s jewellery with global aesthetics and Sanjay’s contemporary line of saris and garments worked upon by craft clusters in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Varanasi. Antique marble statues were used to display the statement jewellery pieces. Hanut, whose jewellery…

Within the elegant confines of the Oberoi’s ballroom, under the soft glow of lights and the scent of fresh mogra, 95 looks — rich with chikankari, resham, kasheedakari, shaded threadwork, jaali, and zardozi — narrate the story of artisanal techniques. Tarun Tahiliani’s collection Quintessence, showcased as part of India Couture Week, is a quiet celebration of craft — textile, form, and finish.  Strains of the piano, saxophone, cello, and drums fill the hall as models meander across the different seating areas. The music segues into jazz, classical, Indian and soft rock even, in a way that is symbolic of the…

Senthera’s Make Love collection comprises a shower gel, body cream and an exfoliating scrub | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The first scent that Margarita Kuritsyna remembers putting on at her childhood home in Ukraine, is a tropical scent called Pacific Paradise. The bottle, pink and blue in colour, often brought with it a fruity and fun smell. “The box had this young woman amidst palm trees. It was likely my mother’s perfume that I kept using for a while,” she says. Many years since, her tryst with the world of fragrance and perfume deepened. She gravitated to scents that often…

Development of newer fabrics and garment construction, use of innovative materials, and incorporation of AI and Meta are changing the fashion industry | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockPhoto Fashion is one of the industries that has been continuously evolving and adapting to technological and industrial advancements. The study of fashion not only offers an outlet for creativity but also allows integration of new techniques such as development of newer fabrics and garment construction, use of innovative materials, and incorporation of AI and Meta in the industry. Thus, it is crucial to understand the key areas that students who are preparing to…

After its last year’s collaboration with Japan’s iconic brand Hello Kitty, Péro, a 15-year-old Indian fashion label by designer Aneeth Arora, has now teamed up with British luxury department store and brand Liberty London for its spring-summer capsule 2025. Titled Flowers Flower, the collection is deeply personal to Aneeth and reflects her love for legacy.  Launched in Chennai on Friday, at fashion boutique Collage, the edit brings together iconic fabrics from Liberty London and Péro’s rootedness and love for Indian craft and textiles.  “Dating back to 1875, there is this old-school charm about Liberty London’s prints. We have been working…

Last Sunday, 100 elephants entered Beverly Hills’ palm-lined streets, home to many Hollywood stars. No one backed away in fear, though — because the large beasts were handcrafted from the invasive Lantana camara plant, and travelled on trucks decorated with vibrant Indian lorry art. It was the last leg of The Great Elephant Migration, a 5,000-mile installation art journey across the United States, through cities, national parks, and tribal lands, supported by over 20 conservation organisations. The life-size pachyderms were draped in ceremonial blankets created by 55 renowned designers and indigenous communities from around the world. Elephant sculptures in Beverly Hills | Photo…

“Oon mera naam hai, oon oon oon; meri kahani zara sun sun sun.” (My name in Oon, oon oon oon; listen to my story.) A tuft of raw, tangled black Deccani wool with tiny arms and a hole for a mouth bounces across the screen, narrating the story of neglect that desi oon has suffered for generations. The six-minute stop-motion animation film, Desi Oon, tells a riveting tale of how indigenous wool stands forgotten. Its compelling storytelling — depicting the intersection of ecology, dwindling traditional craft, and the threat industrialisation poses to pastoral communities — scooped up the Jury Award…

A worker polishes the kolhapuri chappals at his shop in Chappal market in Kolhapur. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini A technical team of the global fashion brand Prada visited the Kolhapuri chappal artisans and the famous chappal market of Kolhapur during their two-day visit, which ended on Wednesday (July 16, 2025). They took samples of the leather work from the artisans. They also met the district collector of Kolhapur in a courtesy visit. The four-member team included Prada’s footwear division’s pattern-making manager and the director of the men’s technical and production department. They were accompanied by two external consultants. During…

The Prada technical team visited Inga leather work, LIDCOM (Sant Rohidas Leather Industries & Charmakar Development Corporation Limited) centre, Karakari Leather works, Kolhapuri chappal women artisans’ cluster at Kagal, Sunil Lokare and Rohit Gavali’s production facilities. | Photo Credit: Special arrangement A technical team of global fashion brand Prada visited the Kolhapuri chappal artisans and the famous chappal market of Kolhapur during their two-day visit that ended on Wednesday (July 16, 2025). They took samples of the leather work from the artisans. They also met the district Collector of Kolhapur in a courtesy visit. The four-member team included Prada’s footwear…

A man artisan does work on Kolhapuri at his residence in Kolhapur. File | Photo Credit: The Hindu Responding to the backlash against its recent appropriation of Kolhapur’s iconic ‘chappals’, Italian luxury fashion house Prada intends to launch a limited edition of ‘Made in India’ leather sandals, inspired by and in partnership with local artisans, according to the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (MACCIA). After its first meeting with Prada representatives via video conferencing on Friday (July 11, 2025), MACCIA said the fashion major intends to send a technical team to Maharashtra next week in this regard. “The…

Spotting an international personality in Indian designer wear is not unprecedented. But it was more than just a fashion statement when Brad Pitt recently wore a handcrafted shirt — designed by Indian fashion label 11.11/eleven eleven — created in a traditional Tangaliya weave in his Formula One movie, FI. Brad Pitt in the Tangaliya shirt | Photo Credit: 11.11/eleven eleven In a recent interview, celebrated couturier and stylist Julian Day, who was costumer designer for F1, said that the choice of the shirt was intentional and deliberate. The organic handloom indigo-hued cotton shirt, dyed naturally, was zeroed in to validate…

Recently, Kolhapuri chappals made global headlines when Italian luxury brand Prada released a pair of sandals that closely resembled the traditional Kolhapuri design — but priced them at several hundred dollars. This sparked a controversy, with many labelling it cultural appropriation and criticising the brand for the lack of acknowledgement of the artisans or the original craft. While Prada did not directly claim inspiration from Kolhapuris, the visual similarity was enough to reignite discussions around intellectual property rights, artisan recognition, and the importance of preserving traditional crafts. Kolhapuri chappals are a symbol of India’s rich artisanal heritage, with a history…

What comes to mind when you think of modest clothing options in Kerala? Black abayas? Burqas? This may have been the scene a decade ago, but now, a number of modest clothing stores/boutiques have opened in the city, offering everything from full-sleeve denim gowns to oversized shirts and long skirts. “Five years ago, it was difficult to find good quality modest clothing apart from the usual abayas. But now, shopping has become easier with premium modest clothing being available locally. Additionally, there is inspiring global recognition for modest fashion through social media,” says Ayshas Baker, 28, an entrepreneur from Thrissur,…

When Italian luxury house Prada recently unveiled its version of the Kolhapuri chappal, Indian social media was quick to react. Accusations of cultural appropriation and erasure followed, accompanied by demands for proper attribution and a wider call to “decolonise fashion”. But what if the cultural erasure didn’t start with Prada, or with the West? What if the deeper, older story is not just about colonial appropriation, but about caste-based appropriation from within? Beneath the Indian diaspora’s outrage lies a deeper, more uncomfortable truth: the issue isn’t just about what is being borrowed, but who gets to borrow and who doesn’t.…

For Shantaram Narayan Sonavane, 50, from the Dhor community, the day begins early. By 7.30 a.m., he is at his tannery in Dhor gali (lane) in Ichalkaranji city, around 30 kilometres from Kolhapur in Maharashtra. It is at this time that he receives the animal hide from a government-approved slaughterhouse. The buffalo hide is steeped in a limestone slurry, called chunadi, for 10 days. Every day, he takes the hide out from the tank, works on it, and puts it back in the slurry. He can identify the freshest leather of just-culled cattle, distinguishing it from older, salt-dipped hide that loses its strength.…

Rimzim Dadu with guests dressed in her designs at the launch of Rimzim Dadu store in Hyderabad | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement “Hyderabad understands my madness,” says Delhi-based designer Rimzim Dadu at the launch of her new flagship store in the city. Dressed in one of her own creations — a black sleeveless pantsuit paired with her signature blue metallic drape — Rimzim cuts a striking figure. The Hyderabad store is her first outside Delhi. Without too many elements A guest dressed in Rimzim Dadu’s design at the store launch | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The new mother, she welcomed…

Kolhapuri chappals are a GI-tagged product | Photo Credit: ROY CHOWDHURY A Now that the Prada-Kolhapur chappal issue has been debated over a week, what is the real issue enraging Indians? India is home to approximately 3,000 indigenous crafts, and while this is something to be proud of, the hard truth is a majority of us fail to see their value. Several of our craft and textile traditions are fading, and artisans languishing due to the lack of Government support, public visibility, and buyers. This includes Kolhapuri artisans who are far from the limelight and even the news of the…

In a quiet corner of Andhra Pradesh, where looms hum stories of history and heritage, the humble yet regal Kuppadam saree continues to hold its ground as a symbol of tradition, artistry and evolving identity. While most eyes turn to the celebrated Kanjeevarams or the intricate Banarasis, the Kuppadam saree tells its own tale, one that begins in the looms of a small town called Chirala in Bapatla district, located near the famous Suryalanka Beach. What’s in a name? Kuppadam saree gets its name from a complex weaving technique called Koopadam. Inspired by a need to design temple sarees with…

Kolhapri Chappal. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Italian luxury fashion brand Prada has acknowledged being inspired by ‘traditional Indian handcrafted footwear, with a centuries-old heritage’ for its sandals featured in the recent Men’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection, after being slammed for failing to acknowledge the resemblance to India’s GI-tagged Kolhapuri chappals. Representatives of Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, which communicated with Prada, said that Prada was likely to send its team to explore any possibility of collaboration on the product in the near future. Meanwhile, the business body has decided to patent the Kolhapuri chappals to avoid any infringement…

The most eagerly anticipated show of Paris Fashion Week landed quietly but assuredly with Jonathan Anderson’s debut for Dior Homme. Front-row seats at the Hôtel National des Invalides were filled by fashion powerhouses and cultural icons alike: Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, Sabrina Carpenter, and Daniel Craig, all lending star wattage to the occasion. After being named artistic director of Dior womenswear just weeks prior, Anderson becomes the first designer since Christian Dior himself to oversee everything: menswear, womenswear, and haute couture at the LVMH flagship. A look from the Dior Homme Spring Summer 2026 showcase in Paris | Photo Credit:…

