The Indie Initiation

“...the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes 'Awww!' What did they call such young people in Goethe's Germany?”  

- On The Road, Jack Kerouac

These are the people who inspire me. These are the people I want to be counted in someday. These are the people who were there at the NH7 Weekender, Pune. At least in that environment, in those colours, the bright lights, the drunken haze and the magical sound of music, everybody looked like energy was literally flowing out of them and feeding the so happy and satisfied. If only we could live our life making music, making each other happy and counting the smaller joys of life, everything would make so much sense. But till that happens we'll just have to hold on to these beautiful memories and wait for the next NH7 Weekender. Wish I could share the music... Ankur Tewari & the Ghalat family, King Creosote, Swarathma, Papon and the East India Company, Reggae Rajahs, Bhayanak Maut, Mother Jane, Imoge Heap... my head is still ringing with the beautiful music. So many artists that I'd never heard before. It feels like a giant, professionally run crash course into Indie music. A class I'd like to enroll to more often.

 

Much love,

Where I lay my head is home

Deep within a valley, far away, rests a lake. Beautiful as any sight can be. With trees so green that it's hard to believe. With travellers coming together and musicians too. Their sound like pied piper pulling us in. Deeper we go, more mesmerising the sounds become. The deafening silence broken by melodic notes. If this isn't paradise, what is? Maybe the wanderlust is taking over me. Or, the rhythm is still lingering inside my head. I can't forget the three absolutely surreal days I spent at the little hamlet town called Naukuchiatal. My camera went into overdrive as did my trance-induced body. With every music genre being represented by some of country's best talents, it comes as no surprise that the music festival was named 'Escape.' An escape it certainly was!

Much Love,

Glam Girls of Angola

I miss glamour. The old school way.. the big bouffant hair, the overworked eyelids, full lips, big jewels... yes, so Cannes and MET gala bring in few stunning looks off and on, I'm talking about the real life glamour. You know when women used to perm their hair at home.... actually, when curls were really 'in'. (have I told you how bored I am with the women who want to straighten their hair?)

Think of all the sexy secretaries of the 80's bollywood films. The curly hair bombshells who color matched their outfits. The time when earrings were never to be worn without a necklace or the shoes were always matched with the bag. the good old times when less was NOT more. More was still merrier. Curves were hot, sex was suggestive and disco was a cool word.

These ladies seemed right out of a time wrap and stood out amongst the  t-shirt/jeans clad women of Colaba. How glamorous are they even in their ridiculous kaftan dresses and the gorgeous golden jewellery. But what honestly blew me away was their meticulously done hairstyle. I wish we could put so much time into doing our hair. I would kill to wear BIG hair everyday!

While some of you may find this post disconnected with the present aesthetics, I can assure you gold accessories and big hair would be back in vogue with a vengeance.

Much Love,

I suck at math but love proportions

Notice how their hems go longer as their sleeves go shorter?

Notice how they are all wearing Indigo?

Notice their own individual simplistic style statements with minimum fuss?

Notice their super cute haircuts?

Notice how long I must have stared at this pic?

Notice how I must have followed them to the other side of the street to holler them while almost getting hit by a bus?

Notice how I just couldn't come up with a better post title?

Notice that its 2nd post in a day?

Notice how I typed 'notice' twice in a question?

Notice how many generic questions I can ask?

Notice how I want a haircut soooo bad and still refrain from getting one?



Much love,

When Italy married India

Catch this post on Vogue India website here

“You can either frustrate a woman by making her aware of all her flaws or you can make her feel absolutely beautiful, I choose latter as designer,” remarks Rosenda Meer. “Size is an aberration; we have massified all of world’s women in sizes of 2, 4, 16... everybody is a different shape. “

“High Heels are like Burkhas for the modern day woman. Both are societal obligations that women wore over themselves. Its unnecessary. Some may find a woman in high heels very attractive but I just find them utterly uncomfortable and even insecure sometimes. It’s attractive when you are comfortable, when you laugh, when you look great in what you wear. “

“I hate fashion. Fashion is about cycles, about quick disposal. Works of art and luxury need time to conceive and last beyond a lifetime. This is exactly what India is good at. It saddens me to see that most Indian designers are taking the western route to fashion instead of learning from the Japanese. They embraced their heritage and showcased a new dimension to the world.”

Rosenda is an Italian origin and Parisian boutique owner who found love and her life’s objective in India. She runs a label Le Cashmirian on Paris’s Rue de Tournen, housing products handcrafted in India. Her love affair with India has lasted over 2 decades, blame it on her chance meeting with her charming Srinagar born husband or the love of Indian crafts. Rosenda is a highly celebrated designer back home for her love for refined, unadulterated and innovative luxury.

“Fab India is fantastic start for Indian retail but how long can people wear those shapeless clothes. We need to take the step further and add more details, more draping to the gorgeous Indian textiles to make the world sit up and take notice.” Rosenda is also the author of the book, Memoirs – A Textile Journey to India.

“India and Italy have similar culture. We’re both blessed with deep cultural roots, great food and an undying love for our Ma’s. I would hate for India to lose its crafts and textile treasure to cheap modern fabrics like Italy did. Italy once had the nicest knitted laces and fabrics in all of world, look how we lost it all. Its extremely rare to sight those fabrics anymore. If all of Indian youth were to start patronizing Zara and Forever21, what will happen to the Benarasi Silks and Orrisa Ikats?”

Rosenda is also sick of Pop India movement – the loud kitschy patterns and bright Fuschia colors. “For me, India is Ochre. Its the colour of mother earth itself. India has soul to offer. Let the west offer the arrogance and disposability, India can offer timelessness and soulfulness. I love the Abraham and Thakore collections. They make India very proud.”

I met Rosenda in Auroville on our way to the Matri Mandir for mediation. Its amazing how she looks so Indian and yet like a foreigner. She tells me she worked very hard to retain her Italian roots and yet looking appropriate in India.

Isn’t it amazing to see one’s country from foreign eyes every once in a while.

Happy Valentines Day!



Much Love,

Biker Chicks, Pondicherry

There's nothing quite like feeling the wind in one's hair, balancing the two wheels, gushing past the rest of the world - there's nothink quiet like riding a bike. Its places like Pondicherry and Goa that make you realise that how much of world do you miss sitting inside a car with your windows rolled up, breathing the artificially cooled and recirculated air.

Its fantastic to experience a place on two wheels. Take some inspiration from the women in pondicherry who seem so comfortable riding their two-wheelers in their elegantly wrapped sarees and the garland adorned hair. Its liberating to see a woman ride a bike. Either that or I'm really missing my Auroville moped(gearless bike.) Maybe both.

Much Love,