Hello 2017, have we got plans for you! Our movers and shakers—people who feed us to those whose clothes we salivate over—have big ideas for the next trip around the sun. And, it’s all about us!
On song
Crooners Nischay Parekh and Jivraj Singh, the hipster duo whose videos have an unmissable Wes Anderson vibe, released Ocean and I Love You Baby, I Love You Doll in 2016. In 2017, we’ll be treated to a second album and live gigs in Europe.
Looking inwards
The ‘model’ CEO of Vu Technologies, Devita Saraf (above) is spending the year cultivating herself into the kind of person who attracts the opportunities they want. “My potential is my obsession,” she says. “I don’t have the typical desi mentality of living for other people. I want to know what fulfils me as a person and how I can grow into a unique person who is open and ready to opportunities as they arise. I want to know how to be a person that others want to work with or align with. I believe that if I am in the right space, the right opportunities will come my way.”
That’s a great plan, Devita. And when you find the secret to unlocking your potential, will you please share it with us?
A bungalow for Hanut
Fashion’s power broker Maithili Ahluwalia of Bungalow 8 wishes she was organised enough to plan the next year. “That’s the New Year resolution,” she says huskily. Bungalow 8 completes 10 years of representing reclusive jewellery designer from Delhi Hanut Singh, and plans an off-site event with a retrospective of his work. “We’re hoping to hold it at Phillips Antiques (an iconic store in Colaba, Mumbai) at the end of March,” she says. “Hanut has really come into his own and this exhibition will showcase the journey of his work. Celebrities like Beyonce wear his stuff — we’re not talking about lending it to celebrities for the red carpet.” There will also be an exhibition of young Sri Lankan designers like MAUS, Sonali Dharmawardena, KT Brown, Touche and ANU & Kur.
It’s all black and white to Payal
After opening a landmark store in Delhi and Bandra, artist-turned-designer Payal Khandwala is going to concentrate on servicing her client base in the coming year and has plans to open new stores (though she is wistful about opening one in Hyderabad). She’s also starting a bridal line and is currently working on the motifs. “It’s not a very feminine line. It concentrates on black and white,” says Khandwala. “The motifs are very dramatic and bold. We’ve finalised the art work and now have to make it into a print.”
Boxed in
Pooja Dhingra (left), the reason why Mumbai’s fashion pack does not lose weight, is collaborating with Bombay Duck Designs. “I have been a fan of illustrator Sameer Kulavoor for a while,” she says. “He has observed cafe culture, the people who frequent it and is turning those illustrations into a box for Le 15.” The box will be limited edition (inset) for six new cupcakes that we can look forward to in the first two months of the New Year.
An app for Pernia
Stylist, dancer and fashion entrepreneur Pernia is celebrating five years of Pernia’s pop-up shop with an app. “We just finished the design work,” she says, “and its really beautiful… at least I think so. It’s clean, easy to use. It’ll go into programming next year and it should be ready in the first quarter.”
Her online fashion retail website started off with 10-12 designers and has grown to over 400 today. It will officially turn five in March and the team is considering celebrating it with a big event outside India.
The Spring-Summer collection from her personal eponymous line is under production. “It’s inspired by a picnic garden and is made of georgettes, chiffons and other light fabrics in pink, peaches and sky blue. It has all my personal style and girlie elements like bows, light embroidery and ruffles,” she says.
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