Vogue editor Anna Wintour was widely seen as the inspiration behind “The Devil Wears Prada”, a hit 2003 novel and 2006 movie, in which the role of a tyrannical magazine editor was played by Meryl Streep. File | Photo Credit: AP Magazine legend Anna Wintour is stepping down as editor of fashion bible U.S. Vogue after 37 years in the post, U.S. media reported Thursday (June 26, 2025). British-born Wintour, 75, has been one of the most influential and formidable figures in fashion and magazine journalism for decades, famous for her ever-present sunglasses and unchanging bob haircut. She was widely seen…

On June 25, as India’s GI-tagged Kolhapuri chappal featured in Prada’s Spring/Summer 2026 show in Milan, it made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Where was the credit? In Maharashtra’s Kolhapur, over 10,000 artisan families have been crafting these chappals by hand for generations. Famous for their use of vegetable-tanned leather, intricate braiding techniques of the toe loops, and use of indigenous designs, they also received the GI tag in 2019. But has this tag ever stopped a luxury fashion label from cultural appropriation? In 2023,  Louis Vuitton launched a range of silk scarves resembling Banarasi brocade and fast fashion…

Pattachitra panels @ Kunsquad Pallabi Sarangi, Priyabrata Mohapatra and Abhishek Deo might have different backgrounds (fashion and business respectively) but joined forces in 2021 to launch Kunsquad. “We shared this hunger to create something that felt personal, experimental, and expressive. What began as casual brainstorming slowly turned into moodboards, samples, ideas scribbled on tissue papers,” says Pallabi, 28. For those wondering what the brand’s name means, ‘Kuns’ means art in Afrikaans, and ‘squad’ stands for the team behind it. The Pattachitra collection comprises unisex T-shirts, trousers, and corset tops  | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Their first collection Wabi Sabi –…

People look at the collectable designer art toy Labubu at a Pop Mart pop-up store in Siam Centre shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand. | Photo Credit: AFP From news about Rohit Sharma’s Labubu collection to the Korean popstar Lisa flaunting a certain small little doll, the Labubu dolls have taken the internet by storm. What is the Labubu doll, and more importantly, who is Labubu? Who is Labubu? It all started when Hong Kong–born artist, raised in the Netherlands, Kasing Lung created a story series called The Monsters, inspired by Nordic folklore and mythology that he enjoyed during his childhood.…

Duchess Kumari blends Indian textiles with contemporary design elements such as bows, polka dots, and pearls | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement It was during the shoot for Love Story of 90’s, that former Miss Universe India contestant Divita Rai and her co-star actor Adhyayan Suman shared their common desire to venture into the world of fashion. Alka Suman — Adhyayan’s mother, and designer who runs Label Alkaline — has been in the fashion industry for several years and the duo wanted to spotlight her creations on a larger platform. “Alka aunty has a huge inventory of fabrics, and has been…

A chance encounter with a small, raw rendering of a khatwa appliqué, a traditional art form from Bihar and Jharkhand, at a Crafts Council exhibition in New Delhi drew designer Anavila Misra to Dumka in Jharkhand, and a group of young girls who had trained in the embroidery. Bringing them into her fold and refining their craft over the last few years, Misra was keen to provide a peek into their world. At the launch of her new collection, ‘Sarmast’, in Hyderabad, which also coincided with her brand’s new outpost at Maison Isa, a boutique housed within The Leela hotel, a delightful khatwa wall…

Ensembles from Love by Kaveri and Sriparna Ray’s Bhomra Design Co | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement A sense of déjà vu tends to set in when pop-up exhibitions crop up every other week at cultural spaces and stores across Hyderabad. To stand out, a curation must offer products that are not easily found online or in local markets. That is where Baro Market comes in. The Mumbai-based marketplace for arts and crafts, founded by Srila Chatterjee, is known for its thoughtful and context-specific pop-ups. From June 5 to 7, Baro Market returns to the Crafts Council of Telangana (CCT) in…

Miss World 2025 contestants at the KIMS Hospitals and the KIMS-Ushalakshmi Centre for Breast Diseases as part of a medical tourism tour in Hyderabad on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR Five contestants of the Miss World 2025 pageant, including Miss India Nandini Gupta, visited KIMS Hospitals and the KIMS-Ushalakshmi Centre for Breast Diseases here on Tuesday evening. The visit focussed on encouraging contestants to engage with meaningful social causes during the pageant’s India leg. Joining Miss India were Miss Northern Ireland Hannah Johns, Miss Cameroon Issie Princesse, Miss Guadeloupe Neomi Milne, and Miss Turkey Idil Bilgen. The delegation was…

Browse. Add to cart. Pay. While this has been the common way of shopping online, a new app aims to change this for women. Slayrobe, helmed by Delhi-based Pooja Lalwani, who has led fashion tech initiatives at Google, Tommy Hilfiger, and Calvin Klein in the past, is aimed at being a “structured, intelligent styling platform that puts the user’s body, story, and style agenda at the centre”.  Pooja Lalwani | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Here, once users log in, they first enter their height, identify their body shape, features they are looking at flaunting/downplaying, and their ‘vibe’. Think diva, boss,…

Miss World 2025 Opal Suchata Chuangsri and the continental winners along with Telangana governor Jishnu Dev Varma, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and other ministers at Raj Bhavan on Telangana Formation Day. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The stately Raj Bhavan transformed into a vibrant celebration venue on Monday evening as Telangana marked its Formation Day with a special honour, the presence of the recently crowned Miss World 2025 Opal Suchata Chuangsri and continental winners of the global beauty pageant. The evening blended tradition and international glamour, as Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Governor Jishnu Dev Varma welcomed the…

The grand finale of the Miss World 2025 is set to take place on May 31 at the Hitex Convention Centre in Hyderabad, marking the culmination of a month-long celebration of beauty, purpose and global culture. With the heritage and cultural tour of Telangana coming to an end, the contestants are now gearing up for the main event which will lead to the world getting a new Miss World. With 108 contestants from across the globe competing for the coveted crown, the final event will follow a structured and continent-based competition format. The announcement of the official running order has…

(From left) Miss India Nandini Gupta with Miss Indonesia Monica Kezia Sembiring, winner of the Talent round of Miss World 2025, Issie Princesse, Miss Cameroon and second-place winner, and Chiara Esposito, Miss Italy (third place), at Shilpakala Vedika in Hyderabad on Thursday. | Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL In a celebration of global culture and artistic expression, Miss Indonesia Monica Kezia Sembiring claimed the top spot at the Talent Finale of Miss World 2025, held at Shilpakala Vedika on Thursday evening. Her seamless fusion of Indian and Indonesian melodies on the piano won over both the audience and the judges, earning…

Miss Thailand Opal Suchata Chuangsri crowned Miss World 2025 at the 72nd edition of the Miss World pageant held at the HITEX Exhibition Centre in Hyderabad. | Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL In a moment that marks both personal triumph and national pride, Thailand clinched its first-ever Miss World crown on May 31. Standing radiant under the spotlight, the newly crowned Miss World 2025, Opal Suchata Chuangsri, carries with her not just a title but a powerful story of resilience, purpose, and global compassion. In an exclusive conversation with The Hindu, Miss World 2025 reflects on her moments after her historic…

Miss Thailand Opal Suchata Chuangsri was crowned Miss World 2025 at the 72nd edition of the Miss World pageant at the HITEX Exhibition Centre in Hyderabad, Telangana on Saturday. The winner was crowned by Miss World 2024 Krystyna Pyszková, marking the culmination of weeks of cultural exchange, competition and celebration. Miss Thailand Opal Suchata Chuangsri crowned Miss World 2025 at the 72nd edition of the Miss World pageant on Saturday at the HITEX Exhibition Centre in Hyderabad, Telangana. The winner was crowned by Miss World 2024 Krystyna Pyszková . | Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL Hosted by former Miss World 2016…

Miss World 2025 contestants during an event in Hyderabad. File. | Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL Hyderabad rolled out the red carpet for the grand finale of the 72nd Miss World pageant as the contestants and guests started trooping in at 5 p.m. on Saturday (May 31, 2025), ahead of the main event, which began at 6:30 p.m. Inside the packed venue, thousands of attendees were seated in colour-coded sections, based on the passes they were issued. The spectacular opening at the Hitex Exhibition Centre, Hyderabad, marked the culmination of a month-long celebration of beauty, talent, and purpose. As the evening…

A salad spread at Trident Hyderabad | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement As Hyderabad, Telangana, plays host to the Miss World 2025 pageant, we cannot help but wonder: what is on the menu for the 108 contestants? Are they nibbling on salads, or trying our local idli, dosa, and vada? What Miss World 2025 contestants are eating in Hyderabad What Miss World 2025 contestants are eating in Hyderabad | Video Credit: Siddhant Thakur To find out, we visit Trident Hyderabad — the official host hotel for the 25-day event, with the final slated for May 31 — where we caught up…

Miss World 2025 contestantsn during a charity event in Hyderabad on May 28, 2025. | Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL After a month-long journey through Telangana’s rich culture, heritage, and a series of competitions featuring 108 beauty queens from around the globe, Miss World 2025 will culminate in a grand finale on Saturday, May 31. The much-anticipated event will take place at the Hitex Exhibition Centre in Hyderabad. The grand finale promises glamour and purpose, combining dazzling performances, inspiring stories, and a fierce competition for the coveted Miss World crown. Stephanie del Valle, Miss World 2016, and popular Indian host Sachiin…

Designer Roma Narsinghani’s jewels are studded with beads — emerald greens, ruby reds, and pearly whites. What makes them unique is that they are crafted from algae, an innovation by the U.S.-based material researcher Aradhita Parasrampuria. “Their eco-friendly nature and organic appeal have made them a core part of our approach and provide a unique texture to our designs, mimicking precious stones,” says the Delhi-based Narsinghani. Roma Narsinghani x Cellsense (Aradhita Parasrampuria’s company) Roma Narsinghani For decades, the fashion industry’s trajectory has been marked by its over-reliance on synthetics and scarce or virgin natural resources. Global plastic production reportedly stood at…

An outfit from the monochrome collection | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The recently-concluded 2025 Met Gala themed on Tailored for You saw a storm of black and white designer wear on the blue carpet. Think Jeremy Allen White’s three-piece black pinstripe Louis Vuitton suit, and Demi Moore’s black-and-white striped dress by Thom Browne. Closer home, Smoke Lab Wear — a unisex fashion label by Smoke Vodka — dedicated its latest collection to monochrome. Launched recently, the collection “is an ode to clarity and contrast” says founder Sanya V Jain, who kickstarted the Delhi-based brand five years ago. The collection “is…

Demonstrating authentic kalamkari technique; Nikita Shah | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Buying a handloom textile that uses a 3,000-year-old craft is akin to acquiring a work of art. Much like a painting or sculpture that holds value for its authenticity, a handmade fabric is worth every rupee spent, says Nikita Shah, a Brooklyn-based independent researcher affiliated with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Nikita, who honed her skills in kalamkari while in Hyderabad, believes mindful consumption is key to keeping the craft alive. She believes mass production has prompted many artisans to take shortcuts. “Kalamkari is a slow…

Miss World 2025 contestants hand kits to orphaned children during a charity event in Hyderabad on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL Miss World 2025 contestants hand kits to orphaned children during a charity event in Hyderabad on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL In a display of compassion and solidarity, more than 200 orphaned children, including children living with HIV or visual impairment, were welcomed with open arms by 108 Miss World 2025 contestants at the Trident in Hyderabad on Wednesday (May 28, 2025) morning. The gathering marked the beginning of a charity initiative organised by Fortune Hospitality and…

Vir Das. File. | Photo Credit: Thulasi Kakkat Comedian Vir Das took to social media to call out film personalities who expressed displeasure over influencers walking the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival. In a note he posted on X and Instagram, he shared that he understood the appeal and eyeballs walking on a red carpet can bring to largely “unknown designers” and went on to appreciate them for their hustle. He added, “It’s not for me, but I can respect the underdog energy.”  Look. I work largely with new unknown designers. So I get the appeal and eyeballs…

Miss World Organisation CEO Julia Morley in an interview with The Hindu in Hyderabad on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR With just days to go before the Miss World 2025 finale in Hyderabad, Miss World Organisation CEO Julia Morley is calm but alert. The pageant has come under an unsavoury spotlight following a controversy involving Miss England Milla Magee, who quit the event. While she cited personal reasons initially, she spoke to a UK tabloid and turned it into concerns about safety in India. In an exclusive conversation with The Hindu, Ms. Morley dismisses these claims as hurtful and…

Miss World 2025 contestants along with philanthropist Sudha Reddy at the Beauty with a Purpose gala in Hyderabad on Monday evening. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The spirit of beauty, philanthropy, and culture came together in splendid harmony on Monday evening as 108 contestants of Miss World 2025 were hosted at the ‘Beauty with a Purpose’ gala in Hyderabad. Organised at the residence of philanthropist Sudha Reddy, the evening was billed tribute to the enduring values of the Miss World platform, beauty, purpose, and global unity. The highlight of the night was the much-anticipated ‘Beauty with a Purpose’ presentation, where…

It is not often that the dream to start one’s own venture, when still in college, comes true. For college mates-turned-business partners Shaoni Ray and Sahil Meenia, it is quite the opposite. While studying at National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi, the duo found themselves interning in Kolkata (at Shaoni’s mother’s boutique, Warp and Weft) alongside kantha artisans. “We realised the potential of blending traditional techniques with modern design. With no formal plan or resources, we launched a menswear brand on Instagram, and created a 30-piece collection during the internship,” says Shaoni, 24, brand director. Weeks of brainstorming led…

Alia Bhatt attends the closing ceremony red carpet at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 24, 2025 in Cannes, France. | Photo Credit: Getty Images After bringing vintage drama in a Schiaparelli cream gown on her Cannes red carpet debut, Alia Bhatt attended the closing ceremony of the 78th Cannes Film Festival in a custom Gucci gown with embroidered crystals in a GG Monogram pattern. Bhatt is the global brand ambassador for the Italian luxury brand. She let her hair down in soft waves and kept her makeup subtle to highlight the details of…

Miss England Milla Magee | Photo Credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR The allegations made by Miss England 2024 Milla Magee, in an interview following her abrupt exit from the ongoing Miss World 2025 pageant in Hyderabad, are completely baseless and lack even one percent of truth, according to Telangana Special Chief Secretary Jayesh Ranjan, who conducted an internal enquiry into the matter. Milla Magee had withdrawn from the international beauty contest on May 16. In an interview with British tabloid The Sun, she claimed she was asked to socialise with middle-aged men as a gesture of appreciation for their financial support to…

(From left to right) Miss Martinique Aurélie Joachim, Miss Namibia Selma Kamanya, Miss Ireland Jasmine Gerhardt and Miss India Nandini Gupta. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Miss India Nandini Gupta emerged as one of the four continental winners in the Top Model Challenge of Miss World 2025, held at Trident Hotel in Hyderabad on Saturday evening. The glamorous fashion event featured 108 contestants from across the globe, each representing their country and continent with style and grace. Each continent winner was announced based on their poise, confidence, and runway presence. In the grand showcase, Ms. Gupta represented the Asia and…

Miss England 2024 Milla Magee during the arrival at Hyderabad for Miss World 2025. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement File picture of Miss England Milla Magee clicked on May 14, 2025, during the Miss World 2025 contestants’ visit to Ramappa Temple, Telangana. | Photo Credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR Miss England 2024 Milla Magee has withdrawn from the ongoing Miss World 2025 pageant being hosted in Telangana, citing personal and ethical concerns. The 24-year-old, who arrived in Hyderabad on May 7, returned to the UK on May 16, ending her participation in the global beauty competition. Following Ms. Magee’s exit, Charlotte Grant,…

Indian summers are predictable. But your wardrobe does not necessarily have to be. With flowy silhouettes, comfortable fabrics, vibrant colours and holiday prints, designers are making summer dressing fun. The inspiration is diverse — from tropical countries and candy colours to hints of nostalgia. In a country where the temperature hovers in the late 30s for 10 months a year, for many brands seasonality takes a backseat as they focus on summer-friendly dressing round the calendar. We speak to a few designers to understand what goes into designing for summer and how they want us to stay cool and look hot.…

Over a decade ago, Dhan Mill compound, a former warehouse in New Delhi’s Chattarpur, reopened to the public as a luxury retail hotspot. Now home to over 65 boutiques, the fashion destination’s latest entrant is apparel label Studio Medium’s debut physical store. Helmed by designers Riddhi Jain and Dhruv Satija, the brand’s first physical store is aimed at giving the “Studio Medium ethos a tangible dimension”. Over time, the duo says they felt that the “breadth of what we do at the studio — from textiles to collaborations — needed to be experienced with the correct context and narrative”. Therefore,…

As the Miss World 2025 festival dazzles Telangana with its international glamour, the 72nd edition of the pageant has reached a milestone with the announcement of the 24 finalists for the Talent competition to be held on Friday. Among those selected is Miss India Nandini Gupta. The finalists were chosen after a series of internal auditions and a competitive rounds held privately at the hotel where the 108 contestants are staying. The Talent competition is a celebration of creativity, culture and personal expression, with participants showcasing an array of performances, from classical music and contemporary dance to traditional art forms…

The Preloved Co store in Halasuru | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Co-founded by Bengaluru-based Mariam Begg and Meghna Khanna, the Preloved Co is a clothing thrift store at Halasuru, Bengaluru, that raises funds for different NGOs and social organisations. The Preloved Co. also aims for sustainability by taking in used clothes in good condition from local donors and selling them at affordable prices. “All the proceeds from our sales, after covering our expenses, go to different NGOs working for social causes such as WeLive, Ulsoor Canine Squad, Home of Hope and other organisations that support the slums, transgenders and sex…

In Netflix’s The Royals, it is not just the palaces and politics doing the talking — it is also the jewellery. While the show plays fast and loose with plot, its styling leans into Jaipur’s royal past, using jewellery to quietly hint at power, legacy, and shifting identities. What makes the jewellery in The Royals stand out is how little it tries to stand out. It is not flashy. It is worn with intent, rooted in place and character. Jewellery becomes less about opulence and more about context — who belongs, who is pretending, and who is finding their place.…

Vino Supraja with the award | Photo Credit: special arrangement “For somebody who is from the small town of Vandavasi; who did her schooling in a Government school; and had a lot of insecurities about speaking English; to go to the British Parliament and talk about our culture, was a surreal, happy moment,” says designer Vino Supraja. She was recently honoured with the title of Global Sustainable Fashion Trailblazer award at the House of Commons, British Parliament.  The 45-year-old designer, now based in Dubai, has had a long, fragmented sojourn in the world of fashion. She says that it is…

The carpet at the Met Gala 2025 Every year, the Met Gala’s carpet goes through its iterations, metamorphosing each time with a new theme. In 2023, one saw a stunning off-white fabric, to be a canvas for the theme of the year: Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty. In 2025, the red carpet took on a blue hue, dotted with stunning dainty yellow and white daffodils, at the star-spangled event — all so that celebrities could look their dandiest to accommodate the theme: Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. Just like Shah Rukh Khan, who made his debut in an all-black ensemble by…

Daily Quiz | On the Met Gala Met Gala Chair Anna Wintour, Met Gala Co-Chair Colman Domingo, and Met Gala Co-Chair Lewis Hamilton pose during the Met Gala in New York U.S., May 5, 2025. START THE QUIZ 1 / 6 | Let’s start with an easy one. What was the gala called before? 2 / 6 |  The event is held for the benefit of which museum’s institute? Answer : Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute DID YOU KNOW THE ANSWER? YES NO SHOW ANSWER 3 / 6 | The event is organised by which fashion magazine? 4 /…

The carpet at the Met Gala 2025 Every year, the Met Gala’s carpet goes through its iterations, metamorphosing each time with a new theme. In 2023, one saw a stunning off-white fabric, to be a canvas for the theme of the year: Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty. In 2025, the red carpet took on a blue hue, dotted with stunning dainty yellow and white daffodils, at the star-spangled event — all so that celebrities could look their dandiest to accommodate the theme: Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. Just like Shah Rukh Khan, who made his debut in an all-black ensemble by…

Shah Rukh Khan | Photo Credit: @poojadadlani02/Instagram The stage is set for the Met Gala, one of the grandest events in the world of fashion. This year’s edition of the Met Gala is undoubtedly set to attract attention from India like never before. Indian stars Kiara Advani, Diljit Dosanjh and Priyanka Chopra are set to attend, but it is safe to say that the world is glued to catch the appearance of one Indian celebrity in particular: Shah Rukh Khan. The Baadshah of Bollywood is all set to make his Met Gala debut this year, wearing a Sabyasachi ensemble. Here’s everything…

KL Rahul plans to bring in sporty detailing and a special capsule collection | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement After Italian athletes such as basketball player Danilo Gallinari, swimming champion Nicolò Martinenghi, and former Formula 1 driver Antonio Giovinazzi, Italian luxury apparel brand Paul & Shark has a new, more relatable global brand ambassador for its Indian fan base. Announced last week, cricketer KL Rahul is the brand’s first ambassador from India.  KL Rahul | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement A label known for its affinity towards the sea and the outdoors, Paul & Shark’s CEO Andrea Dini says “the sea is…

A model in a creation by Anju Modi For designer Anju Modi, every time she visits Chennai, it feels like homecoming. When she started her eponymous label in 1990, Madras was her “epicentre” for all things fabric-related. “This was my base when I used to go to nearby villages, towns and cities like Salem, Coimbatore, Kanchipuram, and Venkatagiri (Andhra Pradesh), and stay with weavers in their homes. Their culture, temples, and even things like the kolam that they draw every morning, reflect in the fabric they weave. And these have stayed with me,” says Modi, whose new collection Virasat is…

There was a time when mud homes were limited to villages. Over the last few years, designers and consumers have found fancy in the simple material and its many structural qualities. Be it Mumbai’s latest bistro Zeki, the 2,000 sq.ft. home built by Bhoomija Creations in Kerala, or the more recent, Tiny Farm Lab in Uttarakhand. The latest addition to this list is sari brand Kalga Banaras’ showroom in Varanasi built using the age-old wattle and daub technique wherein bamboo strips are woven together and the gaps filled with cob (a mix of mud, sand, and straw).  Raghav Kumar and…

There was a time when mud homes were limited to villages. Over the last few years, designers and consumers have found fancy in the simple material and its many structural qualities. Be it Mumbai’s latest bistro Zeki, the 2,000 sq.ft. home built by Bhoomija Creations in Kerala, or the more recent, Tiny Farm Lab in Uttarakhand. The latest addition to this list is sari brand Kalga Banaras’ showroom in Varanasi built using the age-old wattle and daub technique wherein bamboo strips are woven together and the gaps filled with cob (a mix of mud, sand, and straw).  The design of…

A model in a creation by Anju Modi For designer Anju Modi, every time she visits Chennai, it feels like homecoming. When she started her eponymous label in 1990, Madras was her “epicentre” for all things fabric-related. “This was my base when I used to go to nearby villages, towns and cities like Salem, Coimbatore, Kanchipuram, and Venkatagiri (Andhra Pradesh), and stay with weavers in their homes. Their culture, temples, and even things like the kolam that they draw every morning, reflect in the fabric they weave. And these have stayed with me,” says Modi, whose new collection Virasat is…

Somewhere between the structural symmetry and textural harmony, which define the obvious creative arch of Mumbai-based fashion designer Payal Khandwala’s latest spring-summer collection, there lies the quiet world of subtle details. Released under the designer’s eponymous label, the untitled collection has been assigned to the chronological number of the edits that Payal has curated till date — 13. It champions handwoven silk and a modified, more muted version of brocade, while making a modest attempt at solving the wardrobe crisis for occasions that are neither too formal, nor too casual. The collection champions silk and a modified, more muted version…

Shah Rukh Khan | Photo Credit: @poojadadlani02/Instagram King Khan’s grand Met Gala debut is official! After months of speculation, it has been confirmed that Shah Rukh Khan will make a historical debut at this year’s Met Gala. The Bollywood superstar will don a Sabyasachi ensemble at the event, set to be held at the iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5. Diet Sabya, a popular anonymous fashion account on Instagram, confirmed the news on Sunday, April 27. “National headlines. Threads in meltdown. Entertainment sites foaming at the mouth. Twitter frenzy et al. Time to shut it down lol. We…

Mutualism | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Imagine transforming everyday fabrics into unusual and craft-oriented pieces through intricate textures and a thoughtful approach towards design, where even leftover fabrics find new life. That is the essence of ILK, a design label started by two friends over a decade ago. Shikha Grover and Vinita Adhikari, who discovered an instant alignment in their aesthetics while working together under another designer, say that the birth of ILK was remarkably spontaneous. This initial togetherness mirrors the meaning they later found in their brand name. “It means a clan, a community and this has been part…

Inside the new store | Photo Credit: S.Thiru With the unveiling of their palatial new store (at approximately 3,000 square feet) at Jio World Plaza, Mumbai, designer duo Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla bring more than couture to the table — they present a theatrical, immersive experience rooted in heritage, maximalism and a contemporary point of view. “This space is as much about storytelling as it is about fashion,” says Sandeep about the boutique that doubles as a design marvel and cultural destination. Conceptualised by A Wonder Room, their in-house interior division, the store plays host to texture, technique and…

Ananya Panday | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement French luxury brand Chanel on Wednesday (April 16) named Bollywood star Ananya Panday as its first-ever brand ambassador from India. This comes after Ananya made her presence felt at the Chanel Spring/Summer 2025 show in Paris. A star who is best known for her performances in films such as Gehraiyaan (2022), Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (2023), and CTRL (2024), and the comedy series Call Me Bae (2024), Ananya has undoubtedly become a fashion icon for Gen Z. Her Instagram account, followed by 25.9 million people, features several photoshoots in which the star can…

Late in the 1990s, luxury hotels in Chennai realised that there was a slight inflection in the tides. Although exotic and understandably enticing, au gratins and paneer butter masala bowls were no longer making the cut. Tourists who were visiting the city wanted to taste authentic South Indian fare — the parotta and salna kind. When Dakshin began at Sheraton Park Hotel in 1989, serving elevated versions of home-style kozhambus and poriyals at premium rates, other hotels realised that it was time to shine the light on nalli or bone marrow in a mutton stew. The likes of Ente Keralam,…

The recently concluded fourth edition of Watches and Wonders (formerly Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie), an annual fair that showcases luxury watches by top brands witnessed a record attendance of over 55,000 visitors, including 1,600 journalists. Held in early April in Geneva, at Palexpo, a 77,000-square-metre convention centre near the airport, the event hosted nearly 60 watch brands, including Bvlgari, which made an impressive debut with a 1,000-square-metre booth. Last year, the watch industry observed a fall of 3% in luxury watch sales after two stupendous years of growth led by post pandemic revenge buying. Things are coming to…

Gauravi Kumari and Vivek Sahni | Photo Credit: Special arrangement A pioneer in bottled Ayurvedic beauty, 22-year-old brand Kama Ayurveda has officially onboarded Gauravi Kumari, from the erstwhile royal family of Jaipur, as its brand ambassador. Announced in Mumbai at an immersive brand experience in early April — complete with gajras for entry wristbands, Ayurvedic consultations, and a large product experiential station — the news comes along with a complete brand refurbishment; think new and expanded product lines, luxe and sustainable packaging, and upgrades to old favourites. “She embodies what we stand for — grace rooted in tradition, with a…

Global pop icon Shakira chose a sculptural Lunar Blue Wolf Gown for her maiden performance at the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, which marks her feisty return to the stage after seven years. The Colombian singer’s outfit, designed by Gaurav Gupta, featured a custom-molded metallic breastplate adorned with an intricate wolf motif. This also points at the return of the breastplate, an accessory that has made waves from mythology to modern fashion. Shakira in a sculptural Lunar Blue Wolf Gown  | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Inspired by the idea of armour, Gaurav wanted to…

All of the women in Iranian model Azadeh’s family have had nose surgeries, each feeling the pressure to conform with Western beauty standards in a country where female bodies are heavily policed. To Ms. Azadeh, smoothing out the bump in what Iranians would call the “Persian nose” she was born with proved a lucrative investment. Also read: Sushruta’s description of reconstructing a nose Since the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iranian women have been required to dress modestly and cover their hair, and the beauty industry has become almost entirely centred on the face. Having rhinoplasty — a nose job — can…

Last week marked 25 years of fashion weeks in India, and that would include Mumbai’s Bollywood powered Lakmé Fashion Week (LFW) and Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) supported Delhi Fashion Week. Just for comparison: Paris is in its 52nd year, Milan in its 66th, and New York, in its current format, is in the 32nd. Its legendary figure, Fern Mallis, is often credited with creating the format upon which Indian, Moscow and Berlin built their respective fashion weeks. India’s fashion weeks are relatively young, but not so young that we can’t be self accountable. And a silver jubilee is…

On the crossroads where street fashion meets cricket, clothing brand HUEMN has launched a collection that charts a new trend in the realm of athleisure with its nuanced yet functional approach towards design. The brand, which is known to have collaborated with beverage and automobile companies, also artists, has now teamed up with ace cricketer Shreyas Iyer. Incorporating elements from Shreyas’s personal wardrobe, particularly checks. The collection also pays tribute to the athlete’s professional prowess, which has earned him the nickname Fiyer (a homonym for fire, derived from prefixing F with the cricketer’s surname Iyer). Shreyas Iyer x HUEMN collection incorporates…

The late Dame Vivienne Westwood, the British designer who dragged punk and new-wave fashion into the mainstream in the 1970s, once quipped, “Popular culture is a contradiction in terms. If it’s popular, it’s not culture.” Her disdain for conformity and her love for rebellion were the hallmarks of a career that redefined style as a form of dissent. “Democratic envy,” as she termed it, made people dress alike simply to belong. She preferred dressing for herself — even if no one else approved. A model walks down the runway at the Vivienne Westwood show in Mumbai | Photo Credit: Special…

In its 25th year, the Lakmé Fashion Week 2025, in partnership with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) was less about spectacle and more about sensibility. Theatrics took a backseat to thoughtfulness, as designers re-evaluated what fashion means in a climate of change — climatic, cultural, and consumer-driven. There was no singular aesthetic dominating the five-day showcase, but rather a quiet recalibration of technique, proportion, and intent. From seasoned couturiers to new-gen labels, the collections spoke of dualities — tradition meeting tech, comfort meeting structure, and art meeting wearability. Instead of chasing virality, designers leaned into craft. Surface embellishment…

Kareena Kapoor arrives in Manish Malhotra costume for the Gala dinner at Lakmé Fashion Week 2025 on March 30, 2025 in Mumbai, India. | Photo Credit: Getty Images Bollywood star Kareena Kapoor Khan says she has walked down the ramp many times, but the one when she was pregnant with her first child Taimur Ali Khan, will always be memorable. Kareena was speaking at the Lakme Fashion Week X Fashion Design Council of India gala which marked the 25 years of the fashion extravaganza on Sunday (March 30, 2025) night. The event, which closed the 2025 edition of LFW X…

Designers Zaid Khatri, Amruta Vankar, Mubbasirah Khatri, Muskan Khatri, and Shakil Ahmed during the Design Craft Presents Artisan Designers of Somaiya Kala Vidya show in the 25th year of Lakmé Fashion Week 2025 at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai | Photo Credit: Perfect Shadows / FDCI x Lakmé Fashion Week / RISE Worldwide Indian fashion is entering an era of quiet reckoning — one where the silent hands behind couture’s most intricate weaves and prints are finally stepping into the light. For decades, artisans remained the invisible scaffolding of Indian fashion’s most-celebrated narratives. Now, the script is shifting. At…

Delhi-based fashion designer Divyam Mehta’s new collection Still Waters | Photo Credit: Special arrangement With deliberate, calculated precision, Delhi-based fashion designer Divyam Mehta defines the inspiration behind his newly launched summer collection Still Waters. He borrows the collection’s design language from South Asian contemporary art, tribal rugs and nautical stripes, but manipulates its grammar to create mundu skirts, oversized jackets paired with dresses, gilets, pyjama trousers, tops and layered tunics. “For the moodboard,” he explains, “we were mainly looking at modern art from Cambodia, Indonesia and South India, but these inspirations have been manipulated and edited to create something abstract,…

Art-inspired handpainted image on a Quirkk India ensemble | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Mudit and Surbhi Katoria’s fashion brand, Quirkk India, may be less than a year old, but it is already making waves with its eye-catching designs. Specialising in shirts, tunics, and trousers featuring a vibrant mix of hand-painted and printed imagery, the Varanasi-based label blends geometric patterns, flora, fauna, and pop-art aesthetics. Their designs — ranging from nods to Frida Kahlo and Van Gogh to playful pet portraits with a quirky twist — have intrigued buyers, as seen at a recent exhibition by the Crafts Council of Telangana…

The Toda threads and jamakalam revowen showcase by FICCI FLO | Photo Credit: R Ravindran India’s rich array of crafts and the artisans behind it all  have countless stories to weave.  Take P Sakthivel from Bhavani near Erode, for instance. He is the third generation from his family to be engaged in the art of weaving jamalakkalams but today, the circumstances of his business have changed, he says. “Powerlooms have taken over and there are fewer people now who are making jamakkalams the traditional way,” he says. Anuradha Halan, who has been working with Toda artisans from the Nilgiris, has…

Nail art has become Thiruvananthapuram’s latest fashion fix, and the trend shows no signs of fading. The city is home to several dedicated nail art studios. Many beauty salons have also introduced specialised nail makeover sections, catering to the growing demand. The customer base spans all ages, from teenagers to people in their seventies.  | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT It was a slow start for Thara Devi when she opened her studio, D Artistry, at Vazhuthacaud in July 2020. “The market for nail art was sparse at best, with only the occasional bride as a client,” she recalls. But within…

The Gwalior Fort inspired stole | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement   At Tvam Art and Design Studio, the latest line of saris, blouses, and Western wear designed by artist and designer Lakshmi Srinath showcases her perspective of colours, Nature, and heritage. Among her creations, a wrap and a shirt inspired by the Raneh Falls stand out. Located on the Ken River in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh, the falls has carved a deep canyon of pure crystalline granite in varying shades, juxtaposed against blue-green waters. The ochre granite and shimmering water are reflected in Lakshmi’s design. Lakshmi’s work for the Sanskrit film…

Much before the time of sleek, fancy lunch bags with zips and pouches, the trusty, sturdy koodais of varying sizes were the standard lunch companions. The woven wire bags, that somehow never wore out despite being stuffed with large snack and lunch boxes and water bottles, stood the test of time and for many, multiple years through school. The humble koodai is now, however, having a moment. They are in vogue and jazzed up with flaps, pouches, buttons and shiny buckles. The colour combinations you once thought were tacky (think green and violet) are now considered cute, and kitschy. The…

Masaba Gupta | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement When Masaba Gupta designed her first piece of jewellery in 2018, the world was a different place. Then came the pandemic, lockdown, and — on a happier note — motherhood, last year. Six years on, in 2024, she designed her second collection of jewellery titled Identity Crisis, in collaboration with Amrapali Jewels. A lot has happened in this time — the pandemic led her to shrink her label — and she agrees these impacted and influenced her design process. On the other hand she also credits the COVID-19 period for turning her into…

The bamboo poles stop just short of grazing the walls of the 17th century structure that, for 10 days, housed Pampa: Textiles of Karnataka — presented by the Abheraj Baldota Foundation, in collaboration with Karnataka’s department of tourism and the Archaeological Survey of India. A careful matrix of similar poles, held together sturdily with jute ropes, criss-cross the aged ceiling of the Mantapa Photo Exhibition Centre and hold the magnificent textiles. In a way, the exhibition design is an apt metaphor for the intent behind Pampa: one of building connections between the old and the new, each showing off the other to their…

Gauri Khan, a GKD concept | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement In April 2022, when designers Falguni and Shane Peacock launched their flagship Hyderabad store — designed by Gauri Khan — it marked her entry into the city’s interior design scene. Nearly two years later, she expands her presence through a collaboration with Sussanne Khan’s The Charcoal Project (TCP). Floor 03 of TCP, on HITEC City Road, Jubilee Hills, now houses Gauri Khan Designs (GKD), showcasing luxury furniture and accessories, including bedroom and living room setups with custom-made screens, hand-painted wallpapers, statement mirrors, and contemporary lighting. “Sussanne and I have been…

Shivan and Narresh. Photo: shivanandnarresh.com The fashion brand behind Friday’s (March 7, 2025) fashion show in the tourist hotspot of Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla on Monday (March 10, 2025) posted an apology, and several videos of the event were withdrawn from online platforms, evoking sharp reactions from political parties and religious bodies in Kashmir. Their fashion show, organised during the holy month of Ramzan, featured scantily dressed models amidst snow-covered slopes.  “Respect for all cultures and traditions is at the heart of our values, and we acknowledge the concerns raised. We sincerely apologize for any unintended discomfort and appreciate the…

Deepika Padukone at the Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2025 show in Paris | Photo Credit: @deepikapadukone/Instagram Bollywood star Deepika Padukone, who is representing India at the Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2025 show in Paris, made a splash on social media on Monday, sharing a series of pictures that have left fans, including her actor-husband Ranveer Singh, stunned. The actor, the first Indian to be signed on as a House Ambassador by the French luxury brand, posed against the Eiffel Tower. The pictures have garnered a lot of comments from fans, and Ranveer too expressed his admiration. “Lord have mercy on me (sic),”…

Bengaluru-based designer Geethica Naidu’s debut collection, Pashm, is an ode to the breathtaking landscapes and rich nomadic heritage of Ladakh. The use of pashmina offers a glimpse into the rich, traditional craftsmanship of the region. The collection was inspired by the uniqueness of the fibre and a deep curiosity to understand Pashmina’s origins and the life of nomadic communities. It was created to honour their way of life and bring their story to the forefront through design. Pashm includes trench coats, long vest dresses, pleated skirts and fitted blazer jackets, with a colour palette with dominant shades of brown, in keeping with…

Ananya Shanbhag, Suchitra Mattai, Adam J. Graves and Sajda Pathan pose on the red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 97th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles | Photo Credit: Reuters As actor Ananya Shanbhag shone on the 97th Oscars red carpet in her ivory and gold corset and skirt ensemble, designer Poornima Indrajith couldn’t help but smile. “She was so excited, she felt the dress turned out better than she had imagined. She would call from the Oscars venue at 3am IST to share the attention the dress was drawing,” laughs Poornima.  Ananya, a 21-year-old performing arts student,…

I know how time consuming and exhausting it can be to scroll through endless windows searching for the right outfit at the right price. All those tabs open on the laptop — whether I am on Instagram, Amazon, Net-a-Porter or Ensemble’s website. This is compounded by the fact that what I click on fuels algorithms, which throw up suggestions that I may not want. And I say this as someone who enjoys online shopping! Now, imagine the ability to have a fashion advisor at your fingertips whenever you need outfit ideas. With advancements in AI, that looks set to happen.…

How do you like your heels? At Disobedience, they like it quirky — in steel, and engraved wood, and in the shape of spheres, alphabet, curves… Anita Soundar, the founder of the Chennai-based footwear label, wants to rewrite the rules of style. Luxury for her goes beyond leather. Her focus is on vegan, cruelty-free footwear. “We choose upcyled, sustainable, earth-friendly material,” she says as we walk around her unit in Ambattur Industrial Estate. Quirky heels by Disobedience | Video Credit: The Hindu There are shoes, in myriad colours, shapes, and sizes strewn around for quality check. The ones that have…

Saris by Vidhi | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The length and breadth of the country is home to a plethora of textiles; all indicative of a range of craftsmanship and skill. This has taken centrestage in the Crafts Council of India’s (CCI) showcases in Chennai over the last two decades. Tari — the loom, the summer showcase this weekend organised by the CCI will have saris, kurtas, dupattas and yardage from looms across the country. The saris at this showcase include jamdani, brocade, patola, Chanderi and chikankari. “Saris are the single most versatile piece of unstitched fabric. It is the…

Weaving at Rehwa | Photo Credit: Oskar Hallgrimsson On a misty February afternoon, when the mammoth Jaipur Literature Festival was underway in another part of the city, I found designer Tahir Sultan busy working on a textile-based sculpture. We were at the boutique hotel, 28 Kothi, the venue for The Handloom School’s Threads of Tomorrow, a conclave where conversations centred around the world of handloom via fashion and art, as well as its patronage. Sultan’s Narmada in Motion was joined by three other artworks, including Morning Ritual by visual artist Rachana Devidayal. Crafted from Maheshwari silk, Sultan’s sculpture was an experiment in matting textile and structure…

The gamchha can be a handkerchief, scarf, towel, sheet, garment, and even a blanket. The multipurpose chequered fabric synonymous with India’s working class is particularly noticeable in the warm and humid regions of East and Southeast Bangladesh, Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala where it is used to wipe sweat or worn on the head to reduce the effect of heat.   The multipurpose chequered fabric is synonymous with India’s working class | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The utilitarian nature of the textile has been documented through the multimedia exhibition Gamchha: The Extraordinary in the Ordinary…

The first Bershka store in Mumbai’s Phoenix Palladium | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement It is official — Bershka has landed in India. The Spanish high-street brand, part of the Inditex group (which also owns Zara, Massimo Dutti, and Pull&Bear), has opened its first Indian store in Mumbai at Phoenix Palladium. The 472-square-metre store offers a sleek, urban, and immersive retail experience, with a strong focus on product curation, seamless navigation, and digital integration. As the brand’s communications team explains, “Bershka comes at a time when the Indian market is growing in terms of streetwear and its embrace of contemporary fashion.” An…

Sussanne Khan unveils her flagship interior store The Charcoal Project in Hyderabad, in collaboration with Gauri Khan. | Photo Credit: Siddhant Thakur A day before the formal launch of The Charcoal Project (TCP) in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, Sussanne Khan and her team are adding the final touches to the space. Spread over six floors, it marks Sussanne’s foray into Hyderabad’s interior design scene, 14 years after founding TCP in Mumbai. One floor features concept spaces and product lines by Gauri Khan Designs. Sussanne’s excitement, tinged with a hint of nervousness, is evident as she settles in for an interview on…

Manish Malhotra at Dubai Fashion Week’s finale showcase | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement A parade of sequins, pearls and brocades on the runway; the likes of filmmaker Karan Johar, businessman Adar Poonawalla, and actor Urmila Matondkar on the front row; and supermodels Valery Kaufman and Adriana Lima opening and closing the show respectively — one would think this was just business as usual for one of India’s most renowned fashion designers, Manish Malhotra. But there was a twist of course. The mise en scène for Manish’s latest runway outing was not at a venue in Mumbai, where his label is…

We are at the Kolkata Centre for Creativity where I am trying to sneak a picture of a block print of cultural icon Begum Akhtar on a blouse. Its wearer, Mamta Varma, runs Bhairavi’s Chikan in Lucknow, with 300 women who do fine chikankari embroidery. Noting my interest she reveals that the unusual blouse was made by Meeta Mastani, co-founder of Delhi-based printmakers Bindaas Unlimited, to commemorate the singer’s 100th birthday. A few feet away, the inimitable Darshan Mekani Shah, founder of Kolkata-based not-for-profit Weavers Studio Resource Centre, points to a gold-and-black cotton sari covered in hand-woven motifs of earrings. “This is…

The weekend featured some of the 26 shows, from the country’s most established designers as well as bright new talent, including Rajesh Pratap Singh, JJ Valaya, Shantanu & Nikhil, Varun Bahl, Ashish N Soni, Bloni and more, showcasing innovative approaches and silhouettes to materials and techniques. This year also featured, for the first time, four women designers with an interesting take on men’s wear: Mandira Wirk, Mahima Mahajan, Nikita Mhaisalkar and Nirmooha by Prreeti Jaiin Nainutia.  Sunil Sethi, chairman, The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), explains how the organisation, which has about 400 members from the industry, works to…

Judging from the twelve designers who showcased their work on Day one alone, there is going to be plenty to pick from for your wardrobe this year, from gender fluid palazzos to edgy street wear. Sustainability was a theme that ran through the collection, with designers emphasising on the value of slow fashion, and the importance of creating clothes that last. The event was held in Jaipur’s graceful old Diggi palace, which dates back to the 19th century. Now a heritage hotel, it continues to be a home to the family that has always owned it. With expansive lawns and…

Saris at Chaasmi | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement If you are keen to know about the art, craft, culture and cuisine of erstwhile Indian royal families, this event brings a range of products crafted within palace studios. The Artisanal Tale, an event by design platform Royal Fables in association with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry Ladies Organization (FICCI-FLO) Chennai, brings together 12 royals who will present everything from automotive art, bespoke textiles, jewellery and heritage weaves.  Vidita Singh’s painting of a Delahaye at a polo match | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Vidita Singh of Barwani will be in…

Tourism Secretary Smita Sabharwal during an interview on Telangana hosting Miss World 2025, in Hyderabad on Thursday. | Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL As Telangana prepares to host the 72nd edition of Miss World from May 4 to 31, the event is expected to place the State on the global tourism map. Smita Sabharwal, Principal Secretary of Youth Advancement, Tourism and Culture, in an exclusive interview with Siddharth Kumar Singh shared insights on the significance of the event and its potential to showcase Telangana’s rich heritage and hospitality to the world. How did the conversation begin about Miss World 2025 coming…

The Dubai-inspired collection features five grand pieces, each inspired by the region’s diverse aspects The dunes, mountains, architecture, water bodies, and razzmatazz of Dubai have found representation in a new form. These have been interpreted by couturier Gaurav Gupta in his quintessential style in a capsule collection that is a collaboration between him and Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. The launch happened over the weekend at Gaurav Gupta’s three-storey boutique in Kala Ghoda, Mumbai. The Dubai-inspired collection features five grand pieces, each inspired by the region’s diverse aspects. Silver Pearl Gown The creations are exhibited at the flagship store…

In an interview to The Hindu, Varsha Bharath talks about working on ‘Bad Girl’, developing the characters, the talk surrounding its teaser and working with Vetri Maaran and Anurag Kashyap. | Photo Credit: Thamodharan B Varsha Bharath interview: On ‘Bad Girl’, teaser feedback, being Vetri Maaran’s assistant director Director Varsha Bharath makes two declarations as she hurriedly walks in for our interview. Pointing to her feet that are currently nestled in a pair of flimsy pink flip-flops, she says, “A friend’s dog chewed through the shoes I was meant to wear.” Afterwards, she states that she is having a bout…

Men in tousled hair, kohl rimmed eyes, bold jewellery, and six pack abs wander around Jaipur’s graceful old Diggi Palace all day. We are at the influential FDCI India Men’s Weekend 2025 presented by Chivas Luxe Perfumes, for a glamorous peek into what men are wearing this year. While ramp looks may seem unattainable, and even sometimes intimidatingly edgy, these ideas filter down to the high street and everyday wardrobes rather quickly, so it’s a useful glimpse into what is likely to influence your personal style.  Sunil Sethi, Chairman of the The Fashion Design Council of India | Photo Credit:…

Two giant white terracotta lions stand guard at the doorway. As I step in, the late afternoon sun’s rays spin a swerving web of light from the chandelier above. Via a stairway leading down, a montage of bright red poppies on the side wall, I arrive at the landing, awash in crimson, more mirrors and a headless mannequin in red, cheekily perched upon the table. I gasp.   Ritu beri in her expansive office overlooking the greens | Photo Credit: Ashay Phadke The sound of gushing water from a fountain near avintage statue invites my gaze to fall upon the bright…

Gaurav Jai Gupta’s work is inspired by the future. “I am not excited about the past. I am interested in what the future is going to be: perhaps a lot to do with experimentation, innovation, relevance. I associate the future with shine, glaze, and steel. It’s very space age,” he says. And this reflects in his creations. At Collage in Chennai, Gaurav is currently showcasing his edit titled Beams of Metal. The clothes — mostly high on shine and glaze, but not blingy — represent favourites from previous collections like The Sky Is Mine, Irreverence, and Moonrise, along with new…

Designs by Payal Singhal | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Design has been an intrinsic part of Payal Singhal’s life, for as long as she can remember. Today, the Mumbai born-and-bred fashion designer is known for giving a contemporary spin to traditional Indian crafts with her eponymous label. Think leather strips used like gota patti, kurtas paired with jogger pants and saris reimagined as jumpsuits. Though her brand turns 25 this year, her journey with fashion began long before her label. Back to the start Payal’s grandfather JP Singhal was a renowned painter and photographer while her father Dinesh Singhal owned…

When actor Keerthy Suresh was planning her wedding and brainstorming the ‘looks’ and trousseau with her stylists, Kochi-based bridal wear designer Tiya Neil Karikkassery’s name popped up. And as the team was ideating one of the outfits, jewellery came up for discussion. And if Tiya was designing the garment, who else but her mother, Asha Sebastian Mattathil, to make the gold jewellery?  To the uninitiated, Asha is probably one of Kerala’s first independent jewellery designers. The mother-daughter duo’s work for a look for the actor’s Goa wedding has come in for a lot of praise. Keerthy Suresh during her wedding…

Indie slow fashion brand myKynd elevates the Kerala mundu into something more than an off white every-day piece of garment. It plays with colour, fabric and style, coaxing the unassuming mundu to push its boundaries.  Unmesh Dasthakhir launched myKynd with his co-founder and “muse” Senna Rasool in September 2024 as a curated range of hand-woven, locally-produced mundus that lend themselves to the wearer’s individual style. Unmesh explores fabric, using the fine Jamdani and even linen. Using bold swathes of colour, and prints, these mundus straddle casual and formal wear worlds with poise. Hand block prints, jacquard, natural-indigo-dyed and reversible styles,…

An outfit from Ghazal | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Blending the beauty of poetry with fashion, WeaverStory kickstarted the year with a collection called Ghazal. Describing the range as a “celebration of grace, creativity and the quiet strength of a poet’s world,” CEO and founder of the apparel brand Nishant Malhotra says he was inspired by the bond between poets and their muse. He wanted to capture the “essence of their artistry, love and heritage”. Ghazal features kurtas and Anarkali suits for women, and kurta sets and dhotis for men in fabrics such as Chanderi and cotton tissue with intricate…

Nestled near the riverside in Amsterdam, Iris van Herpen’s atelier is a reflection of her work in blending fashion with art, science, technology, and the natural world. We speak over a Zoom call in September, a few weeks after she wrapped up her couture show in Paris. The visionary Dutch couturier’s eyes settle on the serene water body in front of her; it is those effervescent and transformative qualities of water that form her approach to design. Dutch designer Iris van Herpen | Photo Credit: Getty Images Sometimes quite literally — as the ‘Water Dress’, created in collaboration with artist…

Once worn solely by dancers, the flamenco dress and its contemporary variations are now used by women in Spain for weddings, fairs, and receptions. Transforming the classic flamenco dress into a blouse and skirt or a pant suit is something that many designers like Jose Hidalgohave done successfully. We are in Seville, the largest city in Andalucia, Spain — also the home of flamenco dancing — at the boutique of designer duo Pablo Retamaro and Juanjo Bernal (aka Cloe) known for their flamenco style dresses. A woman performing the flamenco dance | Photo Credit: Getty Images The dress — which…

The Indian Finished Leather Manufacturers and Exporters Association (IFLMEA) hosted the 38th Leather Fashion Show at ITC Grand Chola, Chennai. | Photo Credit: R. Ravindran In this year’s Union Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a focus product scheme for the footwear and leather sectors. The Hindu reported that this will generate a turnover of ₹4 lakh crore, and exports of more than ₹1.1 lakh crore, generating employment for 22 lakh people. On the cusp of this announcement, the Indian Finished Leather Manufacturers and Exporters Association (IFLMEA) hosted the 38th Leather Fashion Show at ITC Grand Chola, Chennai. This year’s…

A few days ago, a video on Erode-based Jothi Speciality Papers — that highlighted its project crafting biodegradable mannequins — went viral on Instagram. If you have been wondering how this project came to be, here is the brand’s backstory. Mani P (centre) and his wife (fourth from left) with the team | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Helmed by Mani P and his wife, the company has been creating recycled cotton rag paper from textile scraps since 1996. “In 1994, we visited a garment factory in Tirupur, saw a lot of waste textile fabric that ended up in landfills, and…

“There will never be another Gudda.” A sentiment expressed by all those who knew the legendary couturier Rohit Bal (fondly known as Gudda), echoed through the air, as I sat beneath a canopy of light and memory. The Blenders Pride Fashion Tour unfolded in Gurugram, not just as a showcase, but as an immersive celebration of Bal’s extraordinary life and timeless legacy.   Known for his maximalist ethos balanced with an undercurrent of sophisticated restraint, Bal was a storyteller, weaving narratives of heritage, opulence, and romance into each of his creations. The showcase was a visual memoir of his journey, featuring…

Tarun Tahiliani is a name that needs no introduction, even if you are not familiar with the fashion world. With a career spanning almost three decades, his vision of blending Indian craftsmanship with Western aesthetics has paved the way for the Indian fashion industry to make its mark on a global platform. While it could be argued that wearing a Tarun Tahiliani outfit might seem far fetched for most, the couturier has now embarked on a slightly different journey with his retail brand Tasva in collaboration with Aditya Birla Fashion Retail Limited (ABFRL) that focuses on affordable traditional Indian menswear.…

Sabyasachi Mukherjee says he is proof that middle class idealism can be a superpower. Twenty five years after he made his debut on the Indian fashion scene, the Kolkata resident has five stores, one of them in New York’s West Village, with jewellery and leather goods, both extremely successful, added to his portfolio. His company is expected to have a turnover of  ₹500 crore this year. Sabyasachi’s 25th anniversary show | Video Credit: The Hindu “But it look me close to 20 years to get over the imposter syndrome,” confesses the designer, 51, who has often credited his grandmothers for…

As a teen, Jasna Moidu would buy clothes that were a couple of sizes bigger. “Those always felt comfortable,” says Moidu, founder of Tree, a clothing label. Founded in 2016, the label which makes wearable designs, has, at its core, been working with handwoven cotton. In 2024, the 34-year-old founder-designer moved the label’s base to Bengaluru. The young label, however, did not start out with handloom textiles. “It has been a learning curve,” says Jasna, who has always tweaked ready-to-wear clothes to make them ‘her own’. “Nearly all the women in my family have been fashion forward. We would always…

Snapshots from Chanel’s Spring Summer 25 Haute Couture Showcase | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Chanel marked its 110th year with a return to the historic Grand Palais for its Spring Summer 25 Haute Couture showcase, after four years. The design house, founded in 1915, has redefined and refined the art of haute couture, embodying core values of freedom, exceptional craftsmanship, and dedication to excellence. On this significant occasion, the team shared exclusive savoir-faire behind three seminal looks which were part of the Paris Couture Week.   A pleated dress-coat with puff sleeves | Photo Credit: Jack Davison Dress coat One of…

One of the Patnulu spinners at work | Photo Credit: Chitrika On February 1 and 2, three master women spinners from Murapaka in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, will visit Hyderabad to demonstrate and teach participants the art of Patnulu, or handspun khadi of Ponduru. This traditional technique of spinning khadi, from cotton to yarn, involves five stages of processing the native short-staple cotton, konda patti (hill cotton), using indigenous tools. These women are among the few who continue to practise this craft, which was predominant during the pre-Independence era. The initiative, titled ‘Patnulu: The Handspun Handwoven Craft of Ponduru —…

At the 2024 Paris and Milan fashion weeks, the Hermès Kelly bag was a standout accessory among attendees. In Paris, Vogue editors even noted an “unplanned Kelly parade” as influencers and fashion journalists in the front row flaunted Kelly bags in different styles, sizes, and colours, showcasing its versatility. Model Kendall Jenner was also spotted in Paris, wearing a dark grey power suit by The Row paired with a brown leather Hermès Kelly bag. In India, the Ambani family has often been seen with the iconic Kelly. In October, Isha Ambani attended a Mumbai event with a custom Hermès Mini Kelly bag…

When Rahul Mishra steps into the hallowed halls of Paris Haute Couture Week on January 27, he brings with him more than just another collection. He brings a deeply personal narrative, a global call to action, and the poetic sensibilities of an artist mourning loss while grappling with humanity’s place in the universe. Rahul’s latest work, titled The Pale Blue Dot, emerges from a period of profound reflection — fuelled by the recent loss of his father and inspired by American astronomer, Carl Sagan’s notable observation on Earth’s fragility.  “This collection is a culmination of a thought process that has lingered for…

In The Maheshwar Edit, Anaka experiments with bold stripes, textures and colours | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Anaka Narayanan’s capsule collection, The Maheshwar Edit, has a story to tell.  In 2022, Anaka, the founder of Brass Tacks headed to Maheshwar in Madhya Pradesh for an apprenticeship with weaver Nisha Verma. “I was keen on learning how to weave and knew that to commit the process to muscle memory, I would have to do this for a longer period of time,” she says.I went in with an open mind and told myself that if I wanted to delve deeper into production…

Meghana Prakash | Photo Credit: Special Arrangements The next time you gift a book to a bibliophile, pair it with a miniature book pendant for an extra touch of joy. Bengaluru-based software professional-turned-jewellery designer Meghana Prakash (@theclayarte) began creating these pendants to diversify her offerings beyond her signature floral designs. “Book lovers were overjoyed seeing the pendants,” Meghana shares, highlighting the charm they bring to her collection. Meghana wearing one of her earrings | Photo Credit: Special Arrangements Meghana Prakash is a self-taught polymer clay jewellery designer who started crafting as a hobby, alongside quilling. What began as a weekend…

The lines between craft, art, and design are blurring now more than ever before. Artisanal techniques, once seen as the antithesis of “cool”, are gaining ground in art and design circles. Last year saw several narratives around textile, helping transform them into powerful tools of inquiry into cultural identity and sustainability. Exhibitions such as When Indian Flowers Bloomed in Distant Lands (on view in Ahmedabad until March) highlighted the political and economic importance of textiles in India’s global trade, while From Folk to Fibre — featured at the ‘Journeying Across the Himalayas’ festival in December under the Royal Enfield Social Mission — celebrated the…

If trends emerging from fashion weeks held in New York, London, Milan and Paris are a yardstick, the year promises a versatile and transversal wardrobe for men Suspended between city life and weekend getaways, designers propose a closet comprising trans-seasonal pieces exemplifying construction techniques and surface decoration for 2025. Demonstrating an adaptation of traditional dress codes for contemporary life, labels like Tod’s, Gucci, Dior Men, Canali, Zegna, Hermès and Louis Vuitton have brought a touch of intrigue to outerwear seen in multi-pocketed chore jackets, double-breasted coats and utilitarian blousons crafted in luxe and technical textiles offering ease and movement. Moreover,…

Each timewe packed for our annual trip to Kerala, my mother would urge me to pack a few kurtas, and some full-length skirts so that I did not offend the sensibilities of my relatives or stand out. And sure enough, I learnt it the hard way that even a casual ensemble of T-shirt and jeans could garner unwanted attention. This was in the early 2000s. About 10 years ago, when I moved to Aluva, I thought things might be looking up fashion-wise. Well, things had improved, marginally and I held out hope. By 2025, the fashion scene in the State…

Bead Work jewellery | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement At the Dastkar Bazaar, over 110 artisans from 18 Indian states come together to showcase the beauty and diversity of India’s craftsmanship. Visitors can explore a wide line up crafts such as Sabai grass weaving, papier mache from Kashmir, neem wood work, lacquer toys, seashell work, dhokra, Sholapith and much more will be on display. Dastkar is a national NGO established in 1981, with the focus on uplifting traditional Indian craftspeople and crafts. For those looking for folk art there is Pichwai, Kalighat, Pattachitra and Madhubani. Miniature Gond and Sanjhi art also…

Fashion designer Deepika Govind says her entry into the world of fashion was quite accidental. “I never planned it. I did my Masters in Economics, and wanted to join the civil services. It was while preparing for the civils that I heard about a design contest being held by the National Institute of Technology (NIFT), Bangalore.”  The Bengaluru-based designer recently came up with the collection Fragile Flyers, whichcelebrates the delicate beauty of sustainable fabrics through bold threadwork embroidery. Crafted from fabrics woven in association with TENCEL™ Luxe, the biodegradable fibre is derived from sustainably sourced wood pulp. “The fragility of…

An earlier edition of Aakruthi Vastra | Photo Credit: V Raju The Crafts Council of Telangana will host the first installment of its bi-annual exhibition of textiles and crafts, Aakruthi Vastra. The Sankranti edition of Aakruthi Vastra 2025 will welcome visitors at a new location, the Jubilee Hills Convention Centre, Hyderabad, on January 8 and 9.  The Crafts Council exhibition will welcome handloom patrons. This year too, Aakruthi Vastra will bring together weavers and craftspeople across India. Alongside the rustle of handwoven saris from craft clusters the exhibition will see textile labels displaying contemporary Indo-western apparel and accessories. Labels that…

A symphony of tribal art symbols from across the globe underscores fashion designer Nupur Kanoi’s recent collection — Maya. Woven in the warp and weft of textiles like pure silk, crepe silk, georgette silk, khaki cotton, cotton silk and silk satin, Maya comprises nearly 25 craft techniques. It is rooted in the creative essence that dictates the core of tribal art — Nature. Nupur chooses to describe the edit as “one of the most intricate collections” her eponymous label has made so far. “It highlights tribal art and symbols that depict the surroundings of the natives — such as trees,…

One barely breaks a sweat while solving a quirky word search in fashion designer Arya Giri’s lookbook for her latest collection, The September Issue. Turns out though, it is the easiest way to decipher her luxury pret line. Words from this puzzle like ‘aubergine’, ‘CMYK’, ‘funny figures’ and ‘storytelling’ are manifested on shirts, waistcoats, skirts and kurtas. They are a clear giveaway of what one can expect to see from the Chennai-based designer this season. Inspired by Vogue magazine’s iconic September edition, which predicts fashion trends for fall and summer, this line is full of colours that pop (think chilli…

Travel Video game tourism Move over film tourism. Gamers are now flocking to locations where their favourite games are set. For example, fans of Assassin’s Creed are travelling to destinations like the Colosseum in Rome, and Notre Dam. Travel for love Yes, that’s a thing. And it’s not just the Gen Z or Millennials who are taking the plunge. Dating apps and matrimonial sites are passe. People now want to make connections in real life. They want their meet-cute while on vacation. Reset retreats After yoga vacations and spa holidays, these retreats promise to not just recharge travellers, but to increase resilience,…

Remember saree-clad Kim and Khloe Kardashian turning heads at the extravagant Ambani wedding? And Jennifer Lopez channelling her inner Queen Charlotte at her Bridgerton-themed birthday party this year? All three chose Indian designers for their headline making red carpet appearances. In July, Kardashian sisters, known world over for their reality shows, wore saree and lehenga-choli ensembles by Manish Malhotra and Tarun Tahiliani for the grand wedding ceremony of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in India. And they were not the only ones. From sarees to regal gowns, 2024 witnessed Indian fashion designers like Gaurav Gupta, Malhotra, Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Falguni…

Rashi Jain | Photo Credit: RAVINDRAN R It was a pair of cufflinks in the form of a martini glass and a cocktail shaker — a generational piece passed down from her husband’s family — that inspired Rashi Jain to create her own line of cufflinks. The shape and uniqueness of the design intrigued her. She started out designing pieces for her husband. This was in 2009, when she moved to Paris after marriage. As she explored the city, she imbibed all the artistic creations she saw there. “We moved around quite a bit. We stayed in South Korea, Qatar,…

If you are a skincare enthusiast, chances are that K-beauty has caught your attention, given its sustained rise in popularity in India. This has ensured easier access to several K-beauty brands now, with dedicated marketplaces for these products.  At Kosmos — a celebration of Korean culture, lifestyle, food and beauty earlier this month in Delhi — the spotlight was on K-beauty trends and introducing the K-beauty brand Neaf Neaf to India, with its founder Jeong Jiwoo in attendance. The two-day festival was organised by kindlife, a Korean and Japanese beauty platform.  A popular beauty and fashion influencer, and entrepreneur, Jiwoo…

Mango fashion tycoon Isak Andic | Photo Credit: AFP The founder and owner of fashion empire Mango, Isak Andic, died on Saturday (December 14, 2024) in a mountain accident, police said. He was 71. The businessman slipped and fell over 100 meters from a cliff while hiking with relatives in the Montserrat caves near Barcelona, a police spokesperson said. “His departure leaves a huge void but all of us are, in some way, his legacy and the testimony of his achievements. Tt is up to us … to ensure that Mango continues to be the project that Isak was ambitious…

The fabulous life of Shalini Passi | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Shalini Passi is a vibe. Even when she is frazzled, there is a sense of calm about her. After her talk on Women in Artistry at the Madras Art Weekend (MAW), we sit down for a chat in her suite at the Park Hyatt. Between answering calls, instructing her staff, sipping fresh juice, and getting ready for the inauguration of MAW (within a span of 30 minutes I saw her in three different outfits), she says, “I was in Doha, I landed at 3am in Chennai.” But she is…

Peter England has launched The Bollywood Wedding collection, unveiled by celebrated filmmaker Karan Johar | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Bollywood has long influenced Indian weddings, turning them into cinematic moments. From grand sets to extravagant wardrobes, Bollywood movies have shaped how Indians envision their big day. It all began in 1994, when Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, helmed by Sooraj Barjatya, became a cultural phenomenon. The movie wasn’t just a hit — it redefined weddings, celebrating every ritual, dance, and outfit with such flair that audiences could not resist emulating it. Who can forget Madhuri Dixit’s purple lehenga or Salman Khan’s…

Visually-impaired artisans working on creating new clothes at the Little Flower Convent | Photo Credit: VELANKANNI RAJ B For over 30 years in the southern town of Mulagumoodu in Kanyakumari, Sornam and Annama have spent their days bent over wooden frames at the Infant Jesus Technical and Educational Institute. An initiative of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, it is here that the duo and hundreds of others before them learnt convent embroidery, a form of craftwork that involves creating exquisite patterns with threads, drawing from design cards with the Tamil words ‘vadakku’, ‘merku’, ‘therku’, ‘kizhakku’ neatly…

Vessel earrings from the [Prime]al collection by Studio Renn | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement For Mumbai-based jewellery brand Studio Renn, working on its collection [Prime]al has been all about creating its own design language.  “Our design has always followed a more creative expression format, and is process driven. We identify a subject, keep studying it over multiple years and develop a collection,” says Roshni Jhaveri. Roshni and her husband Rahul co-founded Studio Renn nearly six years ago, and are back in Chennai for the fourth time to showcase their jewellery at Collage, on December 11 and 12.  Known for its…

William Dalrymple, in his podcast Empire, remarks that by the time the British government took over the East India Company’s operations in 1858, a cultural revolution was underway as a strong Victorian influence took over. The Englishmen in India began determining not just structure in civil society and establishing a colony, but also began influencing fashion, albeit in a condescending manner. Toolika Gupta, a researcher who wrote a paper titledThe Impact of British Rule on the Dressing Sensibilities of Indian Aristocrats: A case study of the Maharaja of Baroda’s dress notes that it was the aristocracy, intent on pleasing their…

One of the pieces from the collection | Photo Credit: special arrangement In the remote villages of Tamil Nadu, under the canopy of a tree, rest the sapta kannika. The seven goddesses represented by seven bricks, smeared in turmeric and adorning bright pieces of Chinnalapatti cloth, come to life in the artwork displayed at the centre of Forum Art Gallery. A creation of artist and designer Lakshmi Srinath, the artwork runs a thread through the divine feminine energy representing Shakti. Patterns & Motifs is a reimagination of Indian heritage through the medium of textile and jewellery. A collaboration between Forum Art Gallery and…

The store has versatile designs that cater to Gen Z’s bold flair and timeless options for a sophisticated look | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement While the rise of e-commerce has led many to predict the decline of brick-and-mortar stores, the fashion scene in Mumbai tells a different story. The city has witnessed a surge in new store openings, transforming retail spaces into immersive brand experiences that offer more than just clothing — they provide a window into the brand’s ethos and identity. In line with this trend, designer Ranna Gill has expanded her presence in Mumbai. This is Ranna’s fourth…

Artist Kanika Ranka Adani | Photo Credit: Chinmay Shah On her return to India in 2016, after pursuing a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, US, Mumbai-based artist Kanika Ranka Adani worked in a graphic design agency, followed by a stint with a fashion designer. However, neither of these professions stood out to her. While Kanika desired to work with “something she could paint”, the conventional career path of artists limiting themselves to art collections and shows did not appeal to her.   Ultimately, Kanika’s quest for a niche trade, which was…

When the author of Ice Cold: A Hip-hop Jewelry History, Vikki Tobak, treads the tightrope between hip-hop music and fashion industry, precision dictates her research. As she lends this expertise to curating an exhibition that shares its theme with her book, she erects an indomitable narrative of the music genre’s evolution over the past five decades with historically significant and culturally invaluable artefacts. Ice Cold: An Exhibition of Hip-Hop Jewelry at the American Museum of Natural History | Photo Credit: Special arrangement On view in the Melissa and Keith Meister Gallery within The American Museum of Natural History’s Allison and…

Khaas intends to be a sit-down restaurant focussed on catering to the India that lies North of the Vindhyas with a side of old Bollywood

Viswanathan Anand with Sai Akhil | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Sai Akhil Anand sees patterns everywhere. On the road. And, on animals. “I once looked keenly at the stripes of the zebra and tiger and observed patterns on them,” recalls Akhil, in a telephonic chat, “This made me very interested in art and patterns.” The 13-year-old, son of Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand, has recently ventured into a collaboration with ethnic brand Hastha to bring traditional Indian art forms to life in a new collection of hand-block printed clothing. This limited-edition collection is Akhil’s interpretation of traditional Indian motifs, featuring…

Photographer G Venket Ram | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement In previous conversations with The Hindu, celebrity photographer G Venket Ram has enthralled readers with myriad tales about his relationship with Chennai and photography. He has recounted his childhood in George Town; spoken of sprinting down Napier bridge at dawn; narrated a story of accidentally stopping a train whilst wearing a red T-shirt; and had quipped about spending time clicking picture-perfect shots of actor Suriya’s abs. Over the years, readers have watched this lensman experiment with styles and fashion, showing facets of the city peeking through his personality. This time, a…

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 her rich legacy into her fashion brand, Akutee that launched in 2023. Akutee, which means princess in Sanskrit and Marathi, offers delicate bespoke garments such as saris, dupattas, co-ord sets and more, in subtle pastels and deep jewel-tones. The pieces are hand-painted by Sagarika’s mother, Urmila Ghatge, along with a team of artists. The actor, with her mother and her…

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 Indian motifs. While a sari from grandmother’s wardrobe will never go out of vogue, imagine a line of Benares saris that combine Indian brocade techniques and French design influences. Varanasi to Versailles, a new collection by textile designers Swati Agarwal and Sunaina Jalan for their signature label Swati & Sunaina Gold (@swatiandsunaina on Instagram), is a coming together of French…

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 7). The second edition of the event organised by The Spirit of Vizag Society aims to honour India’s rich handloom heritage while promoting walking among women. The event is open for women of all ages who can don their handloom sari and join the walk that will begin at 6am from opposite Viswapriya Function Hall. The objective is to not…

Ratika Kaul | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement India has always been fascinated by gold. We have worn, invested and treasured this metal over centuries. In its chinks, lie the sentimental value of being passed down for generations in the forms of bangles, chains, earrings, and coins. “We are so keen on gold jewellery not just because it looks good, but also because of the energy it carries,” says Chennai-based jewellery designer Ratika Kaul. This Kashmiri who has been settled in Chennai for 28 years, has recently launched iterations of a traditional gold ornament from the northernmost part of the country…

The assignment you have been dreading for a year is here. Couturier Rohit Bal’s obituary. He died on Diwali, November 1, 2024, at 63. His mortal remains — buried under flowers at Delhi’s Lodhi Crematorium with the face laid bare for last respects before the pyre was lit — looked irrevocably frozen in time. Love and death pulsed in the air. The palpable love of his family and friends, provoked into exultation by the Grim Reaper’s arrival. Deep down, you had worried for a couple of years that you may have to write this, unless you quit the fulltime job…

Nazara Collection by Arpita Mehta | Photo Credit: Special Arrangements Nazara, Arpita Mehta’s latest bridal couture collection, is a tribute to India’s cultural heritage blended. The collection, inspired by the Northeast of India and Gujarat, blends contemporary silhouettes with luxurious design: not surprisingly Arpita’s clientele includes celebrities such as Isha Ambani, Ananya Panday, Alia Bhatt, Suhana Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan. The collection, showcased the in Guwahati (Assam) for the first time, has been inspired by the flora and fauna of the region; reflected in the vibrant floral 3D motifs. The Nature-inspired patterns come alive with traditional embroidery techniques like…

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 in 1969 and she lived there undisturbed — rumour claims that even her husband was not allowed to enter without her written permission. She spent the latter part of her enigmatic life writing an unfinished book, probably about her own polarising perceptions. The woman, who was despised by French poet André Breton (he saw her as a rival), and loathed…

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 through zardozi embroidery | Photo Credit: Special arrangement In one of its recent reports, National Green Tribunal revealed that close to 2.75 lakh tyres are discarded in India every day. The tyre waste’s impact on the country’s environment is also as shocking as the data above. While more companies are trying to recycle tyres, from repurposing them as footwear to…